Why is most of Europe so cloudy all the time, compared to North America? (2014, town)
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The coastal part of Northern Turkey is below 2000 h everywhere.
I would never expect a map like this to factor in micro-climates caused by mountains; it's obviously very generalized to get a feeling of what you can expect from general areas.
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Originally Posted by Glacierx
Remember, the poles are clear in the winter when they don't get sun, and cloudy in the summer when it's 24 hour light.
I would never expect a map like this to factor in micro-climates caused by mountains; it's obviously very generalized to get a feeling of what you can expect from general areas.
As you can see Eastern Europe is much more comparable to North America especially when you consider latitude as well. But North America is still sunnier for the most part.
Are you referring to the fact that in winter bright sunny days tend to be the coldest ones?
While it is true that where you live is not too cold for the latitude, I would think this would be more because of oocean currents than about cloudy skies.
I think it is because more of Europe is an oceanic climate. Higher latitude (above 42 north) oceanic climates are well known for foul and depressing weather.
Uhm...yes, the closer you are to the ocean, the more humid it is going to be. Water from the ocean brings humidity.
To everybody else:
Chicago has an average RH of 59%, less than Madrid. If your source say Madrid is 57% or that Grenada is 55%, who cares! My point was that they are all very similar and that Europe is way more humid than the US. Even the so called "humid" cities in the US are drier (or close to as dry) as the driest cities in Europe. This is a fact. Basically every city in Europe has an average humidity of 75-80%. That is unmatched anywhere in the US.
Uhm...yes, the closer you are to the ocean, the more humid it is going to be. Water from the ocean brings humidity.
To everybody else:
Chicago has an average RH of 59%, less than Madrid. If your source say Madrid is 57% or that Grenada is 55%, who cares! My point was that they are all very similar and that Europe is way more humid than the US. Even the so called "humid" cities in the US are drier (or close to as dry) as the driest cities in Europe. This is a fact. Basically every city in Europe has an average humidity of 75-80%. That is unmatched anywhere in the US.
Relative humidity isn't humidity. Either way, who cares about humidity in seasons other than summer anyway? USA is much more humid in the summer.
I care about the humidity in the winter more than in the summer and I believe most places in Europe are drier than most places in the U.S., the reverse being certainly true in the summer. Which is why the yearly averages are pretty similar.
By the way our yearly RH is around 73% so we are way more humid than Chicago / Madrid and the like.
Uhm...yes, the closer you are to the ocean, the more humid it is going to be. Water from the ocean brings humidity.
To everybody else:
Chicago has an average RH of 59%, less than Madrid. If your source say Madrid is 57% or that Grenada is 55%, who cares! My point was that they are all very similar and that Europe is way more humid than the US. Even the so called "humid" cities in the US are drier (or close to as dry) as the driest cities in Europe. This is a fact..
Your statement is incorrect because you are not aware of how RH works with temperature
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When comparing average monthly relative humidity, January's 75 percent is more humid than July's 69 percent. However those numbers do not tell the whole story. Relative humidity, the percent of saturation of the air, is temperature dependent. It takes 22 times more water to saturate air at 80 degrees than it does at 0 degrees. There is more atmospheric moisture in the air at 80 degrees with a relative humidity of 30 percent than at 20 degrees with 100 percent humidity. Dew point is a direct measure of atmospheric moisture and is a much better indicator of discomfort than relative humidity. Most people begin to feel uncomfortable when the dew point reaches the middle 60s, and nearly everyone is uncomfortable when the dew point reaches the 70s.
Madrid isn't nearly as cold as Chicago in the winter which is why it's damp and can hold more RH in the air. Still compare the RH between Madrid and Chicago during the summer. Annual RH levels don't really tell the whole story because it takes a lot more water vapor to saturate air in the summer than it does in the winter.
Dew Points are quite low
Chicago
My town far south suburbs
I'm at 96% peak RH in the summer Madrid dips down to 66% RH in summer
Quote:
Basically every city in Europe has an average humidity of 75-80%. That is unmatched anywhere in the US
That's because basically every city in Europe is cooler during the warm months than every city in the US
Is Europe more humid than Texas?
And I won't even mention their dew points....
Last edited by chicagogeorge; 12-04-2016 at 03:30 PM..
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