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The temperature determines the humidity.

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Pearline Blick

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2y ago
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12y ago

The idea of humidity refers to how much water is mixed in with the air around us. Everywhere on Earth there is always at least some water mixed in with the air; in some places, like the desert, it's just a little; in other place, like by the ocean or in a rainforest, it's a lot.

The air can only carry around a limited amount of water vapor (evaporated water, or water in its gas form). At some point, there can be more water vapor than the air can hold, and the water turns into little droplets, which in nature is clouds, fog, or rain.

Just "humidity," also known as "absolute humidity," means "what is the concentration of water vapor (evaporated water) in the air right now?" In other words, it would give you a measurement of how much water you would get if you could take a box of air and squeeze all the water out.

This is expressed in units of mass/volume. So, for example, you could express the absolute humidity as 5 grams per liter (5 g/L) if there were 5 grams of water vapor floating around in every liter of air.

Again, the air can only carry around a limited amount of water vapor. How much it can carry is determined by the atmospheric pressure and the temperature. There is a mathematical equation that lets you figure out the maximum amount of water that the air can carry based on the pressure and temperature. Relative humidity is how much water the air is actually carrying divided by how much water the air could possibly carry. People, especially weather forecasters, usually express this as a percentage. So, if the air in a particular place is carrying exactly half the amount of water that it could theoretically carry, the relative humidity would be 50%. If it were carrying all the water it could theoretically carry, the relative humidity would be 100%. The relative humidity can never be higher than 100% or lower than 0%.

Relative humidity has no units, because it is just a fraction.

So, ways they are alike:

1. They both talk about how much water vapor is mixed with air in a particular place.

Ways they are different:

1. Humidity has units (mass/volume) but relative humidity is just a fraction or percentage.

2. Humidity doesn't care about how much water vapor it's possible for the air to have, but relative humidity does.

3. Humidity doesn't tell you anything about how close the air is to having rain or fog, but relative humidity does.

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12y ago

why is relative humidity more useful than humidity?

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Q: What is the relationship between humidity and relative humidity?
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Related questions

What is the relationship between temperature and relative humidity.?

The temperature determines the humidity.


What is the relationship between high relative humidity and the feeling of discomfort in summer?

relative humidity causes heat and therefore discomfort


What is meaning of marthi word SAPEKSHA?

Relative Just like "relative humidity"


What is the relationship between high relative humidity and a feeling of discomfort in the summer?

High relative humidity in the summer can make the air feel more sticky and oppressive. This can result in a feeling of discomfort because the body's ability to sweat and cool down is reduced when the air is already saturated with moisture.


Which is the comparison of the amount of moisture in the air to the amount of moisture it can hold?

relative humidity


Relationship between evaporation and relative humidity?

Evaporation is the process by which a liquid turns into a gas, while relative humidity is the ratio of the amount of water vapor present in the air compared to the maximum amount the air can hold at a specific temperature. A higher relative humidity means the air is already holding a lot of water vapor and so evaporation will be slower, while a lower relative humidity allows for faster evaporation as the air has more capacity to hold additional water vapor.


What is the differences between relative humidity and humidity?

Humidity is the amount of water vapor present in the air. The relative humidity is the measure of the amount of water vapor present in the air compared to the amount needed for saturation.


Which term means the amount of water vapor in the air?

The term is humidity.It is usually expresed as "relative humidity" which is the comparison between the amount in the air and the maximum that it can hold at a given temperature.Humidity


How are humidity and water vapor related?

Relative humidity is directly related to the amount of water vapor in air, and that's the relationship. The more water vapor that is in the air, the higher the relative humidity at a given temperature.


Does relative humidity and precipitation seem to have a relationship. explain?

Not really because if you don't try you never learn


How can relative humidity and dew point be used to predict the weather?

Relative humidity and dew point are key indicators of moisture in the air. High relative humidity and close proximity between the temperature and dew point indicate a high likelihood of precipitation or fog. Low relative humidity and a large difference between temperature and dew point suggest dry conditions and clear skies. By monitoring these factors, forecasters can make more informed predictions about weather patterns.


What is the relationship between high relative humidity and the feeling of discomfort in the summer?

High relative humidity in the summer can make people feel more uncomfortable because it reduces the body's ability to cool itself through sweating. When the air is already saturated with moisture, sweat doesn't evaporate from the skin as efficiently, leading to a feeling of stickiness and increased perception of heat.