Understanding Specific Humidity Units
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ScribdTranslationsUnderstanding Specific Humidity Units
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ScribdTranslationsSpecific Humidity
Specific humidity, also called moisture content, is the weight of vapor of
water in grams per kilogram of dry air (or grains per pound). The specific humidity,
it refers to the amount of moisture by weight that is required to saturate one kilogram of air
dry, at a determined saturation temperature (dew point).
He = 0.622 * Pv / (P - 0.378 * Pv)
or approximately
He = 0.622 * Pv / P
P is the atmospheric pressure in hPa.
Pv is the vapor pressure in Hpa
Absolute Humidity
Absolute humidity refers to the weight of water vapor per unit volume. This unit
of volume, it is generally a space of one cubic meter (or one cubic foot). In this
space, there is usually air as well, although not necessarily.
Ha = 216 * Pv / T (g/m3)
is the vapor pressure in Hpa and T is the air temperature in ºK
Dew point temperature
It is the temperature at which condensation occurs when the air cools to absolute humidity.
and at constant pressure. It can be considered as the saturation temperature.
corresponding to the absolute humidity and vapor pressure of the humid air.
Formula:
equation that allows us to approximately calculate the dew point. It is as follows:
Td= T + 35 log (e/E) (1)
where:
Tdit is the dew point expressed in ºC.
Measure the air temperature also in ºC.
this is the partial pressure of water vapor.
This is the saturation pressure of water vapor.
What we handle is the relative humidity (RH) data.
NOTE: The HR is calculated using a psychrometer (double thermometer) and also making use of
from psychrometric tables (as input data we would have in this case the temperature and the
difference T-T', with T' being the temperature of the wet thermometer and T the dry one.
By definition, relative humidity, expressed in %, is given by the quotient between the
normal vapor tensions (e) and saturation (E), multiplied by 100.
That is: HR = 100 (e/E) (2)
from where we deduce that e/E = HR/100
Substituting this into equation (1) we obtain the approximate calculation formula, which would be the
next:
Td= T + 35 log (HR/100)
We checked how under saturation conditions (RH=100%) both coincide.
temperatures: T = Td
Dry Bulb Temperature
It is the true temperature of the humid air and is often referred to simply as
air temperature; it is the air temperature indicated by a common thermometer.
To correctly measure the dry bulb temperature, simply place thethermometer
of mercury unchanged in a shaded area to avoid overheating
produced by the sun. In this way, you will obtain the temperature value in degrees
degrees Celsius that it is at that moment.
Wet Bulb Temperature
The wet bulb temperature is defined as the temperature of a parcel of air.
cooled to saturation (100% relative humidity) by the evaporation of water in it,
with the latent heat supplied by the plot. A wet bulb thermometer indicates a
temperature close to the actual temperature (thermodynamics) of wet bulb. The temperature
The wet bulb is the lowest temperature that can be reached under the conditions.
current environmental conditions through the evaporation of water only.
The wet bulb temperature is measured with a thermometer that has the bulb wrapped in
a fabric, called calcetn, that remains damp with distilled water through the action of
mecha. That instrument is called a wet bulb thermometer. A widely used device.
used to measure the wet and dry bulb temperature is a sling psychrometer.
which consists of a pair of mercury bulb thermometers, one with a wet 'sock'
to measure the temperature of the wet bulb and the other with the bulb exposed and dry during the
dry bulb temperature. Thermometers are attached to a rotating handle that allows them
allows to turn so that the water evaporates from the sock and cools the wet bulb until
reach thermal equilibrium.
A wet bulb thermometer reads a temperature that is slightly different from the
thermodynamic temperature of the wet bulb, but its value is very similar. This is because
a coincidence: for a water-air system, the psychrometric relationship (see below) results
to be close to 1, although for systems different from air and water they may not be close.