Humidity facts for kids

A hygrometer

Humidity is simply the amount of water vapor in the air. It's not about tiny water droplets you see in fog, clouds, or rain. Instead, it's about the invisible water gas mixed with the air around us.

You might notice that Deserts usually have very low humidity, making the air feel dry. On the other hand, tropical places often have high humidity. When the air is "humid," it means there's a lot of water vapor in it. This can make you feel damp, stuffy, or even really hot and sticky, especially when the temperature is also high. If the humidity is low, the air feels "dry."

Understanding Humidity Levels

Humidity levels can change how we feel and how things work. For example, higher humidity makes it harder for your body to cool down. This is because sweating helps cool you by evaporating from your skin. When the air is already full of water vapor, sweat can't evaporate as easily, so you stay warmer.

What is Relative Humidity?

The term "relative humidity" tells us the amount of water vapor in the air as a percent, from 0% to 100%. If the relative humidity is 100%, the air is completely full of water vapor and can't hold any more.

Meteorologists, who study the weather, use special tools called hygrometers to measure the humidity in the air. These tools help them predict weather patterns and understand how much moisture is in the atmosphere.

How Humidity Affects Evaporation

Humidity also affects how quickly things dry. This process is called evaporation. When the humidity is high, the rate of evaporation is much slower. Think about trying to dry clothes on a very humid day versus a dry, sunny day. On a humid day, they take much longer to dry because the air can't absorb much more water.

Related topics

• Dew point
• Relative humidity

Images for kids

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  This map shows where relative humidity is highest and lowest around the world.

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  The Paranal Observatory in the Atacama Desert is one of the driest places on Earth, with very low humidity.

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  A simple hygrometer used at home to check how humid the air is.

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  A thermo hygrometer showing both the temperature and the relative humidity.

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  This device helps keep the humidity at 50% for musical instruments like guitars.

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  A Humidor is a special box used to control the humidity for things like cigars.

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  Average humidity levels across Australia at 9 am.      80–90%     30–40%

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  Tillandsia usneoides grows well in warm places with high average humidity, like this tropical house.

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  High humidity can cause white, powdery stains called primary efflorescence on building walls.

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  Desiccant bags, often containing silica gel, are put in packages to absorb moisture and control humidity.

See also

In Spanish: Humedad del aire para niños