# Determining air humidity with the psychrometric method

This calculator determines air humidity using psychrometric method with two thermometers.

As we know, there is water vapor in the air that may range from 0% to 4% of air volume.

There is also the so-called saturation limit, i.e., the maximum amount of water vapor that can be contained in the air at a given temperature. The higher the temperature, the higher the absorption capacity of air.

The important characteristic of water vapor contained in the air is its pressure (elasticity).

Saturation pressure is the maximum possible water vapor pressure at a given temperature.

There is a chart describing the dependence of saturation pressure from temperature
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The main method of measuring the humidity at a positive temperature is the psychrometric method. Moisture determination is carried out based on two thermometers' readings with an accuracy of 0.1 degree Celsius. One thermometer measures the air temperature, and the second thermometer is wrapped in a damp cloth so that it shows its own temperature, which depends on the intensity of the evaporation of water from the surface. The less water vapor is in the air, the stronger the evaporation from the second thermometer's surface and the lower the readings.
So, such a system of two thermometers is called a psychrometer.

According the difference of temperature readings the current pressure of water vapor in the air is determined by the formula:
$e=E-A(t-t_1)P$,
where $E$ - the saturation pressure of the second thermometer
$A$ - psychrometer constant, taken to be equal 0.0007947,
$P$ - atmosphere pressure, taken to be equal 1000 hPa
$t$ - dry bulb temperature
$t_1$ - wet bulb temperature

And finally, the relative humidity is the ratio of current pressure to the saturation pressure at a given air temperature.

#### Determining air humidity with psychrometric method

Dry thermometer temperature
Wet thermometer temperature
Digits after the decimal point: 4
Maximum pressure of water vapor in air (dry-bulb temperature)

Maximum pressure of water vapor above the water surface (wet-bulb temperature)

Water vapour pressure in air

Relative humidity (%)

Note that in the deserts, the relative air humidity is 50% or less, and in the tropics, it's 85% and above.

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