Why is humidity important?
Humidity measurement is important because:
- It affects many properties of air, and of materials in contact with air.
- Water vapour is a key agent in both weather and climate, and it is an important atmospheric greenhouse gas. (Without water vapour we would be 31 °C colder on Earth).
- A huge variety of manufacturing, storage and testing processes are humidity-critical. Humidity measurements are used to prevent condensation, corrosion, mould, warping or other spoilage - highly relevant for foods, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, fuels, wood, paper, and many other products.
- Air-conditioning systems in buildings often control humidity, and significant energy may go into cooling the air to remove water vapour - Humidity measurements contribute both to achieving correct environmental conditions and to minimising the energy cost of this.
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