At warm temperatures, air can hold more moisture than it can at cold temperatures. Relative humidity is the amount of vapor the air is holding expressed as a percentage of the amount the air is capable of holding. For example, at 86 degrees Fahrenheit, air can hold a maximum of 30.4 grams of water per cubic meter. If the air at the same temperature is holding only 15.2 grams of water, the relative humidity is 50 percent. At the point at which the air becomes saturated (exceeds the level of water vapor it can hold), it releases water vapor in the form of dew or condensation. If the air at 75 degrees's holding the maximum amount of moisture that it can, and the temperature suddenly drops to 60 degrees, what is likely to be the result?
a) The humidity will remain unchanged.
b) The relative humidity will decrease.
c) Precipitation will be released in the form of rain.
d) Precipitation will be released in the form of hail
e) Precipitation will be released in the form of snow.
2007-02-10 06:20:33 · 1 answers · asked by hottscrogginsbaby 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
The humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. If the temperature drops, the ability of the air to hold the water decreases. Therefore, the humidity must change.
The relative humidity will stay the same at 100%. Any more water vapor will condense.
Thus, based on the temperature of 60 degrees, I would say c, precipitation will be released in the form of rain.
2007-02-10 06:35:32 · answer #1 · answered by bkc99xx 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋