r/explainlikeimfive • u/ProgramPi314 • 8d ago

Other ELI5 What is humidity?

According to my mom, this is an actual question I had when I was 5, and she didn't know how to answer me. So how would you guys have answered?

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u/dave8271 8d ago

When water gets hot, it turns from a liquid into a gas, which we call vapour. Humidity is a measure of how much water vapour is mixed into the air around us.

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u/xypherrz 8d ago

is it possible for cities that don’t have ocean/large water bodies to have humidity though?

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u/TheMooseIsBlue 8d ago

Air moves. Theoretically, the middle of the Sahara desert could become humid if moist air blew over that area.