How do they affect human perception?
The term “humidity” refers to the presence of water vapor in the atmosphere, explained meteorologist Tatyana CHETYRKO. This vapor is present everywhere, even over vast deserts. Humidity always exists; however, its level varies.
There are two key terms — “absolute humidity” and “relative humidity.” Absolute humidity indicates the amount of water vapor in one cubic meter of air. However, for most people, this information is not practically significant. In everyday life, we encounter another characteristic — relative humidity. It represents the ratio of the actual water vapor content in the air to the maximum possible at a given temperature and is expressed as a percentage. A relative humidity of 100% indicates complete saturation of the air with water vapor.
Too low or too high values of relative humidity can affect a person's physical condition. Humidity significantly influences the rate of sweat evaporation and, consequently, the perceived (effective) temperature. On hot days with high humidity, a person feels stuffy and experiences a sensation of lack of air.
According to the specialist, conditions when the air temperature exceeds +20°C and is combined with humidity of 80% or higher are usually considered stuffy. For example, at a temperature of +26.5°C and 100% humidity, the perceived temperature reaches +32.5°C, while at +32°C and 65% humidity, a person will feel all +39°C. At the same time, at low humidity levels, heat is more bearable; however, the risk of rapid dehydration significantly increases.
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