Units of Humidity
Units of Humidity
What is Humidity?
Humidity Formula
Absolute humidity is the measure of water vapor (moisture) in the air, regardless of temperature. It is expressed as the mass of water vapor present in a given volume of air. The formula for calculating absolute humidity is
What are Units of Humidity?
The units of humidity vary depending on the type of humidity measurement.
Absolute Humidity:
- Absolute humidity is the actual mass of water vapor present in a unit volume of air, typically measured in grams per cubic meter (g/m³).
- Formula: AH=V𝑚 ,where 𝐴𝐻 is absolute humidity, 𝑚 is the mass of water vapor, and 𝑉 is the volume of air.
Relative Humidity (RH)
- Relative humidity is the ratio of the actual amount of water vapor present in the air to the maximum amount of water vapor the air can hold at a specific temperature, expressed as a percentage.
- Formula: 𝑅𝐻 = 𝐴𝐻 /𝐴𝐻𝑚𝑎𝑥 × 100% where 𝑅𝐻 is relative humidity, 𝐴𝐻 is absolute humidity, and 𝐴𝐻𝑚𝑎𝑥 is the maximum absolute humidity at the given temperature.
Dew Point
- Dew point is the temperature at which the air becomes saturated with water vapor, leading to condensation. It represents the point at which the air’s relative humidity reaches 100%.
- Formula: Depends on the specific psychrometric equations and tables used to calculate dew point temperature based on air temperature and relative humidity.
Vapor Pressure:
- Vapor pressure is the pressure exerted by water vapor molecules in the air, typically measured in units of pressure such as pascals (Pa) or millibars (mbar).
- Formula: Depends on the specific equations used to calculate vapor pressure based on temperature and relative humidity.
SI units of humidity
which measures the mass of water vapor present in a certain volume of air.
CGS units of humidity
This unit measures the mass of water vapor present in a specific volume of air, much like its SI counterpart but using cubic centimeters instead of cubic meters.
List of Units of humidity
| Unit Name | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Percentage | % |
| Relative Humidity | RH |
| Dew Point | °C or °F |
| Grains per pound | GPP |
| Parts per million by volume | ppmv |
| Grams per cubic meter | g/m³ |
| Kilograms per cubic meter | kg/m³ |
| Pounds per cubic foot | lb/ft³ |
| Atmospheres | atm |
| Pascal | Pa |
Percentage (%):
- The percentage is the most commonly used unit for expressing humidity. It indicates the amount of water vapor present in the air as a percentage of the maximum amount the air can hold at a given temperature.
Relative Humidity (RH):
- Relative humidity is a ratio representing the actual amount of water vapor in the air compared to the maximum amount of water vapor the air can hold at a specific temperature. It’s typically expressed as a percentage.
Dew Point (°C or °F):
- The dew point is the temperature at which the air becomes saturated with water vapor, leading to condensation. It is usually measured in degrees Celsius (°C) or Fahrenheit (°F).
Grains per pound (GPP):
- Grains per pound is a unit used in psychrometrics to indicate the moisture content of air. It represents the weight of water vapor in grains (1/7000th of a pound) per pound of dry air.
Parts per million by volume (ppmv):
- Parts per million by volume is a unit used to express very small concentrations of substances in air, including water vapor. It denotes the number of molecules of a substance per million molecules of air.
Grams per cubic meter (g/m³):
- This unit represents the mass of water vapor present in a cubic meter of air. It is commonly used in scientific and engineering contexts.
Kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³):
- Similar to grams per cubic meter, this unit expresses the mass of water vapor per cubic meter of air, but in kilograms.
Pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft³):
- Pounds per cubic foot denotes the mass of water vapor per cubic foot of air in pounds. It’s often used in engineering applications, especially in the United States.
Atmospheres (atm):
- Atmospheres is a unit of pressure, but it’s sometimes informally used to express humidity levels, particularly in weather forecasts.
Pascal (Pa):
- The Pascal is the SI unit of pressure, but it can also be used to express the vapor pressure of water and humidity levels in scientific and engineering contexts.
How do you measure Humidity?
Humidity, the amount of water vapor present in the air, is measured using various instruments called hygrometers. Here are some common methods for measuring humidity:
- Psychrometer: A psychrometer consists of two thermometers, one dry bulb thermometer and one wet bulb thermometer. The wet bulb thermometer has a wick saturated with water, and as the water evaporates, it cools the thermometer. By comparing the readings of the dry bulb thermometer (ambient temperature) and the wet bulb thermometer, relative humidity can be determined using psychrometric tables or formulas.
- Hygrometer: Hygrometers are electronic devices designed specifically to measure humidity. They use various principles such as capacitance, resistance, or thermal conductivity to determine the moisture content in the air. Capacitive hygrometers are commonly used and work by measuring changes in electrical capacitance caused by moisture absorption.
- Dew Point Sensor: Dew point sensors measure the temperature at which condensation begins to form on a surface. By knowing the air temperature and the dew point temperature, relative humidity can be calculated using psychrometric equations.
- Gravimetric Method: This method involves weighing a hygroscopic material (a material that readily absorbs moisture) before and after exposure to the air. The increase in weight corresponds to the amount of water vapor absorbed by the material, from which relative humidity can be calculated.
- Hair Hygrometer: Hair hygrometers utilize the principle that human or animal hair changes length with humidity. A hair strand is attached to a mechanism that measures its length changes in response to humidity variations.
- Chilled Mirror Hygrometer: This type of hygrometer works by cooling a surface until condensation forms. By measuring the temperature at which condensation occurs, the dew point temperature, and therefore the relative humidity, can be determined.
Difference between Absolute humidity and Relative humidity
| Aspect | Absolute Humidity | Relative Humidity |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Actual amount of water vapor present in the air | Ratio of the amount of water vapor present to the maximum amount the air can hold at a specific temperature and pressure |
| Unit of Measurement | Grams per cubic meter (g/m³) or kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³) | Percentage (%) |
| Dependency on Temperature | Absolute humidity remains constant regardless of changes in temperature | Relative humidity is influenced by changes in temperature; as temperature increases, relative humidity decreases if absolute humidity remains constant |
| Dependency on Pressure | Absolute humidity remains constant regardless of changes in pressure | Relative humidity remains relatively constant with changes in pressure if absolute humidity and temperature remain constant |
| Saturation Point | No concept of saturation; absolute humidity can increase indefinitely | Relative humidity reaches 100% when the air is fully saturated with water vapor; further moisture addition results in condensation or fog |
| Example | If the absolute humidity is 10 g/m³, it means there are 10 grams of water vapor in every cubic meter of air | If the relative humidity is 50%, it means the air contains 50% of the maximum amount of water vapor it can hold at a given temperature and pressure |
FAQ’s
What are the 3 measurements of humidity?
The three measurements of humidity are absolute humidity, relative humidity, and specific humidity. They quantify the amount of water vapor present in the air using different approaches.
What level of humidity is high?
High humidity levels typically exceed 60-70% relative humidity. At this level, the air feels sticky and uncomfortable, and there’s an increased risk of mold growth and moisture-related issues.
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