The actual mass of water vapour in a volume of air, measured in grams per cubic metre (g/m³).
measurementWhat is Absolute Humidity?
Unlike relative humidity, absolute humidity does not change with temperature. It measures the total water content of the air. Typical values in tropical Southeast Asia range from 18-25 g/m³, among the highest anywhere on Earth. For comparison, a cold winter day in Europe might have 2-5 g/m³. This high absolute humidity is why tropical air feels so heavy and why even moderate temperatures feel oppressive.
Key points
- The actual mass of water vapour in a volume of air, measured in grams per cubic metre (g/m³).
- Category: measurement
Related terms
See also: humidity-absolute is connected to other weather concepts. Browse the full glossary for related definitions.