That being said, humidity can be measured in two main ways: Absolute and Relative. The
absolute humidity is the actual amount of water vapor per unit volume of gas at given
temperature and pressure, and is expressed in g/m3. The relative humidity, on the other hand, is
the ratio of the amount of water vapor present in the air to the amount present at a given
temperature, and is expressed as a percentage. Well, there are various ways the humidity can be
expressed depending on the particular use. We explain the two ways of measuring humidity in
detail by providing a detailed comparison between the two.
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What is Absolute Humidity?
Absolute humidity is the actual amount of water vapor present in the air, regardless of the
temperature. More precisely, the absolute humidity is the ratio of mass of water vapor to the
mass of dry air. The absolute humidity is also referred to as the humidity ratio, and is expressed
in grams of moisture per cubic meter of air (g/m3). It is derived from the specific humidity and
the density of the air. The absolute humidity is independent of the temperature. It is largely
determined by the nature of the surface under the air mass. For example, if the water vapor in 1
cubic meter of air weighs 35 grams, the absolute humidity of the air is 35 g/m3.
Absolute humidity = Mass of water vapor/Volume of air
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What is Relative Humidity?
Relative humidity is the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of the amount of water vapor present in
the air to the amount present at a given temperature. It is the ratio of vapor pressure to saturated
vapor pressure and is expressed in percentage. In simple terms, relative humidity is the amount
of water vapor that is present in the air, relative to the amount it could hold at that given
temperature. It is a percentage of the amount of moisture the air could possibly hold. The value
of relative humidity does not specify the moisture content of the air unless accompanied by the
temperature of the air. If the moisture content in the air remains constant, the relative humidity
decreases as the temperature increases and vice-versa.
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Difference between Absolute and Relative Humidity
Definition
– The actual amount of water vapor (moisture) present in the air is commonly referred to as
absolute humidity. In simple terms, the absolute humidity is the ratio of mass of water vapor to
the mass of dry air. This is also referred to as the humidity ratio. The relative humidity, on the
contrary, is the amount of water vapor that is present in the air, relative to the amount it could
hold at that given temperature. Simply put, the relative humidity is a percentage of the amount of
moisture the air could possibly hold.
Measurement
– The absolute humidity is the actual amount of water vapor per unit volume of gas at given
temperature and pressure, and is expressed in grams of moisture per cubic meter of air (g/m3). It
is derived from the specific humidity and the density of the air. The relative humidity, on the
other hand, is expressed in percentage, as the amount of water vapor relative to the temperature
of the air. Unlike absolute humidity which is independent of the temperature, relative humidity
depends on the current temperature of the air.
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Temperature Impact
– Absolute humidity is totally independent of the temperature. It is purely about how much water
is present in the air, regardless of the temperature. Relative humidity is totally dependent on the
temperature meaning the value of relative humidity only specifies the moisture content of the air
when accompanied by the temperature of the air. So, if the moisture content in the air remains
constant, the relative humidity decreases as the temperature increases or relative humidity
increases as temperature decreases. In any given day, if the absolute humidity remains
unchanged but the temperature goes up, the relative humidity goes down eventually.
Absolute vs. Relative Humidity: Comparison Chart
Summary of Absolute vs. Relative Humidity
In a nutshell, relative humidity is the ratio of moisture content in the air relative to the highest
amount of moisture at a given temperature, and is expressed in percentage. This measurement is
required in a wide range of applications including air-conditioning (HVAC) applications and
drying processes. Absolute humidity, on the contrary, is the amount of moisture present in the
air, and is expressed in g/m3. It is derived from the specific humidity and the density of the air.
Unlike relative humidity which is dependent on the temperature of the air, absolute humidity is
totally independent of the temperature. So, if the temperature warms, relative humidity goes
down and vice-versa.
Read more: Difference Between Absolute and Relative Humidity | Difference Between
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