Humid

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. Humidity indicates the likelihood for precipitation, dew, or fog to be present.

Types of Humidity

There are three main measurements of humidity: absolute, relative and specific.

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.

Relative Humidity

Relative humidity, expressed as a percentage, measures the current absolute humidity relative to the maximum for that temperature.

Specific Humidity

Specific humidity is a ratio of the water vapor content of the mixture to the total air content on a mass basis.

Effects on Humans

High humidity can have a range of effects on the human body. It can contribute to feelings of low energy and lethargy. In high humidity conditions where temperature and humidity combine to exceed a certain level, the human body's ability to cool itself can become seriously impaired.

Measurement

Humidity is measured by means of a hygrometer; the calculations used to derive humidity from a hygrometer are complex.

See Also

• Dew Point
• Hygrometer
• Psychrometrics

References

Humid Resources
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