Why 75% humidity feels sticky in summer but dry in winter
In short: Relative humidity is a ratio, not a fixed amount of water. This video explores why the same percentage can feel vastly different depending on the temperature, and why this measurement often fails to reflect our actual personal comfort.
Relative humidity measures how close air is to its saturation point, where excess water vapor would condense into droplets. Because warmer air can hold more water vapor than cooler air, a specific percentage represents a much higher volume of moisture in the tropics than in polar regions.
This discrepancy explains why high humidity in heat hinders the body's ability to cool via sweat evaporation, while high humidity in cold weather can actually make us feel colder by conducting heat away from the skin more efficiently.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Relative Humidity Isn't What You Think It Is
- Also: What is Relative Humidity? | Definition, Measurement, & Facts | Britannica
- Also: Understanding humidity
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