What kind of air holds the highest amount of water vapor?
Physics · High School · Tue Nov 03 2020
Answered on
Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air. The capacity of air to hold water vapor is temperature-dependent and is often described in terms of relative humidity.
Relative humidity is a measure of the amount of water vapor present in the air compared to the maximum amount the air could hold at a specific temperature. When air is warm, it has a higher capacity to hold water vapor, and thus, its relative humidity is lower for a given amount of water vapor. Conversely, colder air has a lower capacity to hold water vapor, and its relative humidity will be higher for the same amount of water vapor.
In summary, warmer air has a higher capacity to hold water vapor, making it capable of supporting higher levels of humidity before reaching saturation.