Humidity Levels and TC Intensity
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 4:59 pm
I have a question that puzzles me about the relationship between humidity and storms. Relative humidity is the measure of the amount of water vapor in the air, compared to how much water vapor the air can hold. When it is 100%, the column of air is saturated and can no longer hold more water.
Are strong [thunder]storms more likely to form when the humidity is closer to 100%, 50% or near 0%? Obviously if the humidity is near zero, there is not enough water vapor for the storm...but is there a such thing as too much? If the column is saturated, wouldn't that prohibit updrafts and result in possibly rain?
So how important is humidity to the intensity of a TC? If the air out in front of a TC that is being funneled into it is super humid (ie greater than say 85%), could it potentially choke off the hurricane and weaken it by choking up the updrafts in the eyewall?
If the air is dry, it'll help either keep the storm in check (same intensity) or weaken it, depending on how dry it is...correct?
Obviously where the clouds are, the air is at 100%. But down towards the surface?
Are strong [thunder]storms more likely to form when the humidity is closer to 100%, 50% or near 0%? Obviously if the humidity is near zero, there is not enough water vapor for the storm...but is there a such thing as too much? If the column is saturated, wouldn't that prohibit updrafts and result in possibly rain?
So how important is humidity to the intensity of a TC? If the air out in front of a TC that is being funneled into it is super humid (ie greater than say 85%), could it potentially choke off the hurricane and weaken it by choking up the updrafts in the eyewall?
If the air is dry, it'll help either keep the storm in check (same intensity) or weaken it, depending on how dry it is...correct?
Obviously where the clouds are, the air is at 100%. But down towards the surface?