Why Warmer Air Holds More Water Vapour
Some people believe when it's humid outside, that the air is holding an exceptionally high amount of water. But, that's simply not the case! Air doesn't hold water, they coexist side by side in all environments. It's impossible to have 0% humidity, although in certain climates especially in Australia, you can get pretty close. As a matter of fact, the lowest recorded humidity on earth "occurred in Coober Pedy in the South Australia desert when the temperature was 93 degrees and the dew point was minus 21 degrees producing a relative humidity of 1 percent".
Now, that's some really dry air! If you're considering how clean drinking water can be harvested from the atmosphere, the above example is actually extremely rare and typically most of Australia's climate holds an enormous amount of water vapour. The following terms demonstrate the relationship between warm air and its ability to hold high amounts of water vapour which can deliver an abundance of drinking water to drought-stricken communities.
The relations between air, water vapour, and rain:
Humidity - the concentration of water vapour present in the air and is a leading element for rain
Relative humidity - the amount of moisture the air can hold before it actually rains
Water Vapor - the gaseous state of water, particularly when the atmospheric pressure is not low enough to produce rain
Atmospheric Pressure - when low can create a vacuum that sucks up moisture from the air and swells rain clouds
Dew Point - temperature to which air must be cooled down before it is saturated with water vapour.
When water vapour in the air is constant and the temperature drops, the relative humidity will increase. If the temperature rises, and water vapour content stays, the relative humidity will decrease. This is because warmer air requires more moisture to become saturated with water vapour - until the atmospheric pressure drops so low that it is released from the clouds.
The Warmer the Climate, the More Water Vapour
Water vapour is the most plentiful greenhouse gas that can be found in the atmosphere. But, the amount or concentration of water vapour will change with respect to variations in climate. As the air becomes warmer, more water is evapourated from ground sources including oceans, rivers, water reservoirs, and even the soil. With the warmer air temperature, the atmosphere is able to hold more water - which leads to higher relative humidity. With higher humidity comes more water vapour in the atmosphere.
Water Vapour as a Natural Resource
Many people readily think of trees, bodies of water, the sun, and oil as natural resources - but the water vapour in the air is also a natural resource that can be harvested and used for clean drinking water. Mother Nature already supplies this natural resource of water vapour to feed an abundance of plants. That same water vapour can be harvested as a natural resource to supply clean drinking water taken directly from the atmosphere.
When moisture is extracted from the air, it can be cleaned and filtered for drinking during adverse conditions such as droughts, disasters, contamination, or high urbanisation. Contact MultiGen Solutions to learn about our domestic and commercial water generators that pull water right from the air.
Sources
https://multigensolutions.com.au/
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