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Relative humidity is an important metric used in weather forecasts and reports, as it is an indicator of the likelihood of precipitation, dew, or fog. In hot summer weather, a rise in relative humidity increases the apparent temperature to humans (and other animals) by hindering the evaporation of perspiration from the skin.
A relative humidity of 100% indicates the dew point is equal to the current temperature and that the air is maximally saturated with water. When the moisture content remains constant and temperature increases, relative humidity decreases, but the dew point remains constant. [9]
A given value of relative humidity causes larger increases in the heat index at higher temperatures. For example, at approximately 27 °C (81 °F), the heat index will agree with the actual temperature if the relative humidity is 45%, but at 43 °C (109 °F), any relative-humidity reading above 18% will make the heat index higher than 43 °C. [5]
Apparent temperature, also known as "feels like", [1] [2] is the temperature equivalent perceived by humans, caused by the combined effects of air temperature, relative humidity and wind speed. The measure is most commonly applied to the perceived outdoor temperature.
Schematic of the LCL in relation to the temperature (T) and dew point and their altitude (Z); the moist adiabatic temperature curve above the LCL is also sketched for reference The lifting condensation level or lifted condensation level ( LCL ) is the height at which the relative humidity (RH) of an air parcel will reach 100% with respect to ...
The wet-bulb temperature is the lowest temperature that may be achieved by evaporative cooling of a water-wetted, ventilated surface.. By contrast, the dew point is the temperature to which the ambient air must be cooled to reach 100% relative humidity assuming there is no further evaporation into the air; it is the temperature where condensation (dew) and clouds would form.
For a constant temperature, the smaller the difference, the more moisture there is, and the higher the relative humidity. In the lower troposphere , more moisture (small dew point depression) results in lower cloud bases and lifted condensation levels (LCL).
Put another way, a w is the equilibrium relative humidity (ERH) expressed as a fraction instead of as a percentage. As temperature increases, a w typically increases, except in some products with crystalline salt or sugar. Water migrates from areas of high a w to areas of low a w.