Dew point
Dew Point
Dew point (pronounced: /djuː pɔɪnt/) is a term used in meteorology to describe the temperature at which dew begins to form. The dew point is a measure of atmospheric humidity and is used in weather forecasting and climatology.
Etymology
The term "dew point" comes from the natural phenomenon of dew formation. Dew forms when the temperature drops to the point (the "dew point") where the air can no longer hold all of the water vapor it contains.
Definition
The dew point is the temperature to which air must be cooled, at constant barometric pressure, for dew to form. As the temperature drops, the amount of water vapor the air can hold decreases, and excess water vapor condenses into liquid water droplets, forming dew.
Calculation
The dew point can be calculated using various formulas, the most common of which is the Magnus formula. This formula takes into account the current temperature and relative humidity to calculate the dew point.
Related Terms
- Relative Humidity: The amount of moisture in the air compared to the maximum amount the air could hold at the same temperature, expressed as a percentage.
- Absolute Humidity: The total amount of water vapor present in a given volume of air.
- Psychrometer: An instrument used to measure the dew point.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Dew point
- Wikipedia's article - Dew point
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