How does temperature affect humidity sensors in RAWS?

Temperature plays a significant role in the operation of humidity sensors within Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS). Specifically, temperature can influence the readings produced by these sensors due to the relationship between temperature and humidity levels.

As temperature affects the air’s capacity to hold moisture, a change in temperature can lead to variations in humidity readings. For instance, warmer air holds more water vapor than cooler air. If the sensor does not account for temperature variations, the humidity readings can become skewed, resulting in inaccurate measurements. Therefore, compensation mechanisms are often implemented in the design of such sensors to adjust for the effects of temperature, ensuring that the readings correctly reflect the actual humidity conditions.

The correct answer emphasizes the importance of recognizing and compensating for this influence to maintain the accuracy and reliability of data collected by RAWS, which is critical for environmental monitoring and decision-making.