However, when there is a high level of saturation in the soil, this can up the dew point several degrees. This contributes much less to humidity levels compared to what comes off warm bodies of water, like the Gulf of Mexico. The second source of humidity is more local, and it arrives in a process called "evapotranspiration." This flashy word basically accounts for moisture that evaporates into the atmosphere from plants and soil. Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico can travel all the way up into much of eastern Canada at times. When this humid air is allowed to flow northward across the country, humid, tropical air masses migrate inland. The 80 degree waters of the Gulf of Mexico results in a very humid air mass that sits over the tropical body of water. In the US, the Gulf of Mexico is the primary source of humidity. The main source of atmospheric moisture comes from warm bodies of water. If you have ever wondered why it becomes humid, one has to look for the source of atmospheric moisture. Dew points of 70 or greater are considered tropical and very uncomfortable, as our bodies have a difficult time cooling themselves. Meanwhile, when the dew point climbs into the 60s, it will start to feel humid. Dew point readings in the 50s and lower are considered comfortable. That is just one more reason to pay more attention to the dew point. This makes relative humidity a poor judge of how it will feel outside. High relative humidity levels that occur when air temperatures are below 60 will still feel comfortable due to the fact that the air can't hold much moisture when the temperature is that cool. This can mislead people to think it is humid, when it may actually be quite comfortable. Anytime the dew point is equal to the air temperature, 100% relative humidity is achieved. The closer the dew point is to the temperature, the higher the relative humidity. As the air temperature rises, the air gains more capacity to store humidity in it. On the other hand, relative humidity only tells us how saturated the air is compared to how much it can hold. The dew point temperature tells us the absolute quantity of moisture that is in the air, thereby indicating how humid it will feel outside to our bodies. This gives the best measure of comfort or discomfort on any given day. In order to diagnose how humid it will feel outdoors, the dew point is what you want to keep in mind. Let's look at which measurement gives you the best snapshot of comfort and also look into the science of why it becomes humid. The two terms that describe humidity are "relative humidity" and "dew point." Relative humidity is measured as a percentage and the dew point is given as a temperature. When checking the current weather conditions, it is helpful to have the ability to quickly diagnose how humid it is before even heading outside. Relative HumidityĪs we head further into the summer, warm and humid days continue to be the rule rather than the exception across much of the lower 48. Updated: Jun 10th 2021 Professor Paul Thursday - Dew Point vs.
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