The MAD Scientist Network: Earth Sciences

Re: In weather forecasting and reporting, what is meant by the term 'dew point'

Date: Wed Jan 13 10:36:14 1999
Posted By: Jason Goodman, Graduate Student, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Area of science: Earth Sciences
ID: 916101107.Es
Message:

When you cool air which contains water vapor, the vapor will eventually condense, forming fog or clouds which lead to rain. The "dew point" is the temperature at which this occurs. This temperature is higher when the air contains lots of water vapor, and lower when it contains less.

I've written several Mad Scientist answers about water vapor and temperature: take a look at

By the way, the definition of "dew point" is in my Webster's dictionary. You can get faster answers to your questions by doing some research yourself before you ask the Mad Scientists.


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