Relative humidity is how much moisture is in the air compared to the most moisture the air could hold at that temperature. Think of it like a percentage: 100% relative humidity means the air is completely saturated with water vapor, and it can't hold any more.
To understand it better, consider these points:
- Water Vapor Content: It's about the amount of water vapor actually present in the air.
- Maximum Capacity: It compares that amount to the maximum amount of water vapor the air could possibly hold at a specific temperature. Warmer air can hold more moisture than colder air.
- Percentage: Relative humidity is expressed as a percentage. A higher percentage means the air is closer to being saturated (full of moisture).
- Temperature Dependence: The air's ability to hold moisture is heavily dependent on its temperature. This is why relative humidity changes even if the actual amount of water vapor in the air stays the same (if the temperature changes).
Example:
Imagine a glass.
- The size of the glass represents the maximum amount of moisture the air can hold (depending on temperature).
- The amount of water in the glass represents the actual amount of moisture in the air.
Relative humidity is the percentage of how full the glass is. If the glass is half full, the relative humidity is 50%.
In summary, relative humidity tells you how close the air is to being completely saturated with moisture at its current temperature.
