A134 Uriarte Lab 5

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL
AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING

Visca, Baybay City, Leyte, PHILIPPINES
Telephone: (053) 525-0140 local 1015
Email: dabe@vsu.edu.ph
Website: www.vsu.edu.ph
ABEn 145 – HYDROMETEOROLOGY
Name: Lynnie Joy S. Uriarte Course and Year: BSABE-3

Group No.: 1 Lab Schedule: TTH, (1:00-4:00)
Laboratory Exercise No. 5

AIR HUMIDITY MEASUREMENT
I. INTRODUCTION
The amount of water vapor in the air is known as humidity. The humidity will be high
if there is a lot of water vapor in the atmosphere. It feels wetter outside as the humidity rises.
When it is high, there isn't much place for anything else since the air is so densely packed with
water vapor. When it's humid outside, sweating can make it difficult to cool off since it can't
properly escape into the air. Mold in your home (often in the bathroom, which is frequently
damp), as well as problems with common household devices, are all attributed to humidity. On
electronics, moisture from humid air condenses or settles. A loss of power may result from this
interrupting the electric current. If not shielded from the effects of dampness, computers and
televisions can experience power loss similar to this. A dehumidifier, which removes moisture
from the air, makes living with humidity easier. Hurricanes are also linked to high humidity. To
form a hurricane, air must have a high moisture content.
Additionally, a psychrometer, sometimes known as a hygrometer, is a tool used to

measure humidity. A dehumidifier is frequently controlled by a humidistat, which is a humidity-
activated switch. Reliable humidity measurements are essential throughout businesses, even
though no scientific measurement is 100% accurate. Highly accurate humidity measurements
are essential to preventing the deterioration of everything from wooden construction materials,
food products, pharmaceuticals, fuels, paper, electronic components, and many other
materials. Water vapor above certain levels can lead to condensation and eventually corrosion
or mold. Measurements of humidity aid in preserving ideal climatic conditions for products and
guard against expensive harm to priceless commodities.
Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge and innovative
technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
The goal of this exercise is for the students to become familiar with the various air humidity
measurement tools, understand how they work, and be able to take observations and turn
their values into useful data.
II. MATERIALS
• Psychrometer
• Hygrometer
• Hygrograph
III. METHODS
A discussion and demonstration pertinent to the instruments were conducted by the

instructor or the technician assigned to the agromet station. Students then must obtain at least
two days of reading from each of the instruments mentioned during observation periods of the
day. It must be noted that no two students took observations at the same time or date, which
can be arranged with the instructor or technician. Hence, to obtain the current air relative
humidity, we used a sling-type psychrometer and recorded the wet bulb and dried bulb
temperature readings by dipping them in water to wet the clothed wet bulb. Faced in the
direction of the incoming wind, holding the handle, whirl the psychrometer a few (about 10-15
or about a minute) times, then record the wet bulb temperature. by reading the dried bulb
temperature last.
Using the psychrometric table currently used by the agromet station to determine the
rh. Students can also ask for help from their instructor or technician. Using the equation given,
students are also able to compute the saturation vapor pressure (es), actual vapor pressure
(e), dew-point temperature, and density of the air at the time of observation by checking the
computed values of e and dew-point temperature with the table provided by the technician.
After the computation, students must enter the observed values and corresponding desired
unknown variables following the table format shown on the next page. Include the cloud cover
in the sky at the time of observation. Students must also indicate the location of the station
and the elevation above sea level. They also scanned the rh recorded (from hygrograph charts
if available) at the agromet station to find the lowest and highest %rh in the past months and
the corresponding date these values occurred at VSU.
IV. RESULT AND DISCUSSION
4.1. A discussion on the function and operating principles of the sling-type psychrometer and
hygrograph. Also give the requirements for the installation of these instruments.
Figure 1. Sling Psychrometer

Source form: https://byjus.com/chemistry/psychrometer/
One of the oldest used instrument for determining relative humidity is the whirling
hygrometer or the sling psychrometer. It has two thermometers, one of which has a wick
wrapped around it that has been saturated with liquid water that is at room temperature. They
are referred to as dry bulb and wet bulb thermometers. The wet bulb thermometer reads lower
than the dry bulb thermometer when the sling psychrometer is spun quickly in the air due to
the wick's water evaporation. Relative humidity is measured with a sling psychrometer and is
given as a percentage. It is calculated by multiplying the amount of moisture in the air at a
specific temperature by the maximum amount of moisture the air may contain at that same
temperature, dividing the result by 100, and then multiplying the result again. Usually, the dew-
point temperature is lower. Unless the air is saturated, in which case they both equal the dry-
bulb temperature. Additionally, unless the air is saturated, the wetbulb temperature is higher
than the dew point temperature. Both are equivalent. The temperature at the dew point is
where air begins to condense as water vapour, while wet-bulb temperature indicates cooling
how much moisture can evaporate from the air.
Figure2. Hydrograph
source from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zv4r7nb/revision/1
A hydrograph is a graph that shows the stream flow over time. The hydrograph often
shows peaks after precipitation events and troughs after dry periods. They often cover hours
or days rather than weeks or months because of how little time they cover. Additionally, it
enables us to look into the connection between a rainfall event and discharge. It displays a
region's rainfall totals as well as a river's outflow. A river's discharge is the amount of water
that flows through it per second. In cubic meters per second, it is measured. The longer the
precipitation lasts, the more time has passed for the farther-off places to contribute to the
discharge at the gaging station. The pattern of precipitation and the characteristics of the basin
determine the lag time of the peak and the shape of the DRH (size, slope, shape, and storage
capacity). Additionally, similar to a recording rain gage chart, streamflow hydrographs can be
obtained from a recorder of water level or discharge that is installed at the river gaging station
as a result of the runoff processes that compromise overland flow, interflow, and base flow
that are produced by precipitation storms.
4.2. Tabulated observed values of dry and wet bulb temperature and other computed
variables following the format shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Data collection format for dry and wet bulb, relative humidity and cloud cover.
VSU-PAGASA Agrometeorological Station, Baybay City, Leyte

Geographical location:10°44’43.25068” N,124°47’26.90275” E. Elevation above MSLP:7m
Item Raw Data Date
No. August 16, 2022 August 17, 2022
8 AM 2 PM 8 AM 2 PM
1 Dry bulb (Tdb), °C 26.2 29.4 27.0 30.2
2 Wet bulb (Twb), °C 25.0 26.2 25.6 26.8
3 RH, % 91 78 89 77
4 Cloud cover, okta 04 06 08 06
Computed variables Daily compute d values
5 Sat. vapor pressure (es), mb 27.7 32.7 28.9 34.1
6 Actual vapor pressure (e), mb 25.207 25.506 25.721 26.257
7 Dew point (Td), °C 21.2 21.4 21.5 21.9
8 3 0.0021 0.0019 0.0020 0.0019
Vapor density (ρv), g/m
9 Remarks
The demographic above presents the results of the two days of reading from each of
the instruments mentioned during observation periods of the day, which include the current air
humidity and the recorded wet bulb and dry bulb temperatures. An unknown variable was also
gathered, including the cloud cover in the sky at the time of observation. The location of the
station is also indicated, as is the elevation above sea level. As shown in Table 1, The result
shows that the recorded atmospheric temperature of the dry bulb on August 16, 2022, at 8
a.m. was 26.2 oC, followed by a 2 p.m. temperature of 29.4oC. The wet bulb temperature for
this day at 8 AM was recorded at 25.0 oC and at 2 PM was recorded at 26.2 oC, which means
that the air temperature on this day was decreasing due to the contact with the wet cloth that
absorbs some moisture and gives up some heat. Thus, the temperature of the air decreases.
On the other hand, the relative humidity of this day has been recorded at 91% and 78%, which
means that the air at 8 AM was totally saturated with water vapor compared to 2 PM. The
cloud cover in the sky for this day was recorded at 04 okta at 8 AM, which means the sky is
half cloudy, while at 2 PM it was at 06 okta, which means that the sky cover is broken.
Moreover, some of the variables were also computed, including the saturation vapor pressure
of the day, which is 27.7 mb and 32.7 mb, respectively. while the actual vapor pressure is
25.207 mb and 25.506 mb, respectively. On the other hand, the dewpoint temperature was
computed at 21.2 oC and 21.4 oC, which means daytime is drier than noontime. Hence, the
vapor density at 8 AM was 0.0021 g/m3 and 0.0019 g/m3 for 2PM.
On August 17, 2022, at 8 a.m., the air temperature was recorded at 27.0 oC and 30.2
o
C at 2 p.m. For the wet bulb temperature, it was lower than the dry bulb temperature, which
was recorded at 28.9 oC and 34.1 oC, which also means that the air temperature on this day
was also decreasing. Relative humidity, on the other hand, was 89% and 77%, which means
that the air temperature during the daytime was more saturated with water vapor than during
the noontime. The cloud cover in the sky for this day was also recorded at 08 okta at 8 AM,
which means the sky is completely cloudy, while at 2 PM it was at 06 okta, which means that
the sky cover is broken. Moreover, some of the variables were also computed, including the
saturation vapor pressure of the day, which is 46.8 mb and 51.7 mb, respectively, while the
actual vapor pressure is 25.721 mb and 26.257 mb, respectively. The dewpoint temperature,
on the other hand, was computed at 21.5 oC and 21.9 oC, which means there is more dryness
at noon than in the daytime. Hence, the vapor density at 8 AM was 0.0020 g/m 3 and 0.0019
g/m3 for 2PM.
4.3. Tabulated record low and high RH for the past month.
Table 2. Data collection format for record lowest and highest RH for the month of August 2022.
Data Date (MM-DD-YYYY) Value

Lowest August 31, 2022 65%
Highest August 7, 2022 95%
Table 2 reveals the record of the lowest and highest daily relative humidity in the year 2022
that occurred at VSU-PAGASA Agrometeorological Station. It demonstrates that the lowest
daily relative humidity in 2022 occurred on August 31, 2022, with a value of 65%. The highest
daily relative humidity, on the other hand, was on August 31, 2022, with an average value of
95%. Thus, it can be interfering that more rainfall occurred on the day of August 31.
4.4. Answer all questions and problems given below.
a.) How is air temperature related to humidity?

 It's crucial to understand that the reading for relative humidity (RH) is based on a
percentage of the amount of humidity needed to make the air saturated with moisture.
The website Sciencing.com states that as air temperature rises, it can store more water
molecules, resulting in a drop in relative humidity. Relative humidity rises as
temperatures fall. Basically, colder air has a considerably lower saturation threshold
than warmer air relative to the current temperature, whereas warmer air requires more
moisture to achieve its saturation point. Thus, "relative" humidity is referred to. The
relative humidity rating for the first room will be lower than the second since it will be
difficult for the moisture in that room to condense into water if two rooms have the same
quantity of moisture but one is at 96 degrees Fahrenheit and the other is at 40 degrees.
b.) Explain why an inverse relationship exists between temperature and relative humidity.
 The formula describing the relationship between temperature and humidity simply
states that they are inversely proportional. When the temperature rises, the relative
humidity will fall, making the air drier; when the temperature falls, the air will get wet,
making the relative humidity rise.
c.) Is the relative humidity usually higher or lower in this area in summer? In the morning? In
the early afternoon? Explain.
 The relative humidity is typically highest at midnight and reduces quickly throughout
the early morning when the sun rises until it reaches its lowest point just after noon.
Then it rises once more to midnight, picking up speed in the late afternoon and early
evening before levelling off at midnight.
d.) Explain what is meant by the term dew point.
 The dew point is the temperature that air must be cooled to in order to reach 100%
relative humidity (RH), while maintaining constant pressure. The air can no longer hold
any more water in the gaseous state. Warm air can store more water vapor than cold
air, but not as much. As a result, the air around cooling objects is forced to condense
of water vapor. Dew is made of the tiny water droplets that result from condensation.
The dew point is the temperature at which dew forms.
e.) Explain the meaning of the terms air vapor pressure and saturation vapor pressure.
 The pressure that a vapor exerts on the condensed phases (solid or liquid) in a closed
system when they are in thermodynamic equilibrium with one another at a specific
temperature is known as vapor pressure (or equilibrium vapor pressure). The
equilibrium vapor pressure relates to the propensity of particles to escape from the
liquid and provides an indication of the liquid's rate of evaporation (or a solid). Volatile
is a term used to describe a chemical that has a high vapor pressure at room
temperature. The kinetic energy of a liquid's molecules increases with temperature,
and as the kinetic energy of the molecules rises, so does the number of molecules that
transition into vapor, raising the vapor pressure. A liquid sample placed into a container
will typically start to evaporate. The relative confinement of the liquid state will allow
molecules to transition into the gaseous state. When equilibrium is reached, this
conversion will appear to stop if the container is closed. The rate of evaporation equals
the rate of condensation under equilibrium conditions.
The vapor pressure that is in equilibrium with an open liquid surface is known as the
saturated vapor pressure. As a result, for a given temperature, it is also the pressure
at which a liquid will vaporize. The saturated vapor pressure rises quickly with
temperature as does the vapor's density, which eventually approaches that of a liquid.
When the density of the vapor reaches a specific temperature and the density of the
liquid, the two cannot be distinguished from one another. The most significant result of
the saturated vapor pressure's dependency on drop size is that it provides an
explanation for supersaturation of a vapour—the persistence of the gaseous state
under circumstances where the substance should transition to liquid.
f.) Given 80% relative humidity and 1013 mb total atmospheric pressure of an air mass at 25
°C, determine:
f.1) saturation vapor pressure

Given: Air temperature = 25oC
Required: Saturation vapor pressure (es)
Solution: Saturation vapor (es) = 0.
Saturation vapor (es) = 0.
Saturation vapor (es) = 2.46 mb
f.2) Actual vapor pressure

Given: Relative Humidity = 80%; Saturation vapor pressure = 2.46 mb Required:
Actual vapor pressure (e) =?
Solution: Actual Vapor pressure (e) = Relative Humidity x Saturation vapor pressure
Actual Vapor pressure (e) = 0.80 mb x 2.46 mb = 1.968 mb
f.3) dew point temperature Given: Actual

vapor pressure = 196.8 mb Required: dew point
temperature (Td) =? Solution: dew point
temperature (Td) = dew point temperature
(Td) =
dew point temperature (Td) =
dew point temperature (Td) = -14.6 oC
f.4) absolute humidity or density of the moist air (g/m3)

Given: Actual vapor pressure = 1.968 mb; total atmospheric pressure of an air mass = 25 oC
Required: Absolute Humidity (AH) =?
Solution: Absolute Humidity (AH) = 217 (e/T)

Absolute Humidity (AH) = 217 (1.968 mb/273.15 + 25)
Absolute Humidity (AH) = 1.43 g/m3
f.5) equivalent specific humidity (g/kg)
Given: Let P = atmospheric pressure = 843 mb
Required: Specific Humidity (SH) =?
Solution: Specific Humidity = 0.622 (e/P)
Specific Humidity = 0.622 (1.968 mb/843 mb)
Specific Humidity = 0.00145 g of water vapor / kg of dry air
f.6) mixing ratio

Given: total atmospheric pressure of air = 1013 mb ; Actual vapor pressure = 1.968 mb
Required Mixing Ratio =?
Solution: Mixing Ratio (MR) = 622 (Pv/PA-Pv)

Mixing Ratio = 622 (1.968 mb/1013 mbb-1.968 mb)
Mixing Ratio = 1.21 g of vapor / kg of dry air
V. CONCLUSION
In order to prevent illnesses from developing in the home, it's crucial to maintain
humidity levels. Low humidity can cause a variety of health issues, including dry, cracked
skin, bloody noses, chapped lips, and dry sinuses. Additionally, pre-existing illnesses like
bronchitis or asthma may worsen. High humidity brings extra dangers to the fore. Many
microorganisms, such as dust mites, bacteria, and mold, can flourish due to this rise in
moisture. Dust mites, particularly if they thrive in beds and furniture, can exacerbate the
consequences of respiratory conditions. Mold and bacteria, like the one that causes
Legionnaires' disease, have the potential to be fatal if they grow and get into air ducts,
where they are then circulated into inhabited areas.
It is crucial to understand a substance's vapour pressure when evaluating risks. The

pressure at which a liquid and its vapour are in equilibrium at a specific temperature is
known as the vapour pressure. It is believed that the vapour is "pushing" against the
atmosphere. The most significant result of the saturated vapor pressure's dependency on
drop size is that it provides an explanation for supersaturation of a vapour—the persistence
of the gaseous state under circumstances where the substance should transition to liquid.
VI. REFERENCES
National Geographic. (n.d.). Humidity.
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/humidity
Process Sensing Technologies. (n.d.). Humidity Academic Theory 1- What is Humidity?

https://www.processsensing.com/en-us/blog/What-is-
Humidity.htm#:~:text=Humidity%20is%20measured%20using%20a,possible%20is%20cruci
al%20across%20industries.
ScienceDirect. (n.d.). Sling Psychrometer.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/sling-psychrometer
Laurenzi, T. (2019, February 28). HOW DOES TEMPERATURE AFFECT RELATIVE

HUMIDITY METER READINGS? https://www.delmhorst.com/blog/relative-humidity-meter-
readings#:~:text=As%20noted%20by%20the%20Sciencing,drop%2C%20relative%20humidi
ty%20increases.%E2%80%9D
ScienceDirect. (From: Environmental Organic Chemistry for Engineers, 2017). Vapour

Pressure. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/vapour-
pressure
Griffith Energy Services. (2016, Sep 27). THE IMPORTANCE OF BALANCING YOUR
HOME’S HUMIDITY. https://www.griffithenergyservices.com/articles/the-importance-of-
balancing-your-homes-
humidity#:~:text=Low%20humidity%20is%20one%20of,or%20bronchitis%20can%20become
%20aggravated.

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL

AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING

ABEn 145 – HYDROMETEOROLOGY

Name: Lynnie Joy S. Uriarte Course and Year: BSABE-3

Laboratory Exercise No. 5

Additionally, a psychrometer, sometimes known as a hygrometer, is a tool used to

A discussion and demonstration pertinent to the instruments were conducted by the

Figure 1. Sling Psychrometer

VSU-PAGASA Agrometeorological Station, Baybay City, Leyte

Data Date (MM-DD-YYYY) Value

4.4. Answer all questions and problems given below.

a.) How is air temperature related to humidity?

f.1) saturation vapor pressure

f.2) Actual vapor pressure

f.3) dew point temperature Given: Actual

dew point temperature (Td) =

dew point temperature (Td) = -14.6 oC

f.4) absolute humidity or density of the moist air (g/m3)

Solution: Absolute Humidity (AH) = 217 (e/T)

f.5) equivalent specific humidity (g/kg)

f.6) mixing ratio

Solution: Mixing Ratio (MR) = 622 (Pv/PA-Pv)

It is crucial to understand a substance's vapour pressure when evaluating risks. The

Process Sensing Technologies. (n.d.). Humidity Academic Theory 1- What is Humidity?

ScienceDirect. (n.d.). Sling Psychrometer.

Laurenzi, T. (2019, February 28). HOW DOES TEMPERATURE AFFECT RELATIVE

ScienceDirect. (From: Environmental Organic Chemistry for Engineers, 2017). Vapour

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