Vlhkos

Vlhkos is a term used to describe moisture or humidity in air and materials. It covers the presence of water in vapor form and the liquid water content within substances. In everyday language, it describes how damp an environment feels, while in scientific contexts it denotes measurable water content.

Humidity is quantified as relative humidity (RH), the percentage of water vapor present relative to the maximum possible at a given temperature. Other measures include absolute humidity (mass of water per volume of air) and dew point. Common units are percent for RH and grams per cubic meter for absolute humidity; temperature is measured in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit.

Vlhkos influences weather, climate, agriculture, building performance, electronics, and human comfort. Excess moisture can cause condensation, mold growth, and material degradation; too little moisture can lead to dryness, cracking, and static electricity. Controlling vlhkos relies on ventilation, heating, dehumidification or humidification, insulation, and moisture barriers.

Etymology and cognates: The root vlh- appears in several Slavic languages to denote dampness or humidity. Related terms include Czech vlhkost and Slovak vlhkosť, which share the same semantic field. In many languages, broad terms for moisture intersect with environmental measures and material science.

See also: Humidity; Relative humidity; Dew point; Hygrometry.