Fact of the Day: 14/09/2021

You’ve probably heard the term “humid” before. But what does it mean?

Humidity refers to how much water vapor is present in the atmosphere. This water vapor is important, because it helps regulate air temperature and provides energy for storms. Water vapor can also condense out of the air in the form of precipitation. 

Air can hold a certain amount of water vapor at a time, depending on its temperature. The higher the temperature, the greater the amount of water vapor air can hold before reaching its “saturation” point; conversely, the lower the temperature, the less amount of water vapor air can hold before becoming saturated. Relative humidity refers to how much water vapor air contains relative to its saturation point. A relative humidity of 100%, for example, means the air has reached its saturation point. Anything under 100% means the air remains unsaturated.

If air becomes oversaturated (relative humidity > 100%), the water vapor will condense out of it to form clouds, fog, or precipitation. This is why weather forecasts often include a section that reports on relative humidity—it’s a possible indicator of rain.

Reference(s): https://www.britannica.com/science/humidity

Fact Author: Ace

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