EXTREME FACTS: HUMIDITY Hotter air can hold more water vapour than cold, so as the ... falls the relative humidity rises. When it reaches 100%it is known as the Dew Point and ... w
EXTREME FACTS: HUMIDITY Hotter air can hold more water vapour than cold, so as the air temperature falls the relative humidity rises. When it reaches 100% it is known as the Dew Point and condensation will occur Even desert environments can have high atmospheric humidity, which can soon reach 100% when equipment is brought out from air-conditioning Condensation causes tape to stick to the rotary drum, which can be catastrophic Most machines will employ a condensation sensor that can prevent operation for as long as an hour Non-condensing high humidity can still cause much faster head wear High humidity can promote corrosion and fungal growth In practice, always ensure that the camera is warmer than the environment and there will be no problem. If you HAVE to take a relatively cold camera into moist air, first seal it in a plastic bag (using tape) until it has reached ambient temperature. You can accelerate this by turning on the camera while it is still in the bag. If long exposure to humidity is expected (as in the Tropics) then store the camera (and especially lenses) in an airtight box with generous sized bags of silica gel.
Stephen Northcott (35) is an active skydiver, pilot and extreme sports athlete. He writes music, is a computer engineer (retired) and now lives in Thailand. He is the camera flyer for Team Flying Dodo and owns Extreme Sports Cafe. http://www.extremesportscafe.com He can be contacted at stephen@extremesportscafe.com He is also opening his own Drop Zone in Thailand this year 2004. http://www.skydivethailand.com
