I definitely agree that humidity exacerbates the effect of temperature for humans (and many other animals) and that the comfortable zone is narrows considerably as the humidity increases. I don't know that I would call that "denser", but perhaps if we would merely recognize that temperature is due to some kind of rotational phenomenon it would make a lot more sense.

 

I believe you, but I'm trying to understand why... I would've thought that water molecules (or, in most natural situations, micro-droplets) would displace air molecules (nitrogen and oxygen), therefore making humid air more dense (assuming equal temperatures in both cases)
What am I missing?

That the water molecules have less mass (~18 amu) than the "air" molecules that they displace (~28 amu for N2 and ~32 amu for O2). The water molecules in humid air are there as a gas, not micro droplets. You might be thinking of clouds or fog or the like.

 

Wetter air makes the temperature seem more effective, regardless of whether it is too hot or too cold. "The temperature is denser (to human perception) in humid air."

That's because water molecules (or droplets) in humid air are at the same temperature as the air itself, and they won't turn into vapor as easily. Whereas in dry air, water vaporizes far more easily, so any small amount of moisture in your skin (like sweat) helps cool you off due to water's latent vaporization heat... am I (more or less) on the mark? or do I deserve agent Gibbs' trademark headslap?

You might be thinking of clouds or fog or the like.

Yup... that's what I was thinking about. Now I get it, I was confusing O2 and N2 with atomic O and N.

 

if we would merely recognize that temperature is due to some kind of rotational phenomenon it would make a lot more sense

Rotational? I thought that temperature represented the average velocity of the molecules (or atoms) in a substance... Please note that I'm not cheating by consulting wikipedia first ... I'm just testing my own basic science knowledge here...

 

I have lived in Massachusetts, I have worked at a remote site at 9000 ft in the Sierra Nevada mountains in the dead of winter. I have never been as cold as when I lived in NW. Florida. I just remember going hunting with my father at 4 am on those October mornings and freezing my butt off! Of course that was in the late 60s and no one had a real winter coat in Florida. The cold wet air cut right through anything I worn.

 

I just remember going hunting with my father at 4 am on those October mornings and freezing my butt off! Of course that was in the late 60s and no one had a real winter coat in Florida....

And, anyone who's lived here for more than a few years can tell you: anything cooler than 75° is cold.

 

And, anyone who's lived here for more than a few years can tell you: anything cooler than 75° is cold.

Jump into a swimming pool at 75 deg and see how long you last. While I was there I saw the inland waterway bay we lived on form pockets of ice, it was a salt water bay.

 

And, anyone who's lived here for more than a few years can tell you: anything cooler than 75° is cold.

Yeah but here in NJ it's beautiful Boss..
I wish my pool got warmer than 75F ..

 

Temperature being equal, a cubit foot of humid air has and holds more heat than a cubit foot of dry air.

Even though a H2O molecule is lighter than a N or O molecule, and thus less mass density, the H2O has more specific heat.

Whether in the ocean of sea or ocean of air, the H2O carries heat from equator to poles.

The H2O specific heat is what powers weather.

We are of water and live in a water world.

To cool dry air, add H2O. To cool wet air, remove H2O.

 

Rotational? I thought that temperature represented the average velocity of the molecules (or atoms) in a substance... Please note that I'm not cheating by consulting wikipedia first ... I'm just testing my own basic science knowledge here...

I'm referring, tongue-in-cheek, to a certain member's, err, unusual theories regarding just about anything that frequently seem to rely on some mysterious claim centered on angular momentum.

 

tongue-in-cheek,

Ha! now I get it.
Sorry, but a lot of times when I read humorous stuff I miss the point because my brain's too busy translating things. And so ironies, sarcasms and saucy comments go unnoticed. Guess that makes me look a little naivé sometimes. And tongue-in-cheeks are even harder to detect... But yes, I see your point now... and the sad truth you've spoken makes me want to sigh... thanks for clarifying

 

Summer's almost here, and it's been raining almost every single freaking weekend for the last month ... Fridays, Saturdays and even Sundays ... when will I have the chance to make a decent bbq?

I had to change plans for tonight, and now we'll be having a boring indoors dinner party instead

It's very frustrating ...

 

Perfect weather today, pushing 100° for the next two days.

 

Perfect weather today, pushing 100° for the next two days.

Rub it in, dude...

 

Rub it in, dude...

Remember Los Cabos, dude.

 

104 deg. F . I can't wait till the monsoons start.

 

Remember Los Cabos, dude.

Oh yeah... I had forgotten about that... I guess I still have the upper hand

 

109F just down the road. 4% humidity. I gave up on golf after 9 today.
It's actually going to get warm in a couple of days.

 

109F just down the road. 4% humidity. I gave up on golf after 9 today.
It's actually going to get warm in a couple of days.

Yup, time to put the welding gloves in the car.

I think self driving cars will go over big in Southern Arizona, especially in the summer. You won't have to touch the steering wheel after the car has sat in the sun for a while.

 

Hear index of 107 today, and that always results in afternoon thunderstorms.
I just found out my nephew has been stalling me on the axle bearing job for weeks because he's too much of a coward to say he won't even stand there and hand me tools while I do the work. Of course he told me right after I announced that I bought all the parts and all the tools and I'm ready to get this urgent job started before my wheel falls off. Now I can just drop everything in the trash can because he claims he can get the job done for $200 when it normally costs $500, and he would pay that much just to avoid helping me.

I don't think so. I'm going to start without him right about sunset tonight.