Humidity

Outline Introduction

Role of the ground air layer in water

economy

Exchange of water vapor in the plant cover

Humidity variables and profiles

Instrumentation
Introduction
Humidity
term used to describe
the amount of water
vapor present in the air.
 Two primary ways to measure
humidity
RELATIVE HUMIDITY ABSOLUTE HUMIDITY
ratio of the actual amount of water The mass of water vapor per unit
vapor in the air to the maximum volume of air
amount of water vapor the air can
hold at a given temperature and Expressed in Grams per cubic meter
pressure (g/m³)

Expressed in percentage An absolute humidity of 10 g/m³

means there are 10 grams of water
50% RH means the air is holding half vapor in every cubic meter of air
of the maximum amount of water
vapor it can at that temperature
 Why is humidity important?
Comfort
Weather Patterns
Health
Building materials
 The role of the ground
air layer in water
economy
It acts as a medium for the
exchange of moisture between
the soil and the atmosphere,
influencing processes such as
evaporation, transpiration, and
infiltration
 Key functions
Moisture exchange – evaporation, transpiration and infiltration
Temperature regulation – heat transfer and evaporation cooling
Gas exchange – The ground air layer is involved in the exchange of
oxygen and carbon dioxide between the soil and the atmosphere,
which is essential for plant growth and soil respiration
Soil structure - The presence of air in the soil helps to maintain its
structure and prevent compaction, which is important for water
infiltration and root growth.
Factors affecting the ground air layer
Soil texture
Soil structure
Soil moisture content
Atmospheric conditions
 Implications for water management
IRRIGATION DRAINAGE SOIL
CONSERVATION
Understanding the Proper drainage Practices such as cover
role of the ground systems must cropping and no-till
air layer is consider the agriculture can help to
important for permeability of the maintain soil structure
designing efficient ground air layer to and improve the health
irrigation systems of the ground air layer,
prevent leading to better water
that minimize water waterlogging and retention and reduced
losses due to soil erosion. soil erosion.
evaporation and
leaching.
Exchange of Water
Vapor in the Plant
Cover
Transpiration is the primary process
through which plants lose water to the
atmosphere. This occurs when water is
absorbed by the plant's roots, travels
up through the stem, and is released
into the air through tiny pores called
stomata on the leaves.
 Factors affecting transpiration
Higher temperatures increase the rate of evaporation, leading
Temperature to increased transpiration.

Higher temperatures increase the rate of evaporation, leading

Humidity to increased transpiration.

Higher temperatures increase the rate of evaporation, leading

Wind to increased transpiration.

Light intensity Higher temperatures increase the rate of evaporation, leading

to increased transpiration.

Higher temperatures increase the rate of evaporation, leading

Soil moisture to increased transpiration.
 Importance of transpiration

Transpiration helps to move water from the

Water cycle soil into the atmosphere, contributing to the
overall water cycle.

Climate Transpiration cools the plant and its surroundings,

helping to regulate local and regional climates.
regulation

Nutrient Transpiration can help to move nutrients from

uptake the soil into the plant.
 Adaptions to reduce transpiration
Plants can close their stomata to
Stomatal closure reduce water loss.

Some plants have evolved thicker leaves

Leaf modifications or waxy cuticles to reduce water loss.

Plants with deep roots can access water from

Deep roots deeper soil layers, helping to ensure a consistent
water supply.
 Human impacts on transpiration
Deforestation Irrigation Climate change
• The removal of • Irrigation can • Changes in
forests can increase the temperature and
reduce amount of water precipitation
transpiration available to patterns can
rates, leading to plants, potentially affect
changes in local leading to transpiration
and regional increased rates, with
climates. transpiration potential impacts
rates. on plant growth
and ecosystem
health.
Humidity Variables
and Profile
By understanding humidity variables
and profiles, scientists can gain
valuable insights into atmospheric
processes, weather forecasting, and
climate change.
 Primary humidity variables
RELATIVE HUMIDITY (RH)
DEFINITION The ratio of the actual amount of water vapor in
the air to the maximum amount of water vapor
the air can hold at a given temperature and
pressure.
UNITS Expressed as a percentage.
ADVANTAGES Widely used due to its direct relationship with
human comfort and weather patterns.
DISADVANTAGES Can be misleading, as it depends on
temperature. A high RH at a low temperature
may not feel as humid as a lower RH at a higher
temperature.
 Primary humidity variables
ABSOLUTE HUMIDITY
DEFINITION The mass of water vapor per unit volume of air.
UNITS Grams per cubic meter (g/m³)
ADVANTAGES Provides a direct measure of the amount of
water vapor in the air, independent of
temperature.
DISADVANTAGES Can be less intuitive to understand than relative
humidity.
 Primary humidity variables
SPECIFIC HUMIDITY
DEFINITION The mass of water vapor per unit mass of moist
air.
UNITS Grams per kilogram (g/kg)
ADVANTAGES Conserves mass during atmospheric processes,
making it useful for studying the water cycle.
DISADVANTAGES Can be complex to calculate and interpret.
 Primary humidity variables
DEW POINT
DEFINITION The temperature at which the air becomes
saturated with water vapor and condensation
begins to form.
UNITS Degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit
ADVANTAGES Provides a direct measure of the air's water
vapor content, independent of temperature and
pressure.
DISADVANTAGES Can be difficult to measure directly in the field.
 Humidity profiles
a graphical representation of
how humidity changes with
altitude. It can be used to
understand atmospheric
processes, such as cloud
formation and precipitation.
 Common humidity profile features
BOUNDARY INVERSIONS TROPOPAUS
LAYER E
Layers of the
The lowest layer of atmosphere where The boundary
the atmosphere, temperature
typically between the
increases with troposphere and
characterized by a altitude, creating a
decrease in humidity stratosphere, often
stable environment marked by a sharp
with increasing
that can trap decrease in
altitude due to
mixing with drier air moisture. humidity.
from above.
 Factors affecting humidity profiles
GEOGRAPHY WEATHER SEASONAL
SYSTEMS VARIATIONS
Proximity to large
bodies of water, Fronts, high- Humidity profiles can
topography, and pressure systems, vary significantly
land use can throughout the year
and low-pressure due to changes in
influence humidity systems can create
profiles. temperature,
different humidity precipitation, and
profiles. atmospheric
circulation.
Instrument used to measure humidity
Hygrometer Psychrometer
Thank you