Humidity refers to the amount of water vapor present in the air. The amount of humidity, or relative humidity, is typically measured as a percentage, and can have a significant impact on aerospace operations and activities.
Examples of how humidity affects aerospace operations include:
- High humidity can cause corrosion and other damage to aircraft and equipment, including electronic systems.
- High humidity can also cause problems with visibility and reduce the performance of aircraft engines.
- High humidity can affect the structural integrity of aircraft by altering the shape of the airframe and components, by causing metal to expand, and by promoting the growth of mold and other microorganisms.
- Low humidity can cause problems with static electricity and make it harder to dissipate heat generated by aircraft systems.
Airport meteorology and weather services are responsible for monitoring the humidity in the air and provide data to the air traffic controllers, pilots, and maintenance crews. They also take the humidity into account when planning and scheduling flights, especially for aircraft that are sensitive to humidity.