Temperature plays a key role in determining the amount of moisture air can hold, primarily due to the relationship between temperature and the saturation vapor pressure of water. Here's how it works:
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Saturation Vapor Pressure: The saturation vapor pressure is the pressure exerted by water vapor in the air when it is in equilibrium with liquid water at a given temperature. As temperature increases, the saturation vapor pressure increases, meaning warmer air can hold more water vapor.
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Capacity to Hold Moisture: At higher temperatures, the energy of water molecules increases, allowing more molecules to enter the vapor phase. This means that warm air can hold significantly more moisture than cold air. For example, at 30°C (86°F), air can hold about 30 grams of water vapor per cubic meter, while at 0°C (32°F), it can hold only about 4 grams per cubic meter.
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Relative Humidity: This is a measure of how much moisture is in the air compared to the maximum amount it can hold at that temperature. If the air is at 100% relative humidity, it is saturated and cannot hold any more moisture. If the temperature rises without an increase in moisture, the relative humidity will drop, indicating less saturation of water vapor.
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Dew Point: This is the temperature at which air becomes saturated with moisture and water vapor begins to condense into liquid. Warmer air has a higher dew point. Thus, temperature can influence not only how much moisture air can hold, but also the conditions under which condensation occurs, leading to phenomena like dew, fog, and clouds.
In summary, as temperature increases, the capacity of the air to hold moisture increases, resulting in higher potential humidity levels.
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