What is the term for the amount of water vapor present in the air?

The term for the amount of water vapor present in the air is humidity. Humidity is a key concept in meteorology, as it describes how much moisture is in the atmosphere, which can significantly influence weather patterns and comfort levels. It is often expressed as a percentage of the maximum moisture that air can hold at a given temperature.

Understanding humidity is essential for interpreting weather conditions; for example, higher humidity levels can lead to discomfort due to the heat index, as it affects the body's ability to cool down through sweat. Additionally, humidity can play a significant role in precipitation processes, cloud formation, and overall climate dynamics.

The other terms, such as dew point, refer to a specific temperature at which air becomes saturated and condensation begins, pressure pertains to atmospheric force, and evaporation is the process of liquid turning into vapor, but they do not directly measure the water vapor content in the air like humidity does.