How can an increase in relative humidity affect visibility

Click For Summary
High relative humidity (RH) can significantly impact visibility, particularly when it exceeds 100%, leading to condensation that manifests as fog or rain. This phenomenon reduces visibility and is closely linked to hygroscopicity, which is the ability of particles to absorb moisture. The relationship between visibility, relative humidity, and particulate matter (PM) is influenced by the hygroscopic properties of aerosol constituents. Numerous studies have explored these interactions, highlighting the importance of hygroscopicity in understanding visibility under varying humidity conditions. Research, such as the analysis of extinction properties using a K-EC-Mie model, further investigates how relative humidity affects visibility in specific locations like Nanjing.
Rod Alexei
Messages
29
Reaction score
0
Thanks in advance!
 
Earth sciences news on Phys.org
Certainly it can in the extreme.
If relative humidity exceeds 100% then you will be getting condensation in the form of fog or rain which will reduce visibility.

It would not surprise me if there is an effect at lower RH, but I don't know for sure.
 
Relationship between Visibility and Relative Humidity, PM in terms of Hygroscopicity
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2008AGUFM.A11E0177J
Hygroscopicity plays a key role connecting those three variables. And constituent of aerosol is important factor in terms of hygroscopicity. Many experiments have been performed to find features of hygroscopicity with diverse kinds of constituents. Based on those preceding studies, we investigated how dominantly hygroscopicity influences on visibility.


Analysis of extinction properties as a function of relative humidity using a K-EC-Mie model in Nanjing
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/acp-2016-119/acp-2016-119.pdf
 
Indonesia evacuates stranded climbers after Semeru volcano erupts https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/indonesia-evacuates-stranded-climbers-after-semeru-volcano-erupts-2025-11-20/ https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/clyzy88l87no Indonesia’s Mount Semeru erupts, blanketing villages with ash and prompting evacuations https://apnews.com/article/indonesia-volcano-mount-semeru-east-java-004472fe274828ceac7c4d48ddd7abc6 More than 170 people rescued off Mount Semeru after eruption as 1,000...

Similar threads

  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
717
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 42 ·
2
Replies
42
Views
11K
Replies
9
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
3K
Replies
8
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K