Lesson 4:
Atmospheric Humidity
RENCES G. GARDOSE, MABio
Instructor I
Science Department
College of Arts and Science
Guimaras State College
McLain, Buenavista, Guimaras
 Overview:
• This module examines the concept of
atmospheric humidity. It begins by looking at
the hydrologic cycle and the circulation of
water in our atmosphere.
• It then looks at the different phases of water,
showing how evaporation, condensation, and
saturation occur at the molecular level.
• Here we learn that there are many ways of
describing humidity.
 Learning Objectives
Students must be able to:
 
1.Describe and outline the process of circulation of
water in the atmosphere.
2.Create a table comparing the phases of water
3.Define, compare and contrast absolute humidity,
specific humidity, vapor pressure, relative humidity.
 Atm Humidity
• The term humidity can describe the amount of
water vapor in the air. To most of us, a moist
day suggests high humidity. So that we may
better understand the concept of humidity, we
will begin this discussion by examining the
circulation of water in the atmosphere. Then,
we will look at different ways to express
humidity.
Circulation of Water in the
Atmosphere
Circulation of Water in the
Atmosphere
 Phases of Water
• The Water Molecule
 Phases of Water
• The Three State of Matter: water as Gas,
as a Liquid and as a Solid
 Phases of Water
• The Three State of Matter: water as Gas,
as a Liquid and as a Solid
Evaporation, Condensation
and Saturation
Evaporation, Condensation
and Saturation
Evaporation, Condensation
and Saturation
Evaporation, Condensation
and Saturation
 Humidity: ABSOLUTE
HUMIDITY
• Humidity, which may refer to any one of a
number of ways of specifying the amount
of water vapor in the air.
• absolute humidity of the air—that is, the
mass of water vapor in a given volume of
air, which can be expressed as
ABSOLUTE HUMIDITY = mass of
water vapour / volume of air.
Humidity: ABSOLUTE
HUMIDITY
 Humidity: ABSOLUTE
HUMIDITY
• The specific humidity does not change as
air rises and descends.
Humidity: SPECIFIC HUMIDITY
AND MIXING RATIO
• Specific humidity = mass of water
vapour / total mass of air
• Mixing ratio = mass of water vapour /
mass of dry air
Humidity: SPECIFIC HUMIDITY
AND MIXING RATIO
Humidity: SPECIFIC HUMIDITY
AND MIXING RATIO
• The average specific
humidity for each
latitude. The highest
average values are
observed in the
tropics and the
lowest values in
polar regions.
 Vapor Pressure
• The air’s moisture content may also be
described by measuring the pressure exerted
by the water vapour in the air.
• Actual vapor pressure indicates the air’s total
water vapour content, whereas saturation
vapor pressure describes how much water
vapor is necessary to make the air saturated
at any given temperature.
Vapor Pressure
 We have several options for describing
the amount of moisture in the air:
• Absolute humidity tells us the mass of water
vapor in a fixed volume of air, or the water vapor
density.
• Specific humidity measures the mass of water
vapor in a fixed total mass of air, and the mixing
ratio describes the mass of water vapor in a
fixed mass of the remaining dry air.
• The actual vapor pressure of air expresses the
amount of water vapor in terms of the amount of
pressure that the water vapour molecules exert.
 We also have an option for describing
how much moisture could be added to the
atmosphere:
• The saturation vapor pressure is the pressure
that the water vapor molecules would exert if
the air were saturated with vapor at a given
temperature.
 Relative Humidity

RH = water vapour / water vapour capacity

RH = actual vapour pressure / saturation

vapour pressure X 100%
 Relative Humidity

• A change in relative humidity can be

brought about in two primary ways:

– by changing the air’s water vapor content

– by changing the air temperature.
 
Relative Humidity
Relative Humidity
Relative Humidity
 Relative Humidity and Dew Point

• RH = actual vapour pressure / saturation

vapour pressure X 100%

• RH = 12mb / 12mb X 100% = 100 percent

• RH = 12mb / 42mb X 100% = 29 percent

 Relative Humidity and Human
Discomfort
• Less evaporation means less cooling, and
so we usually feel warmer than we did with
a similar air temperature, but a lower
relative humidity.
 Relative Humidity and Human
Discomfort
• HEAT STROKE

In an effort to draw attention to this serious

weather-related health hazard, an index
called the heat index (HI)
 Measuring Humidity

• Humidity is most often

measured through automated
instruments (though some
measurements are still taken
manually at some observing
sites). One common
instrument used to obtain dew
point and relative humidity is
the psychrometer
Measuring Humidity
 Measuring Humidity

• Hygrometer
• The hair hygrometer measures relative
humidity by amplifying and measuring
changes in the length of human (or horse)
hair.
 Measuring Humidity

• Hygrometer
• The hair hygrometer measures relative
humidity by amplifying and measuring
changes in the length of human (or horse)
hair.
 Measuring Humidity

An automated instrument that measured

humidity is the electrical hygrometer.
 Online references
Water Science for Schools: The Water Cycle
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercycle.html
Aviation Weather
http://virtualskies.arc.nasa.gov/weather/tutorial/tutorial4.html  
Observing Moisture
http://www.miamisci.org/hurricane/moisture.html  
Water Vapor, Humidity, Dewpoint and Relationship to Precipitation
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lmk/soo/docu/humidity.php   
Building a Psychrometer
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/activities/weatherstation/airwaterboth.html  
Using a Psychrometric Chart to Describe Air Properties
http://www.continentalconsulting.net/news_detail.php?NewsArticleID=3  
Dry Bulb, Wet Bulb and Dew Point Temperature
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/dry-wet-bulb-dew-point-air-d_682.html  
Wet-Bulb Temperature
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wet-bulb_temperature  
Hygrometer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygrometer
Thank You for your
kind attention!