Which term describes the ratio of water vapor present in the air to the maximum amount of water vapor that can exist at a specific temperature?

The term that describes the ratio of water vapor present in the air to the maximum amount of water vapor that can exist at a specific temperature is relative humidity. Relative humidity is expressed as a percentage, indicating how close the air is to being fully saturated with moisture at a given temperature. This is crucial in meteorology because it affects weather conditions, human comfort, and the formation of clouds and precipitation.

Absolute humidity, on the other hand, refers to the actual amount of water vapor in the air regardless of temperature, which is not what the question is asking about. Dewpoint temperature is the temperature at which air becomes saturated with moisture at a given pressure, while vapor pressure measures the pressure exerted by water vapor in the air. These terms relate to humidity and atmospheric conditions, but they do not describe the ratio of water vapor to maximum capacity at a specific temperature like relative humidity does.