1. What is Relative Humidity?

Relative humidity (RH) is the ratio of the current amount of water vapor in the air to the maximum possible amount at the current temperature, expressed as a percentage. It's a crucial parameter in meteorology and comfort assessment.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Magnus formula:

Where:

• \( RH \) — Relative humidity (%)
• \( T_{dp} \) — Dew point temperature (°C)
• \( T \) — Air temperature (°C)
• \( \exp \) — Exponential function

Explanation: The equation calculates the ratio of actual vapor pressure (from dew point) to saturation vapor pressure (from air temperature).

3. Importance of RH Calculation

Details: Relative humidity affects human comfort, building design, industrial processes, and weather forecasting. In Miami's tropical climate, high RH is common and impacts heat index values.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both dew point and air temperature in Celsius. Dew point must be equal to or lower than air temperature. For Miami climate, typical values range from 20°C to 30°C for dew point.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is this calculator specific to Miami?
A: While the formula works globally, the default ranges and examples are optimized for Miami's tropical monsoon climate with high humidity.

Q2: What are comfortable RH levels?
A: Generally 30-60%. Miami often experiences RH above 70%, contributing to the "muggy" feeling.

Q3: How does RH affect heat index?
A: High RH makes temperatures feel hotter by reducing evaporative cooling. At 90°F, 70% RH feels like 106°F.

Q4: What's Miami's average RH?
A: Miami's annual average RH is about 75%, with morning values often above 90% and afternoon values around 60%.

Q5: Can RH exceed 100%?
A: Technically no - at 100% RH, condensation occurs. However, brief supersaturation can happen in clouds.