Humidity

Humidity is the concentration of water vapor present in the air. Water vapor, the gaseous state of
water, is generally invisible to the human eye.[1] Humidity indicates the likelihood for precipitation,
dew, or fog to be present.

Humidity and hygrometry

Specific concepts

Absolute / Specific / Relative

Dew point (depression)

Psychrometrics

General concepts

Humidity buffering

Air Concentration Density Dew Evaporation (Atm.) Pressure Liquid water Avogadro's law

Nucleation Thermodynamic equilibrium

Measures and Instruments

Heat index Sat. vap. density Mixing ratio Water activity H. indicator (card) Hygrometer

Dry/Wet-bulb temperature

Humidity depends on the temperature and pressure of the system of interest. The same amount of
water vapor results in higher humidity in cool air than warm air. A related parameter is the dew
point. The amount of water vapor needed to achieve saturation increases as the temperature
increases. As the temperature of a parcel of air decreases it will eventually reach the saturation
point without adding or losing water mass. The amount of water vapor contained within a parcel of
air can vary significantly. For example, a parcel of air near saturation may contain 28 g (0.99 oz) of
water per cubic metre of air at 30 °C (86 °F), but only 8 g (0.28 oz) of water per cubic metre of air at
8 °C (46 °F).

Three primary measurements of humidity are widely employed: absolute, relative and specific.
Absolute humidity describes the water content of air and is expressed in either grams per cubic
metre[2] or grams per kilogram.[3] Relative humidity, expressed as a percentage, indicates a present
state of absolute humidity relative to a maximum humidity given the same temperature. Specific
humidity is the ratio of water vapor mass to total moist air parcel mass.

Humidity plays an important role for surface life. For animal life dependent on perspiration
(sweating) to regulate internal body temperature, high humidity impairs heat exchange efficiency by
reducing the rate of moisture evaporation from skin surfaces. This effect can be calculated using a
heat index table, also known as a humidex.

The notion of air "holding" water vapor or being "saturated" by it is often mentioned in connection
with the concept of relative humidity. This, however, is misleading—the amount of water vapor that
enters (or can enter) a given space at a given temperature is almost independent of the amount of
air (nitrogen, oxygen, etc.) that is present. Indeed, a vacuum has approximately the same
equilibrium capacity to hold water vapor as the same volume filled with air; both are given by the
equilibrium vapor pressure of water at the given temperature.[4][5] There is a very small difference
described under "Enhancement factor" below, which can be neglected in many calculations unless
high accuracy is required.

Definitions

Paranal Observatory on Cerro Paranal

in the Atacama Desert is one of the
driest places on Earth.[6]

Absolute humidity

Absolute humidity is the total mass of water vapor present in a given volume or mass of air. It does
not take temperature into consideration. Absolute humidity in the atmosphere ranges from near
zero to roughly 30 g (1.1 oz) per cubic metre when the air is saturated at 30 °C (86 °F).[7][8]

Absolute humidity is the mass of the water vapor , divided by the volume of the air and
water vapor mixture , which can be expressed as:

The absolute humidity changes as air temperature or pressure changes, if the volume is not fixed.
This makes it unsuitable for chemical engineering calculations, e.g. in drying, where temperature
can vary considerably. As a result, absolute humidity in chemical engineering may refer to mass of
water vapor per unit mass of dry air, also known as the humidity ratio or mass mixing ratio (see
"specific humidity" below), which is better suited for heat and mass balance calculations. Mass of
water per unit volume as in the equation above is also defined as volumetric humidity. Because of
the potential confusion, British Standard BS 1339 [9] suggests avoiding the term "absolute humidity".
Units should always be carefully checked. Many humidity charts are given in g/kg or kg/kg, but any
mass units may be used.

The field concerned with the study of physical and thermodynamic properties of gas–vapor
mixtures is named psychrometrics.

Relative humidity

The relative humidity or of an air-water mixture is defined as the ratio of the partial
pressure of water vapor in the mixture to the equilibrium vapor pressure of water
over a flat surface of pure water[10] at a given temperature:[11][12][4]

In other words, relative humidity is the ratio of how much water is in the air and how much water the
air could potentially contain. It varies with the temperature of the air: colder air can hold less vapour,
so chilling some air can cause the water vapour to condense. Likewise, warming some air
containing a fog may cause that fog to evaporate, as the air between the water droplets becomes
more able to hold water vapour. So changing the temperature of a some air can change the relative
humidity, even when the absolute humidity remains constant.

Relative humidity only considers the invisible water vapour. Mists, clouds, fogs and aerosols of
water do not count towards the measure of relative humidity of the air, although their presence is an
indication that a body of air may be close to the dew point.
Relative humidity is normally expressed as a percentage; a higher percentage means that the air–
water mixture is more humid. At 100% relative humidity, the air is saturated and is at its dew point.

Relative humidity is an important metric used in weather forecasts and reports, as it is an indicator
of the likelihood of precipitation, dew, or fog. In hot summer weather, a rise in relative humidity
increases the apparent temperature to humans (and other animals) by hindering the evaporation of
perspiration from the skin. For example, according to the Heat Index, a relative humidity of 75% at
air temperature of 80.0 °F (26.7 °C) would feel like 83.6 °F ±1.3 °F (28.7 °C ±0.7 °C).[13][14]

Specific humidity

Specific humidity (or moisture content) is the ratio of the mass of water vapor to the total mass of
the air parcel.[15] Specific humidity is approximately equal to the mixing ratio, which is defined as the
ratio of the mass of water vapor in an air parcel to the mass of dry air for the same parcel. As
temperature decreases, the amount of water vapor needed to reach saturation also decreases. As
the temperature of a parcel of air becomes lower it will eventually reach the point of saturation
without adding or losing water mass.

Related concepts

The term relative humidity is reserved for systems of water vapor in air. The term relative saturation
is used to describe the analogous property for systems consisting of a condensable phase other
than water in a non-condensable phase other than air.[16]

Measurement

A hygrometer for humidity

control and recording.
 Hygrometer for domestic use, wet/dry
psychrometer type.

Clock with hygrometer, showing a very

low humidity in winter.

A device used to measure humidity of air is called a psychrometer or hygrometer. A humidistat is a

humidity-triggered switch, often used to control a dehumidifier.

The humidity of an air and water vapor mixture is determined through the use of psychrometric
charts if both the dry bulb temperature (T) and the wet bulb temperature (Tw) of the mixture are
known. These quantities are readily estimated by using a sling psychrometer.

There are several empirical formulas that can be used to estimate the equilibrium vapor pressure of
water vapor as a function of temperature. The Antoine equation is among the least complex of
these, having only three parameters (A, B, and C). Other formulas, such as the Goff–Gratch equation
and the Magnus–Tetens approximation, are more complicated but yield better accuracy.

The Arden Buck equation is commonly encountered in the literature regarding this topic:[17]
where is the dry-bulb temperature expressed in degrees Celsius (°C), is the absolute pressure
expressed in millibars, and is the equilibrium vapor pressure expressed in millibars. Buck has
reported that the maximal relative error is less than 0.20% between −20, and +50 °C (−4, and 122 °F)
when this particular form of the generalized formula is used to estimate the equilibrium vapor
pressure of water.

There are various devices used to measure and regulate humidity. Calibration standards for the
most accurate measurement include the gravimetric hygrometer, chilled mirror hygrometer, and
electrolytic hygrometer. The gravimetric method, while the most accurate, is very cumbersome. For
fast and very accurate measurement the chilled mirror method is effective.[18] For process on-line
measurements, the most commonly used sensors nowadays are based on capacitance
measurements to measure relative humidity,[19] frequently with internal conversions to display
absolute humidity as well. These are cheap, simple, generally accurate and relatively robust. All
humidity sensors face problems in measuring dust-laden gas, such as exhaust streams from dryers.

Humidity is also measured on a global scale using remotely placed satellites. These satellites are
able to detect the concentration of water in the troposphere at altitudes between 4 and 12 km (2.5
and 7.5 mi). Satellites that can measure water vapor have sensors that are sensitive to infrared
radiation. Water vapor specifically absorbs and re-radiates radiation in this spectral band. Satellite
water vapor imagery plays an important role in monitoring climate conditions (like the formation of
thunderstorms) and in the development of weather forecasts.

Air density and volume

Humidity depends on water vaporization and condensation, which, in turn, mainly depends on
temperature. Therefore, when applying more pressure to a gas saturated with water, all components
will initially decrease in volume approximately according to the ideal gas law. However, some of the
water will condense until returning to almost the same humidity as before, giving the resulting total
volume deviating from what the ideal gas law predicted. Conversely, decreasing temperature would
also make some water condense, again making the final volume deviate from predicted by the ideal
gas law. Therefore, gas volume may alternatively be expressed as the dry volume, excluding the
humidity content. This fraction more accurately follows the ideal gas law. On the contrary the
saturated volume is the volume a gas mixture would have if humidity was added to it until
saturation (or 100% relative humidity).

Humid air is less dense than dry air because a molecule of water (M ≈ 18 u) is less massive than
either a molecule of nitrogen (M ≈ 28) or a molecule of oxygen (M ≈ 32). About 78% of the
molecules in dry air are nitrogen (N2). Another 21% of the molecules in dry air are oxygen (O2). The
final 1% of dry air is a mixture of other gases.

For any gas, at a given temperature and pressure, the number of molecules present in a particular
volume is constant – see ideal gas law. So when water molecules (vapor) are introduced into that
volume of dry air, the number of air molecules in the volume must decrease by the same number, if
the temperature and pressure remain constant. (The addition of water molecules, or any other
molecules, to a gas, without removal of an equal number of other molecules, will necessarily require
a change in temperature, pressure, or total volume; that is, a change in at least one of these three
parameters. If temperature and pressure remain constant, the volume increases, and the dry air
molecules that were displaced will initially move out into the additional volume, after which the
mixture will eventually become uniform through diffusion.) Hence the mass per unit volume of the
gas—its density—decreases. Isaac Newton discovered this phenomenon and wrote about it in his
book Opticks.[20]

Pressure dependence

The relative humidity of an air–water system is dependent not only on the temperature but also on
the absolute pressure of the system of interest. This dependence is demonstrated by considering
the air–water system shown below. The system is closed (i.e., no matter enters or leaves the
system).

If the system at State A is isobarically heated (heating with no change in system pressure), then the
relative humidity of the system decreases because the equilibrium vapor pressure of water
increases with increasing temperature. This is shown in State B.

If the system at State A is isothermally compressed (compressed with no change in system

temperature), then the relative humidity of the system increases because the partial pressure of
water in the system increases with the volume reduction. This is shown in State C. Above 202.64
kPa, the RH would exceed 100% and water may begin to condense.
If the pressure of State A was changed by simply adding more dry air, without changing the volume,
the relative humidity would not change.

Therefore, a change in relative humidity can be explained by a change in system temperature, a

change in the volume of the system, or change in both of these system properties.

Enhancement factor

The enhancement factor is defined as the ratio of the saturated vapor pressure of water in
moist air to the saturated vapor pressure of pure water:

The enhancement factor is equal to unity for ideal gas systems. However, in real systems the
interaction effects between gas molecules result in a small increase of the equilibrium vapor
pressure of water in air relative to equilibrium vapor pressure of pure water vapor. Therefore, the
enhancement factor is normally slightly greater than unity for real systems.

The enhancement factor is commonly used to correct the equilibrium vapor pressure of water vapor
when empirical relationships, such as those developed by Wexler, Goff, and Gratch, are used to
estimate the properties of psychrometric systems.

Buck has reported that, at sea level, the vapor pressure of water in saturated moist air amounts to
an increase of approximately 0.5% over the equilibrium vapor pressure of pure water.[17]

Effects

Acoustic guitar room at Guitar Center

humidified to 50% relative humidity in
winter.
 Humidor, used to control humidity of
cigars.

Climate control refers to the control of temperature and relative humidity in buildings, vehicles and
other enclosed spaces for the purpose of providing for human comfort, health and safety, and of
meeting environmental requirements of machines, sensitive materials (for example, historic) and
technical processes.

Climate

Climates of the Earth basing on

humidity values.
   Humid climate
   Semi-arid climate
   Arid climate

While humidity itself is a climate variable, it also overpowers other climate variables. The humidity is
affected by winds and by rainfall.

The most humid cities on earth are generally located closer to the equator, near coastal regions.
Cities in parts of Asia are among the most humid. Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur, Hong
Kong, Manila, Jakarta, Singapore, Kaohsiung and Taipei have very high humidity most or all year
round because of their proximity to water bodies and the equator and often overcast weather. Some
places experience extreme humidity during their rainy seasons combined with warmth giving the
feel of a lukewarm sauna, such as Kolkata, Chennai and Cochin in India, and Lahore in Pakistan.
Sukkur city located on the Indus River in Pakistan has some of the highest and most uncomfortable
dew points in the country, frequently exceeding 30 °C (86 °F) in the Monsoon season.[21]

High temperatures combine with the high dew point to create heat index in excess of 65 °C (149 °F).
Darwin, Australia experiences an extremely humid wet season from December to April. Houston,
Miami, New Orleans and Shanghai also have an extreme humid period in their summer months.
During the South-west and North-east Monsoon seasons (respectively, late May to September and
November to March), expect heavy rains and a relatively high humidity post-rainfall. Outside the
monsoon seasons, humidity is high (in comparison to countries further from the Equator), but
completely sunny days abound. In cooler places such as Northern Tasmania, Australia, high
humidity is experienced all year due to the ocean between mainland Australia and Tasmania. In the
summer the hot dry air is absorbed by this ocean and the temperature rarely climbs above 35 °C
(95 °F).

Global climate

Humidity affects the energy budget and thereby influences temperatures in two major ways. First,
water vapor in the atmosphere contains "latent" energy. During transpiration or evaporation, this
latent heat is removed from surface liquid, cooling the earth's surface. This is the biggest non-
radiative cooling effect at the surface. It compensates for roughly 70% of the average net radiative
warming at the surface.

Second, water vapor is the most abundant of all greenhouse gases. Water vapor, like a green lens
that allows green light to pass through it but absorbs red light, is a "selective absorber". Along with
other greenhouse gases, water vapor is transparent to most solar energy, as one can literally see.
But it absorbs the infrared energy emitted (radiated) upward by the earth's surface, which is the
reason that humid areas experience very little nocturnal cooling but dry desert regions cool
considerably at night. This selective absorption causes the greenhouse effect. It raises the surface
temperature substantially above its theoretical radiative equilibrium temperature with the sun, and
water vapor is the cause of more of this warming than any other greenhouse gas.

Unlike most other greenhouse gases, however, water is not merely below its boiling point in all
regions of the Earth, but below its freezing point at many altitudes. As a condensible greenhouse
gas, it precipitates, with a much lower scale height and shorter atmospheric lifetime — weeks
instead of decades. Without other greenhouse gases, Earth's blackbody temperature, below the
freezing point of water, would cause water vapor to be removed from the atmosphere.[22][23][24]
Water vapor is thus a "slave" to the non-condensible greenhouse gases.[25][26][27]

Animal and plant life

 Tillandsia usneoides in Tropical house,
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It is
growing where the climate is warm

enough and has a relatively high

average humidity.

Humidity is one of the fundamental abiotic factors that defines any habitat (the tundra, wetlands,
and the desert are a few examples), and is a determinant of which animals and plants can thrive in
a given environment.[28]

The human body dissipates heat through perspiration and its evaporation. Heat convection, to the
surrounding air, and thermal radiation are the primary modes of heat transport from the body. Under
conditions of high humidity, the rate of evaporation of sweat from the skin decreases. Also, if the
atmosphere is as warm as or warmer than the skin during times of high humidity, blood brought to
the body surface cannot dissipate heat by conduction to the air. With so much blood going to the
external surface of the body, less goes to the active muscles, the brain, and other internal organs.
Physical strength declines, and fatigue occurs sooner than it would otherwise. Alertness and mental
capacity also may be affected, resulting in heat stroke or hyperthermia.

Human comfort

Although humidity is an important factor for thermal comfort, humans are more sensitive to
variations in temperature than they are to changes in relative humidity.[29] Humidity has a small
effect on thermal comfort outdoors when air temperatures are low, a slightly more pronounced
effect at moderate air temperatures, and a much stronger influence at higher air temperatures.[30]
Humans are sensitive to humid air because the human body uses evaporative cooling as the
primary mechanism to regulate temperature. Under humid conditions, the rate at which perspiration
evaporates on the skin is lower than it would be under arid conditions. Because humans perceive
the rate of heat transfer from the body rather than temperature itself, we feel warmer when the
relative humidity is high than when it is low.

Humans can be comfortable within a wide range of humidities depending on the temperature —
from 30–70%[31] — but ideally not above the Absolute (60°F Dew Point).[32], ... between 40 %[33] and
60 %.[34] In general, higher temperatures will require lower humidities to achieve thermal comfort
compared to lower temperatures, with all other factors held constant. For example, with clothing
level = 1, metabolic rate = 1.1, and air speed 0.1 m/s, a change in air temperature and mean radiant
temperature from 20 °C to 24 °C would lower the maximum acceptable relative humidity from 100%
to 65% to maintain thermal comfort conditions. The CBE Thermal Comfort Tool can be used to
demonstrate the effect of relative humidity for specific thermal comfort conditions and it can be
used to demonstrate compliance with ASHRAE Standard 55-2017.[35]

Some people experience difficulty breathing in humid environments. Some cases may possibly be
related to respiratory conditions such as asthma, while others may be the product of anxiety.
Sufferers will often hyperventilate in response, causing sensations of numbness, faintness, and loss
of concentration, among others.[36]

Very low humidity can create discomfort, respiratory problems, and aggravate allergies in some
individuals. Low humidity causes tissue lining nasal passages to dry, crack and become more
susceptible to penetration of rhinovirus cold viruses.[37] Extremely low (below 20 %) relative
humidities may also cause eye irritation.[38][39] The use of a humidifier in homes, especially
bedrooms, can help with these symptoms.[40] Indoor relative humidities should be kept above 30%
to reduce the likelihood of the occupant's nasal passages drying out, especially in winter.[38][41][42]

Air conditioning reduces discomfort by reducing not just temperature but humidity as well. Heating
cold outdoor air can decrease relative humidity levels indoors to below 30%.[43] According to
ASHRAE Standard 55-2017: Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy, indoor
thermal comfort can be achieved through the PMV method with relative humidities ranging from 0%
to 100%, depending on the levels of the other factors contributing to thermal comfort.[44] However,
the recommended range of indoor relative humidity in air conditioned buildings is generally 30–
60%.[45][46]

Human health
Higher humidity reduces the infectivity of aerosolized influenza virus. A study concluded,
"Maintaining indoor relative humidity >40% will significantly reduce the infectivity of aerosolized
virus."[47]

Mucociliary clearance in the respiratory tract is also hindered by low humidity. One study in dogs
found that mucus transport was lower at an absolute humidity of 9 g water/m3 than at
30 g water/m3.[48]

Building construction

Effects of high humidity level in a

building structure (primary
efflorescence).

Common construction methods often produce building enclosures with a poor thermal boundary,
requiring an insulation and air barrier system designed to retain indoor environmental conditions
while resisting external environmental conditions.[49] The energy-efficient, heavily sealed
architecture introduced in the 20th century also sealed off the movement of moisture, and this has
resulted in a secondary problem of condensation forming in and around walls, which encourages
the development of mold and mildew. Additionally, buildings with foundations not properly sealed
will allow water to flow through the walls due to capillary action of pores found in masonry
products. Solutions for energy-efficient buildings that avoid condensation are a current topic of
architecture.

For climate control in buildings using HVAC systems, the key is to maintain the relative humidity at a
comfortable range—low enough to be comfortable but high enough to avoid problems associated
with very dry air.

When the temperature is high and the relative humidity is low, evaporation of water is rapid; soil
dries, wet clothes hung on a line or rack dry quickly, and perspiration readily evaporates from the
skin. Wooden furniture can shrink, causing the paint that covers these surfaces to fracture.

When the temperature is low and the relative humidity is high, evaporation of water is slow. When
relative humidity approaches 100 %, condensation can occur on surfaces, leading to problems with
mold, corrosion, decay, and other moisture-related deterioration. Condensation can pose a safety
risk as it can promote the growth of mold and wood rot as well as possibly freezing emergency
exits shut.

Certain production and technical processes and treatments in factories, laboratories, hospitals, and
other facilities require specific relative humidity levels to be maintained using humidifiers,
dehumidifiers and associated control systems.

Vehicles

The basic principles for buildings, above, also apply to vehicles. In addition, there may be safety
considerations. For instance, high humidity inside a vehicle can lead to problems of condensation,
such as misting of windshields and shorting of electrical components. In vehicles and pressure
vessels such as pressurized airliners, submersibles and spacecraft, these considerations may be
critical to safety, and complex environmental control systems including equipment to maintain
pressure are needed.

Aviation

Airliners operate with low internal relative humidity, often under 20 %,[50] especially on long flights.
The low humidity is a consequence of drawing in the very cold air with a low absolute humidity,
which is found at airliner cruising altitudes. Subsequent warming of this air lowers its relative
humidity. This causes discomfort such as sore eyes, dry skin, and drying out of mucosa, but
humidifiers are not employed to raise it to comfortable mid-range levels because the volume of
water required to be carried on board can be a significant weight penalty. As airliners descend from
colder altitudes into warmer air (perhaps even flying through clouds a few thousand feet above the
ground), the ambient relative humidity can increase dramatically. Some of this moist air is usually
drawn into the pressurized aircraft cabin and into other non-pressurized areas of the aircraft and
condenses on the cold aircraft skin. Liquid water can usually be seen running along the aircraft skin,
both on the inside and outside of the cabin. Because of the drastic changes in relative humidity
inside the vehicle, components must be qualified to operate in those environments. The
recommended environmental qualifications for most commercial aircraft components is listed in
RTCA DO-160.

Cold, humid air can promote the formation of ice, which is a danger to aircraft as it affects the wing
profile and increases weight. Carburetor engines have a further danger of ice forming inside the
carburetor. Aviation weather reports (METARs) therefore include an indication of relative humidity,
usually in the form of the dew point.
Pilots must take humidity into account when calculating takeoff distances, because high humidity
requires longer runways and will decrease climb performance.

Density altitude is the altitude relative to the standard atmosphere conditions (International
Standard Atmosphere) at which the air density would be equal to the indicated air density at the
place of observation, or, in other words, the height when measured in terms of the density of the air
rather than the distance from the ground. "Density Altitude" is the pressure altitude adjusted for non-
standard temperature.

An increase in temperature, and, to a much lesser degree, humidity, will cause an increase in density
altitude. Thus, in hot and humid conditions, the density altitude at a particular location may be
significantly higher than the true altitude.

Electronics

Desiccant bag (silica gel), commonly

included in packages containing
electronic products to control
humidity.

Electronic devices are often rated to operate only under specific humidity conditions (e.g., 5% to
95%). At the top end of the range, moisture may increase the conductivity of permeable insulators
leading to malfunction. Too low humidity may make materials brittle. A particular danger to
electronic items, regardless of the stated operating humidity range, is condensation. When an
electronic item is moved from a cold place (e.g. garage, car, shed, an air conditioned space in the
tropics) to a warm humid place (house, outside tropics), condensation may coat circuit boards and
other insulators, leading to short circuit inside the equipment. Such short circuits may cause
substantial permanent damage if the equipment is powered on before the condensation has
evaporated. A similar condensation effect can often be observed when a person wearing glasses
comes in from the cold (i.e. the glasses become foggy).[51] It is advisable to allow electronic
equipment to acclimatise for several hours, after being brought in from the cold, before powering
on. Some electronic devices can detect such a change and indicate, when plugged in and usually
with a small droplet symbol, that they cannot be used until the risk from condensation has passed.
In situations where time is critical, increasing air flow through the device's internals, such as
removing the side panel from a PC case and directing a fan to blow into the case, will reduce
significantly the time needed to acclimatise to the new environment.

In contrast, a very low humidity level favors the build-up of static electricity, which may result in
spontaneous shutdown of computers when discharges occur. Apart from spurious erratic function,
electrostatic discharges can cause dielectric breakdown in solid state devices, resulting in
irreversible damage. Data centers often monitor relative humidity levels for these reasons.

Industry

High humidity can often have a negative effect on the capacity of chemical plants and refineries
that use furnaces as part of a certain processes (e.g., steam reforming, wet sulfuric acid
processes). For example, because humidity reduces ambient oxygen concentrations (dry air is
typically 20.9% oxygen, but at 100% relative humidity the air is 20.4% oxygen), flue gas fans must
intake air at a higher rate than would otherwise be required to maintain the same firing rate.[52]

Baking

High humidity in the oven, represented by an elevated wet-bulb temperature, increases the thermal
conductivity of the air around the baked item, leading to a quicker baking process or even burning.
Conversely, low humidity slows the baking process down.[53]

Other important facts

A gas in this context is referred to as saturated when the vapor pressure of water in the air is at the
equilibrium vapor pressure for water vapor at the temperature of the gas and water vapor mixture;
liquid water (and ice, at the appropriate temperature) will fail to lose mass through evaporation
when exposed to saturated air. It may also correspond to the possibility of dew or fog forming,
within a space that lacks temperature differences among its portions, for instance in response to
decreasing temperature. Fog consists of very minute droplets of liquid, primarily held aloft by
isostatic motion (in other words, the droplets fall through the air at terminal velocity, but as they are
very small, this terminal velocity is very small too, so it doesn't look to us like they are falling, and
they seem to be held aloft).

The statement that relative humidity (RH %) can never be above 100 %, while a fairly good guide, is
not absolutely accurate, without a more sophisticated definition of humidity than the one given here.
Cloud formation, in which aerosol particles are activated to form cloud condensation nuclei,
requires the supersaturation of an air parcel to a relative humidity of slightly above 100 %. One
smaller-scale example is found in the Wilson cloud chamber in nuclear physics experiments, in
which a state of supersaturation is induced to accomplish its function.

For a given dew point and its corresponding absolute humidity, the relative humidity will change
inversely, albeit nonlinearly, with the temperature. This is because the partial pressure of water
increases with temperature—the operative principle behind everything from hair dryers to
dehumidifiers.

Due to the increasing potential for a higher water vapor partial pressure at higher air temperatures,
the water content of air at sea level can get as high as 3% by mass at 30 °C (86 °F) compared to no
more than about 0.5% by mass at 0 °C (32 °F). This explains the low levels (in the absence of
measures to add moisture) of humidity in heated structures during winter, resulting in dry skin, itchy
eyes, and persistence of static electric charges. Even with saturation (100% relative humidity)
outdoors, heating of infiltrated outside air that comes indoors raises its moisture capacity, which
lowers relative humidity and increases evaporation rates from moist surfaces indoors (including
human bodies and household plants.)

Similarly, during summer in humid climates a great deal of liquid water condenses from air cooled in
air conditioners. Warmer air is cooled below its dew point, and the excess water vapor condenses.
This phenomenon is the same as that which causes water droplets to form on the outside of a cup
containing an ice-cold drink.

A useful rule of thumb is that the maximum absolute humidity doubles for every 20 °F (11 °C)
increase in temperature. Thus, the relative humidity will drop by a factor of 2 for each 20 °F (11 °C)
increase in temperature, assuming conservation of absolute moisture. For example, in the range of
normal temperatures, air at 68 °F (20 °C) and 50% relative humidity will become saturated if cooled
to 50 °F (10 °C), its dew point, and 41 °F (5 °C) air at 80% relative humidity warmed to 68 °F (20 °C)
will have a relative humidity of only 29% and feel dry. By comparison, thermal comfort standard
ASHRAE 55 requires systems designed to control humidity to maintain a dew point of 16.8 °C
(62.2 °F) though no lower humidity limit is established.[44]

Water vapor is a lighter gas than other gaseous components of air at the same temperature, so
humid air will tend to rise by natural convection. This is a mechanism behind thunderstorms and
other weather phenomena. Relative humidity is often mentioned in weather forecasts and reports,
as it is an indicator of the likelihood of dew, or fog. In hot summer weather, it also increases the
apparent temperature to humans (and other animals) by hindering the evaporation of perspiration
from the skin as the relative humidity rises. This effect is calculated as the heat index or humidex.

A device used to measure humidity is called a hygrometer; one used to regulate it is called a
humidistat, or sometimes hygrostat. (These are analogous to a thermometer and thermostat for
temperature, respectively.)

See also

Concentration

Dew point depression

Heat index

Humidity buffering

Humidity indicator card

Humidity indicator

Psychrometrics

Saturation vapor density

Water activity

References

Citations
1. "What is Water Vapor" . Retrieved 2012-08-28.
 2. Wyer, Samuel S. (1906). "Fundamental Physical Laws and Definitions" . A Treatise on Producer-Gas and
Gas-Producers. McGraw-Hill Book Company. p. 23.

3. Perry, R.H. and Green, D.W, (2007) Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook (8th Edition), Section 12,
Psychrometry, Evaporative Cooling and Solids Drying McGraw-Hill, ISBN 978-0-07-151135-3

4. "Water Vapor Myths: A Brief Tutorial" . www.atmos.umd.edu. Archived from the original on 2016-01-25.

5. Fraser, Alistair B. "Bad Clouds FAQ" . www.ems.psu.edu. Archived from the original on 2006-06-17.

. "Antarctic Air Visits Paranal" . ESO Picture of the Week. Retrieved 4 February 2014.

7. "Climate - Humidity indexes" . Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 15 February 2018.

. "Climate/humidity table" . Transport Information Service of the German Insurance Association. Retrieved
15 February 2018.

9. British Standard BS 1339 (revised), Humidity and Dewpoint, Parts 1-3 (2002-2007)

10. "Water Vapor Myths: A Brief Tutorial" .

11. Perry, R.H. and Green, D.W, Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook (7th Edition), McGraw-Hill, ISBN 0-07-
049841-5, Eqn 12-7

12. Lide, David (2005). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (85 ed.). CRC Press. pp. 15–25 . ISBN 0-
8493-0485-7.

13. Lans P. Rothfusz. "The Heat Index 'Equation' (or, More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About Heat Index)",
Scientific Services Division (NWS Southern Region Headquarters), 1 July 1990 "Archived copy" (PDF).
Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-12-01. Retrieved 2011-07-23.

14. Steadman, R. G. (1979). "The Assessment of Sultriness. Part I: A Temperature-Humidity Index Based on
Human Physiology and Clothing Science" . Journal of Applied Meteorology. 18 (7): 861–873.
doi:10.1175/1520-0450(1979)018<0861:TAOSPI>2.0.CO;2 . ISSN 0021-8952 .

15. Seidel, Dian. "What is atmospheric humidity and how is it measured? (broken link)" . National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the
original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.

1 . "Vapor-Liquid/Solid System, 201 Class Page" . University of Arizona. Archived from the original on May
8, 2006.

17. Buck 1981, pp. 1527–1532.

1 . Pieter R. Wiederhold. 1997. Water Vapor Measurement, Methods and Instrumentation. Marcel Dekker,
New York, NY ISBN 9780824793197

19. "BS1339" Part 3

20. Isaac Newton (1704). Opticks . Dover. ISBN 978-0-486-60205-9.

21. "Weather History for Sukkur, Pakistan – Weather Underground" .

22. "Blackbody Radiation" .

23. "Lecture notes" .

24. "Radiative Balance, Earth's Temperature, and Greenhouse Gases (lecture notes)" .

25. Alley, R. (2014). "GEOSC 10 Optional Enrichment Article 1" .

2 . Businger, S. "Lecture 28: Future Global Warming Modeling Climate Change" (PDF). Archived from the
original (PDF) on 2015-01-30.

27. Schwieterman, E. "Comparing the Greenhouse Effect on Earth, Mars, Venus, and Titan: Present Day and
through Time" (PDF).

2 . C.Michael Hogan. 2010. Abiotic factor. Encyclopedia of Earth. eds Emily Monosson and C. Cleveland.
National Council for Science and the Environment Archived June 8, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
Washington DC

29. Fanger 1970, p. 48.

30. Bröde et al. 2011, pp. 481–494.

31. Gilmore 1972, p. 99.

32. [1] ASHRAE Std 62.1-2019

33. "Winter Indoor Comfort and Relative Humidity", Information please (database), Pearson, 2007,
archived from the original on 2013-04-27, retrieved 2013-05-01, "…by increasing the relative humidity to
above 50% within the above temperature range, 80% or more of all average dressed persons would feel
comfortable."

34. "Recommended relative humidity level", The engineering toolbox , archived from the original on 2013-
05-11, retrieved 2013-05-01, "Relative humidity above 60% feels uncomfortable wet. Human comfort
requires the relative humidity to be in the range 25–60% RH."

35. Schiavon, Hoyt & Piccioli 2013, pp. 321-334.

3 . "Heat and humidity - the lung association" . www.lung.ca. Retrieved 14 March 2018.

37. "What causes the common cold?" . University of Rochester Medical Center. Retrieved 2016-01-24.

3 . Arundel et al. 1986, pp. 351–361.

39. "Indoor air quality testing" . Archived from the original on 2017-09-21.

40. "Nosebleeds" . WebMD Medical Reference. Retrieved 2015-11-01.

41. "Indoor Air Quality" (PDF). NH DHHS, Division of Public Health Services. Archived (PDF) from the
original on 2015-09-22. Retrieved 2016-01-24.

42. "School Indoor Air Quality: Best Management Practices Manual" (PDF). Washington State Department of
Health. November 2003. Retrieved 2015-11-01.

43. "Optimum Humidity Levels for Home" . AirBetter.org. 3 August 2014.

44. ASHRAE Standard 55 (2017). "Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy".

45. Wolkoff & Kjaergaard 2007, pp. 850–857.

4 . ASHRAE Standard 160 (2016). "Criteria for Moisture-Control Design Analysis in Buildings"

47. Noti, John D.; Blachere, Francoise M.; McMillen, Cynthia M.; Lindsley, William G.; Kashon, Michael L.;
Slaughter, Denzil R.; Beezhold, Donald H. (2013). "High Humidity Leads to Loss of Infectious Influenza
Virus from Simulated Coughs" . PLOS ONE. 8 (2): e57485. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...857485N .
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0057485 . PMC 3583861 . PMID 23460865 .

4 . Pieterse, A; Hanekom, SD (2018). "Criteria for enhancing mucus transport: a systematic scoping review" .
Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine. 13: 22. doi:10.1186/s40248-018-0127-6 . PMC 6034335 .
PMID 29988934 .

49. "Free publications" .

50. "Airplane Humidity" . Aviator Atlas. 5 April 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.

51. "Fogging Glasses" .

52. "Everything You Need to Know About Combustion Chemistry & Analysis – Industrial Controls" .

53. "Why is humidity important in cooking?" .

General sources
Arundel, A. V.; Sterling, E. M.; Biggin, J. H.; Sterling, T. D. (1986). "Indirect health effects of relative humidity in
indoor environments" . Environ. Health Perspect. 65: 351–61. doi:10.1289/ehp.8665351 .
PMC 1474709 . PMID 3709462 .

Bröde, Peter; Fiala, Dusan; Błażejczyk, Krzysztof; Holmér, Ingvar; Jendritzky, Gerd; Kampmann, Bernhard; Tinz,
Birger; Havenith, George (2011-05-31). "Deriving the operational procedure for the Universal Thermal
Climate Index (UTCI)" . International Journal of Biometeorology. 56 (3): 481–494. doi:10.1007/s00484-
011-0454-1 . ISSN 0020-7128 . PMID 21626294 .

Buck, Arden L. (1981). "New Equations for Computing Vapor Pressure and Enhancement Factor" . Journal of
Applied Meteorology. 20 (12): 1527–1532. doi:10.1175/1520-0450(1981)020<1527:NEFCVP>2.0.CO;2 .
ISSN 0021-8952 .

Fanger, P. O. (1970). Thermal Comfort: Analysis and Applications in Environmental Engineering . Danish
Technical Press. ISBN 978-87-571-0341-0.

Gilmore, C. P. (September 1972). "More Comfort for Your Heating Dollar". Popular Science. p. 99.

Himmelblau, David M. (1989). Basic Principles And Calculations In Chemical Engineering. Prentice Hall.
ISBN 0-13-066572-X.

Lide, David (2005). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (85 ed.). CRC Press.

Perry, R.H.; Green, D.W (1997). Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-
049841-5.
 Schiavon, Stefano; Hoyt, Tyler; Piccioli, Alberto (2013-12-27). "Web application for thermal comfort
visualization and calculation according to ASHRAE Standard 55" . Building Simulation. 7 (4): 321–334.
doi:10.1007/s12273-013-0162-3 . ISSN 1996-3599 .

Wolkoff, Peder; Kjaergaard, Søren K. (August 2007). "The dichotomy of relative humidity on indoor air
quality". Environment International. 33 (6): 850–857. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2007.04.004 . ISSN 0160-
4120 . PMID 17499853 .

United States Environmental Protection Agency, "IAQ in Large Buildings" . Retrieved Jan. 9, 2006.

External links

Look up humidity in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikisource has the text of the 1905 New International Encyclopedia article "Humidity".

Current map of global relative humidity