Temperature -t(oC) -40 -20 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 40 50 60 0 80 90 100 200 300 400 500

Density -(kg/m3) 1.514 1.395 1.293 1.269 1.24 1.225 1.204 1.184 1.165 1.12 1.109 1.060 1.029 0.9996 0.9 21 0.9461 0. 461 0.6159 0.5243 0.4565

Specific Weight -(N/m3) 14.85 13.68 12.6 12.45 12.23 12.01 11.81 11.61 11.43 11.05 10.88 10.40 10.09 9.803 9.533 9.2 8 .31 6.040 5.142 4.4

Relative humidity

!r"m Wi#ipe$ia% the free encyc&"pe$ia 'ump t"( na)igati"n% search This artic&e is written like a personal reflection or essay rather than an encyclopedic description of the subject. *&ease he&p impr")e it +y re,riting it in an encyc&"pe$ic sty&e. (September 2012)

- hygr"meter is a $e)ice use$ f"r measuring the humi$ity "f air. Relative humidity is the rati" "f the partia& pressure "f ,ater )ap"r in an air-,ater mi.ture t" the saturate$ )ap"r pressure "f ,ater at a prescri+e$ temperature. The re&ati)e humi$ity "f air $epen$s n"t "n&y "n temperature +ut a&s" "n the pressure "f the system "f interest.

Contents

1 Definiti"n 2 /easurement 3 /isc"ncepti"n 4 Significance o 4.1 0&imate c"ntr"& o 4.2 0"mf"rt o 4.3 1ui&$ings o 4.4 2ehic&es o 4.5 -)iati"n 5 *ressure $epen$ence o 5.1 3nhancement fact"r 6 4e&ate$ c"ncepts 5ther imp"rtant facts 8 See a&s" 9 4eferences 10 3.terna& &in#s

Definition

The re&ati)e humi$ity ,ater

"f an air-,ater mi.ture is $efine$ as the rati" "f the partia& in the mi.ture t" the saturate$ )ap"r pressure "f

pressure "f ,ater )ap"r 67258

at a prescri+e$ temperature.

4e&ati)e humi$ity is n"rma&&y e.presse$ as a percentage an$ is ca&cu&ate$ +y using the f"&&",ing e9uati"n(:1;

Measurement
The humi$ity "f an air-,ater )ap"r mi.ture is $etermine$ thr"ugh the use "f psychr"metric charts if +"th the $ry +u&+ temperature 6T8 an$ the ,et +u&+ temperature 6Tw8 "f the mi.ture are #n",n. These 9uantities are rea$i&y estimate$ +y using a s&ing psychr"meter. There are se)era& empirica& c"rre&ati"ns that can +e use$ t" estimate the saturate$ )ap"r pressure "f ,ater )ap"r as a functi"n "f temperature. The -nt"ine e9uati"n is am"ng the &east c"mp&e. "f these f"rmu&as% ha)ing "n&y three parameters 6-% 1% an$ 08. 5ther c"rre&ati"ns% such as the th"se presente$ +y <"ff-<ratch an$ /agnus Tenten% are m"re c"mp&icate$ +ut yie&$ +etter accuracy:citation needed;. The c"rre&ati"n presente$ +y 1uc# :2; is c"mm"n&y enc"untere$ in the &iterature an$ pr")i$es a reas"na+&e +a&ance +et,een c"mp&e.ity an$ accuracy(

,here is the $ry +u&+ temperature e.presse$ in $egrees 0e&sius 6C8% is the a+s"&ute pressure e.presse$ in hect"pasca&s 6hPa8% an$ is the saturate$ )ap"r pressure e.presse$ in hect"pasca&s 6hPa8. 1uc# has rep"rte$ that the ma.imum re&ati)e err"r is &ess than 0.20= +et,een -20>0 an$ ?50>0 ,hen this particu&ar f"rm "f the genera&i@e$ f"rmu&a is use$ t" estimate the saturate$ )ap"r pressure "f ,ater.

Misconception
5ften the n"ti"n "f air h"&$ing ,ater )ap"r is presente$ t" $escri+e the c"ncept "f re&ati)e humi$ity. This% h",e)er% is a misc"ncepti"n. -ir is a mi.ture "f gases 6nitr"gen% ".ygen% arg"n% ,ater )ap"r% an$ "ther gases8 an$ as such the c"nstituents "f the mi.ture simp&y act as a transp"rter "f ,ater )ap"r +ut are n"t a h"&$er "f it. Re ati!e "#midit$ is $efine$ in terms "f "n&y the physica& pr"perties "f ,ater an$ thus is unre&ate$ t" the n"ti"n "f air %o ding water.:3;:4; An fact% an air-&ess )"&ume can c"ntain ,ater )ap"r an$ theref"re the humi$ity "f this )"&ume can +e rea$i&y $etermine$.

Significance
Climate control
0&imate c"ntr"& refers t" the c"ntr"& "f temperature an$ re&ati)e humi$ity f"r human c"mf"rt% hea&th an$ safety% an$ f"r the technica& re9uirements "f machines an$ pr"cesses% in +ui&$ings% )ehic&es an$ "ther enc&"se$ spaces.

Comfort
7umans are sensiti)e t" humi$ air +ecause the human +"$y uses e)ap"rati)e c""&ing as the primary mechanism t" regu&ate temperature. Bn$er humi$ c"n$iti"ns% the rate at ,hich perspirati"n e)ap"rates "n the s#in is &",er than it ,"u&$ +e un$er ari$ c"n$iti"ns. 1ecause humans percei)e the rate o& %eat tran'&er fr"m the +"$y rather than temperature itse&f%:5; ,e fee& ,armer at a gi)en temperature ,hen the re&ati)e humi$ity is high than ,hen it is &",. !"r e.amp&e% if the air temperature is 24 >0 6 5 >!8 an$ the re&ati)e humi$ity is @er" percent% then the air temperature fee&s &i#e 21 >0 669 >!8.:6; Af the re&ati)e humi$ity is 100 percent at the same air temperature% then it fee&s &i#e 2 >0 680 >!8.:6; An "ther ,"r$s% if the air is 24 >0 6 5 >!8 an$ c"ntains saturate$ ,ater )ap"r% then the human +"$y c""&s itse&f at the same rate as it ,"u&$ if it ,ere 2 >0 680 >!8 an$ $ry. :6; The heat in$e. an$ the humi$e. are in$e.es that ref&ect the c"m+ine$ effect "f temperature an$ humi$ity "n the c""&ing effect "f the atm"sphere "n the human +"$y.

uildings
!"r c&imate c"ntr"& in +ui&$ings using 72-0 systems% the #ey is t" maintain the re&ati)e humi$ity at a c"mf"rta+&e range C &", en"ugh t" +e c"mf"rta+&e +ut high en"ugh t" a)"i$ pr"+&ems ass"ciate$ ,ith )ery $ry air. When the temperature is high an$ the re&ati)e humi$ity is &",% e)ap"rati"n "f ,ater is rapi$D s"i& $ries% ,et c&"thes hung "n a &ine "r rac# $ry 9uic#&y% an$ perspirati"n rea$i&y e)ap"rates fr"m the s#in. W""$en furniture can shrin#% causing the paint that c")ers these surfaces t" fracture. When the temperature is high an$ the re&ati)e humi$ity is high% e)ap"rati"n "f ,ater is s&",. When re&ati)e humi$ity appr"aches 100 percent% c"n$ensati"n can "ccur "n surfaces% &ea$ing t" pr"+&ems ,ith m"&$% c"rr"si"n% $ecay% an$ "ther m"isture-re&ate$ $eteri"rati"n. 0ertain pr"$ucti"n an$ technica& pr"cesses an$ treatments in fact"ries% &a+"rat"ries% h"spita&s% an$ "ther faci&ities re9uire specific re&ati)e humi$ity &e)e&s t" +e maintaine$ using humi$ifiers% $ehumi$ifiers an$ ass"ciate$ c"ntr"& systems.

!ehicles
4e&ati)e humi$ity% a&s" ca&&e$ %#midit$ ratio( is c&assifie$ in three ,ays(

1. "n the +asis "f pressure 6partia& pressure "f )ap"r in air E pressure "f saturate$ air8 2. "n the +asis "f mass 6mass "f )ap"ur present in air E mass "f $ry air8 3. "n the +asis "f $ensity 6$ensity "f the )ap"ur present in air E $ensity "f $ry air8 -&& three in a specific )"&ume "f the m"ist air at a sing&e gi)en temperature. The same +asic princip&es as in +ui&$ings% a+")e% app&y. An a$$iti"n there may +e safety c"nsi$erati"ns. !"r instance% high humi$ity insi$e a )ehic&e can &ea$ t" pr"+&ems "f c"n$ensati"n% such as misting "f ,in$shie&$s an$ sh"rting "f e&ectrica& c"mp"nents. An sea&e$ )ehic&es an$ pressure )esse&s such as pressuri@e$ air&iners% su+mersi+&es an$ spacecraft% these c"nsi$erati"ns may +e critica& t" safety% an$ c"mp&e. en)ir"nmenta& c"ntr"& systems inc&u$ing e9uipment t" maintain pressure are nee$e$. -ir&iners "perate ,ith &", interna& re&ati)e humi$ity% "ften un$er 10=% especia&&y "n &"ng f&ights. The &", humi$ity is a c"nse9uence "f $ra,ing in the )ery c"&$ air ,ith a &", a+s"&ute humi$ity% ,hich is f"un$ at air&iner cruising a&titu$es. Su+se9uent ,arming "f this air &",ers its re&ati)e humi$ity. This causes $isc"mf"rt such as s"re eyes% $ry s#in% an$ $rying "ut "f muc"sa% +ut humi$ifiers are n"t emp&"ye$ t" raise it t" c"mf"rta+&e mi$-range &e)e&s +ecause the )"&ume "f ,ater re9uire$ t" +e carrie$ "n +"ar$ can +e a significant ,eight pena&ty. -s air&iners $escen$ fr"m c"&$er a&titu$es int" ,armer air 6perhaps e)en f&ying thr"ugh c&"u$s a fe, th"usan$ feet a+")e the gr"un$8% the am+ient re&ati)e humi$ity can increase $ramatica&&y. S"me "f this m"ist air is usua&&y $ra,n int" the pressuri@e$ aircraft ca+in an$ int" "ther n"n-pressuri@e$ areas "f the aircraft an$ c"n$enses "n the c"&$ aircraft s#in. Fi9ui$ ,ater can usua&&y +e seen running a&"ng the aircraft s#in% +"th "n the insi$e an$ "utsi$e "f the ca+in. 1ecause "f the $rastic changes in re&ati)e humi$ity insi$e the )ehic&e% c"mp"nents must +e 9ua&ifie$ t" "perate in th"se en)ir"nments. The rec"mmen$e$ en)ir"nmenta& 9ua&ificati"ns f"r m"st c"mmercia& aircraft c"mp"nents is &iste$ in 4T0- D5-160.

"viation
0"&$ humi$ air can pr")"#e the f"rmati"n "f ice% ,hich is a $anger t" aircraft as it affects the ,ing pr"fi&e an$ increases ,eight. 0ar+urete$ engines ha)e a further $anger "f ice f"rming insi$e the car+uret"r. -)iati"n ,eather rep"rts 6/3T-4Gs8 theref"re inc&u$e an in$icati"n "f re&ati)e humi$ity% usua&&y in the f"rm "f the $e, p"int. An a$$iti"n% air ,ith higher humi$ity is &ess $ense% pr")i$ing &",er &ift an$ &",er pr"pe&&er "r tur+ine efficiency 6this is s"me,hat "ffset +y $ecrease$ $rag8. *i&"ts must ta#e humi$ity int" acc"unt ,hen ca&cu&ating ta#e"ff $istances +ecause high humi$ity ,i&& re9uire &"nger run,ays an$ ,i&& $ecrease the c&im+ gra$ient.

Pressure dependence
The re&ati)e humi$ity "f an air-,ater system is $epen$ent n"t "n&y "n the temperature +ut a&s" "n the a+s"&ute pressure "f the system "f interest. This $epen$ence is $em"nstrate$ +y c"nsi$ering the air-,ater system sh",n +e&",. The system is c&"se$ 6i.e.% n" matter enters "r &ea)es the system8.

Af the system at State - is is"+arica&&y heate$ 6heating ,ith n" change in system pressure8 then the re&ati)e humi$ity "f the system $ecreases +ecause the saturate$ )ap"r pressure "f ,ater increases ,ith increasing temperature. This is sh",n in State 1. Af the system at State - is is"therma&&y c"mpresse$ 6c"mpresse$ ,ith n" change in system temperature8 then the re&ati)e humi$ity "f the system increases +ecause the partia& pressure "f ,ater in the system increases ,ith increasing system pressure. This is sh",n in State 0. Theref"re a change in re&ati)e humi$ity can +e e.p&aine$ +y a change in system temperature% a change in the a+s"&ute pressure "f the system% "r change in +"th "f these system pr"perties.

#nhancement factor
The enhancement fact"r ,ater in m"ist air is $efine$ as the rati" "f the saturate$ )ap"r pressure "f

t" the saturate$ )ap"r pressure "f pure ,ater.

The enhancement fact"r is e9ua& t" unity f"r i$ea& gas systems. 7",e)er% in rea& systems the interacti"n effects +et,een gas m"&ecu&es resu&t in a sma&& increase "f the saturati"n )ap"r pressure "f ,ater in air re&ati)e t" saturate$ )ap"r pressure "f pure ,ater )ap"r. Theref"re% the enhancement fact"r is n"rma&&y s&ight&y greater than unity f"r rea& systems. The enhancement fact"r is c"mm"n&y use$ t" c"rrect the saturate$ )ap"r pressure "f ,ater )ap"r ,hen empirica& re&ati"nships% such as th"se $e)e&"pe$ +y We.&er% <"ff% an$ <ratch% are use$ t" estimate the pr"perties "f psychr"metric systems. 1uc# has rep"rte$ that% at sea &e)e&% the )ap"r pressure "f ,ater in saturate$ m"ist air am"unts t" an increase "f appr".imate&y 0.5= ")er the saturate$ )ap"r pressure "f pure ,ater.: ;

Related concepts
The term re&ati)e humi$ity is reser)e$ f"r systems "f ,ater )ap"r in air. The term re ati!e 'at#ration is use$ t" $escri+e the ana&"g"us pr"perty f"r systems c"nsisting "f a c"n$ensa+&e phase "ther than ,ater in a n"n-c"n$ensa+&e phase "ther than air.:8;

$ther important facts

- gas in this c"nte.t is referre$ t" as saturate$ ,hen the )ap"r pressure "f ,ater in the air is at the e9ui&i+rium )ap"r pressure f"r ,ater )ap"r at the temperature "f the gas an$ ,ater )ap"r mi.tureD &i9ui$ ,ater 6an$ ice% at the appr"priate temperature8 ,i&& fai& t" &"se mass thr"ugh e)ap"rati"n ,hen e.p"se$ t" saturate$ air. At may a&s" c"rresp"n$ t" the p"ssi+i&ity "f $e, "r f"g f"rming% ,ithin a space that &ac#s temperature $ifferences am"ng its p"rti"ns% f"r instance in resp"nse t" $ecreasing temperature. !"g c"nsists "f )ery minute $r"p&ets "f &i9ui$% primari&y he&$ a&"ft +y is"static m"ti"n 6in "ther ,"r$s% the $r"p&ets fa&& thr"ugh the air at termina& )e&"city% +ut as they are )ery sma&&% this termina& )e&"city is )ery sma&& t""% s" it $"esnGt &""# t" us &i#e they are fa&&ing% an$ they seem t" +e he&$ a&"ft8. The statement that re&ati)e humi$ity 647=8 can ne)er +e a+")e 100=% ,hi&e a fair&y g""$ gui$e% is n"t a+s"&ute&y accurate% ,ith"ut a m"re s"phisticate$ $efiniti"n "f humi$ity than the "ne gi)en here. -n argua+&e e.cepti"n is the Wi&s"n c&"u$ cham+er% ,hich uses% in nuc&ear physics e.periments% an e.treme&y +rief state "f Hsupersaturati"nH t" acc"mp&ish its functi"n. !"r a gi)en $e,p"int an$ its c"rresp"n$ing a+s"&ute humi$ity% the re&ati)e humi$ity ,i&& change in)erse&y% a&+eit n"n&inear&y% ,ith the temperature. This is +ecause the partia& pressure "f ,ater increases ,ith temperature I the "perati)e princip&e +ehin$ e)erything fr"m hair $ryers t" $ehumi$ifiers.

Due t" the increasing p"tentia& f"r a higher ,ater )ap"r partia& pressure at higher air temperatures% the ,ater c"ntent "f air at sea &e)e& can get as high as 3= +y mass at 30 >0 686 >!8 c"mpare$ t" n" m"re than a+"ut 0.5= +y mass at 0 >0 632 >!8. This e.p&ains the &", &e)e&s 6in the a+sence "f measures t" a$$ m"isture8 "f humi$ity in heate$ structures $uring ,inter% resu&ting in $ry s#in% itchy eyes% an$ persistence "f static e&ectric charges. 3)en ,ith saturati"n 6100= re&ati)e humi$ity8 "ut$""rs% heating "f infi&trate$ "utsi$e air that c"mes in$""rs raises its m"isture capacity% ,hich &",ers re&ati)e humi$ity an$ increases e)ap"rati"n rates fr"m m"ist surfaces in$""rs 6inc&u$ing human +"$ies an$ h"useh"&$ p&ants.8 Simi&ar&y% $uring summer in humi$ c&imates a great $ea& "f &i9ui$ ,ater c"n$enses fr"m air c""&e$ in air c"n$iti"ners. Warmer air is c""&e$ +e&", its $e,p"int% an$ the e.cess ,ater )ap"r c"n$enses. This phen"men"n is the same as that ,hich causes ,ater $r"p&ets t" f"rm "n the "utsi$e "f a cup c"ntaining an ice-c"&$ $rin#. - usefu& ru&e "f thum+ is that the ma.imum a+s"&ute humi$ity $"u+&es f"r e)ery 20 >! "r 10 >0 increase in temperature. Thus% the re&ati)e humi$ity ,i&& $r"p +y a fact"r "f 2 f"r each 20 >! "r 10 >0 increase in temperature% assuming c"nser)ati"n "f a+s"&ute m"isture. !"r e.amp&e% in the range "f n"rma& temperatures% air at 68 >! "r 20 >0 an$ 50= re&ati)e humi$ity ,i&& +ec"me saturate$ if c""&e$ t" 50>! "r 10 >0% its $e,p"int% an$ 41 >! "r 5 >0 air at 80= re&ati)e humi$ity ,arme$ t" 68 >! "r 20 >0 ,i&& ha)e a re&ati)e humi$ity "f "n&y 29= an$ fee& $ry. 1y c"mparis"n% a re&ati)e humi$ity +et,een 40= an$ 60= is c"nsi$ere$ hea&thy an$ c"mf"rta+&e in c"mf"rtc"ntr"&&e$ en)ir"nments 6-S74-3 Stan$ar$ 55 - see therma& c"mf"rt8. Water )ap"r is a &ighter gas than "ther gase"us c"mp"nents "f air at the same temperature% s" humi$ air ,i&& ten$ t" rise +y natura& c"n)ecti"n. This is a mechanism +ehin$ thun$erst"rms an$ "ther ,eather phen"mena. 4e&ati)e humi$ity is "ften menti"ne$ in ,eather f"recasts an$ rep"rts% as it is an in$icat"r "f the &i#e&ih""$ "f precipitati"n% $e,% "r f"g. An h"t summer ,eather% it a&s" increases the apparent temperature t" humans 6an$ "ther anima&s8 +y hin$ering the e)ap"rati"n "f perspirati"n fr"m the s#in as the re&ati)e humi$ity rises. This effect is ca&cu&ate$ as the heat in$e. "r humi$e.. - $e)ice use$ t" measure humi$ity is ca&&e$ a hygr"meterD "ne use$ t" regu&ate it is ca&&e$ a humi$istat% "r s"metimes hygr"stat. 6These are ana&"g"us t" a therm"meter an$ therm"stat f"r temperature% respecti)e&y.8

See also

7umi$ity o -+s"&ute 7umi$ity o Specific 7umi$ity 0"ncentrati"n 7eat in$e. De, p"int o De, p"int $epressi"n 7umi$ity +uffering 7umi$ity in$icat"r

7umi$ity in$icat"r car$ 7ygr"meter o *sychr"metrics Saturati"n )ap"r $ensity Water acti)ity

References
1. 2. % *erry% 4.7. an$ <reen% D.W% )err$*' C%emica +ngineer'* "andbook 6 th 3$iti"n8% /c<ra,-7i&&% AS1J 0-0 -049841-5 % 39n 12% http(EE,,,.g""g&e.caEKh&LenMsafeL"ffMMsaLNMeiLT .9TJB!Oy4sP*!yN<D,M)e$L001PP),B"-PM9Lne,?e9uati"ns?f"r?c"mputingMspe&&L1 MfpL61e$ 8eac09af644 % http(EE,,,.atm"s.um$.e$uEQste)en+E)ap"rE % http(EE,,,.ems.psu.e$uEQfraserE1a$E1a$!-PE1a$0&"u$s!-P.htm& % http(EEcuri"us.astr".c"rne&&.e$uE9uesti"n.phpRnum+erL86 S a b c What is re&ati)e humi$ity an$ h", $"es it affect h", A fee& "utsi$eR % -r$en F. 1uc#% Je, 39uati"ns f"r 0"mputing 2ap"r *ressure an$ 3nhancement !act"r% '"urna& "f -pp&ie$ /eter"&"gy% Decem+er 1981% 2"&ume 20% *age 1529. % http(EE+&",ers.chee.ari@"na.e$uE201pr"TectE<Fsys.interre&atn.pg1.7T/F 7imme&+&au% Da)i$ /. 619854545458. ,a'ic )rincip e' -nd Ca c# ation' .n C%emica +ngineering. *rentice 7a&&. AS1J 0-13-0665 2-N. *erry% 4.7. an$ <reen% D.W 6199 8. )err$*' C%emica +ngineer'* "andbook (/t% +dition). /c<ra,-7i&&. AS1J 0-0 -049841-5.

3. 4. 5. 6. . 8.

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<&"ssary $efiniti"n "f psychr"metric ta+&es - Jati"na& Sn", an$ Ace Data 0enter 1a$ 0&"u$s !-P% *SB.e$u Simu&ati"n "f the in$""rsE"ut$""rs change re&ati"nship

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