Earth Science- Humidity/Dew Point Demo Lab & Analysis (35 pts possible)

LAB: Measuring Relative Humidity and Dew Point

a. CAREFULLY FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS AND BE SURE TO ACCURATELY RECORD ALL
TEMPERATURES GIVEN FROM CLASS DEMO
b. Use Psychrometer temperatures given to fill in data table and use to complete
analysis.
HOMEWORK:
1. Review all notes on water in the atmosphere
a. BE SURE YOU ALSO KNOW THE FOLLOWING:
 Air moves from HIGH to LOW pressure – creates breezes and winds
o Effect of Earth’s rotation?
o Coriolis Effect
 Global Winds form from global pressure belts (air moves from high to low pressure)
 Temperature and humidity (moisture) determine air density and air pressure
i. Elevation/altitude also affects air pressure
2. Complete the Relative Humidity and Dew Point Temperature Labs- data tables & analysis
Relative Humidity and Dew Point Temp Practice

Dew Point Temp Worksheet Complete the chart below using the Rel. Humidity and Dew Point Temp.
Tables. Note the Wet Bulb Depression is the difference between the wet-bulb and dry-bulb thermometers

. Air Temp Wet Bulb Temp Diff. betw. wet and Dew Point Temperature
(C) (C) dry bulb (C)
(C)
1 18 13
2 28 26
3 14 8
4 8 4
5 0 -3
6 -11 -12
7 15 10
8 14 10

Relative Humidity
Complete the chart below using the Tables on page 704 of your Earth Science Reference Tables.
Air Temp Wet Bulb Temp Wet Bulb Relative Humidity
(C) (C) Depression (%)
(C)
1 24 16
2 28 18
3 20 17
4 4 -1
5 19 16
6 15 10
7 23 21
8 0 -3
For questions #1-10, refer to the graph below, which shows the hourly surface temperature, dew point, and relative
humidity for a twenty-four hour period during the month of May.

100
90
80 Relative Humidity
70 (%)
60 Air Temp. (F)
50 Dew Point Temp.
40 (F)
30
20

12:00 AM
12:00 PM
2:00 AM
4:00 AM
6:00 AM
8:00 AM
10:00 AM
12:00 PM
2:00 PM
4:00 PM
6:00 PM
8:00 PM
10:00 PM

1. The lowest air temperature occurred at what time?

2. The highest relative humidity reading occurred at what time?
3. The highest air temperature occurred at about what time?
4. The lowest relative humidity occurred at about what time?
5. According to the graph, what happens to the relative humidity as the air temperature increases?
6. At what time(s) did the air temperature equal the dew point?
7. What was the relative humidity (%) when the air temperature equaled the dew point?
8. Condensation (water coming out of the air) is most likely to occur at approximately what time?
9. At approximately what time was the rate of evaporation highest?
10. The greatest change in air temperature occurred during the period from:
A) midnight to 6AM C) noon to 6PM
B) 6AM to noon D) 6PM to midnight

1. __________

2. __________

3. __________

4. __________

5. __________

6. __________

7. __________

8. __________

9. __________

10. __________
Use the following tables for your calculations.
 Sling Psychrometer Lab –background
An instrument used to measure humidity by hand is the Sling Psychrometer . The Sling
Psychrometer works on the principle that evaporation is a cooling process (evaporation causes
cooling). The sling Psychrometer has 2 thermometers – a wet bulb and a dry bulb
thermometer. The wet-bulb has a wet wick around the end. The dry-bulb is a regular
thermometer. You gently rotate (sling) the psychrometer in the air. The dry-bulb thermometer
is measuring the air temperature. The wet-bulb is measuring evaporation. As water
evaporates from the wick, the temperature of the thermometer decreases (evaporation causes
cooling). The drier the air (less moisture), the greater the decrease in temperature and the
greater the difference between the wet and dry bulb temperatures. For moist air, less
evaporation occurs and there is little change in the wet-bulb temperature and less of a
difference between wet and dry bulb temperatures. IF there is NO difference between the 2
temperatures, the air is saturated (air is holding all the moisture it is capable of holding at that
temperature). Therefore, there is no evaporation taking place.

I will provide the data for the lab activity as I demonstrate the use of the sling psychrometer in
class.

Sling Psychrometer LAB Activity

You will be CALCULATING the relative humidity AND dew point temperature from your
data using the charts given in this document.

Procedures:

1. Lightly wet the wick on the thermometer of your sling psychrometer.

2. Using your data table, record the initial temperatures of BOTH thermometers starting
with the wet-bulb temperature.
3. Gently sling your psychrometer for approx. ONE minute.
a. Check the wet bulb temperature FIRST, followed by the dry-bulb temperature. If
the temperature has changed, be sure to make a note of this.
 4. Continue slinging your psychrometer and checking the temperatures (approx. 30 sec
intervals) UNTIL the wet-bulb temperature stops decreasing.
a. NOTE: If the wet-bulb temperature begins to INCREAS (rise), you went “too far”.
All the water had evaporated so the thermometer is simply recording the air
temperature.
5. SUBTRACT the final wet and dry bulb temperatures.
6. Use the Relative Humidity Chart (dry bulb temperature and the difference between the
wet and dry-bulb temperatures) and record the relative humidity as a percent.

INSTRUCTION SHEET & ANALYSIS:

Finding Dew Point & Relative Humidity

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Procedures for using the Sling Psychrometer:
 Be sure the wet bulb thermometer is WET
 Record the initial temperatures in your “Field Data Tables”
 Gently twirl the psychrometer for approx. 1 minute
 Record BOTH temperatures BEGINNING with the WET-BULB
 Gently twirl the psychrometer for an additional 30 – 45 secs (approx.)
 Record the temperatures (always record WET-BULB 1st)
2. Record these on your data sheet found in the lab.
3. Determine the Dew Point Temperature & Relative Humidity using the the tables on
this document. (Use DRY BULB & DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DRY/WET BULB to find
either Dew point or Relative humidity depending on the graph you are using.
4. Record on your lab data sheet. Be sure to answer all analysis questions on this
document as well.

Field DATA TABLES

Initial 1st 2nd Final

Temperature Check Check Temperature
Wet-Bulb
Temperature
Dry-Bulb
Temperature
Difference
(dry – wet)
Final Relative humidity=
Final Dew point=
ANALYSIS:
1. Why SHOULD you run the experiment SEVERAL TIMES and average the results?
2. Why was the wet-bulb temperature always less than the dry bulb temperature?
a. Could the wet- & dry- bulb temperatures be the same? EXPLAIN:
b. Could the wet-bulb be higher than the dry-bulb temperature? EXPLAIN:
3. Explain the relationship between difference in the wet- & dry-bulb temperatures and % of
moisture in the air
4. What units are used for dew point temperature? For Relative Humidity?

5. Explain WHY warm air can hold more water vapor than cooler air.