Relative Humidity
Temperature and Humidity Lab Name__ __________________
This activity will look at two of the most fundamental and important elements of weather: temperature and humidity.
Objectives:
1. The students will discover the need for measuring instruments to quantify weather observations. 2. The students will learn how to use a sling psychrometer to determine temperature and relative humidity values. 3. The students will explain and understand the difference between absolute and relative humidity and the relationships between temperature and atmospheric humidity.
Introduction:
Atmospheric Temperature is one of the most frequently considered of the many meteorological elements. This influence of air temperature on the growth and well-being of earth’s life forms is paramount. Temperature is basically a measure of the molecular kinetic energy of a substance. (Or how fast the molecules are moving). Therefore reference points upon which compare molecular activities or temperatures are needed. The freezing point and boiling points of water are used as 32OF or 0OCis the freezing point and 212OF or 100OC is the boiling point.
Water is a basic necessity for the life forms here on Earth. At a given moment, only about 1/100,000 part of the earth’s supply of water is found in the atmosphere, yet it is this atmospheric water that brings moisture to the surface of the earth and makes it habitable. In the hydrologic cycle, water is constantly being moved from the earth’s surface into the troposphere where it gives rise to clouds and precipitation, thereby bringing the water back to the surface again.
Humidity is defined as the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere. It is measured in several ways. In one method, the mass of the water vapor is measured per unit volume, usually a cubic meter (m3). This measure of humidity is referred to as absolute humidity and reported as grams H2O/m3.
The humidity may also be expressed as a mixing ratio. The
This activity will look at two of the most fundamental and important elements of weather: temperature and humidity.
Objectives:
1. The students will discover the need for measuring instruments to quantify weather observations. 2. The students will learn how to use a sling psychrometer to determine temperature and relative humidity values. 3. The students will explain and understand the difference between absolute and relative humidity and the relationships between temperature and atmospheric humidity.
Introduction:
Atmospheric Temperature is one of the most frequently considered of the many meteorological elements. This influence of air temperature on the growth and well-being of earth’s life forms is paramount. Temperature is basically a measure of the molecular kinetic energy of a substance. (Or how fast the molecules are moving). Therefore reference points upon which compare molecular activities or temperatures are needed. The freezing point and boiling points of water are used as 32OF or 0OCis the freezing point and 212OF or 100OC is the boiling point.
Water is a basic necessity for the life forms here on Earth. At a given moment, only about 1/100,000 part of the earth’s supply of water is found in the atmosphere, yet it is this atmospheric water that brings moisture to the surface of the earth and makes it habitable. In the hydrologic cycle, water is constantly being moved from the earth’s surface into the troposphere where it gives rise to clouds and precipitation, thereby bringing the water back to the surface again.
Humidity is defined as the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere. It is measured in several ways. In one method, the mass of the water vapor is measured per unit volume, usually a cubic meter (m3). This measure of humidity is referred to as absolute humidity and reported as grams H2O/m3.
The humidity may also be expressed as a mixing ratio. The