As can be seen in Graph 3, the percentage of the relative humidity increases lineally towards low tide. In the first Quadrat the percentage of the relative humidity was 48.1%, in Quadrat 2 48.3%, in Quadrat 3 52.6% and in Quadrat 4 57.4%. The increase in the relative humidity along the transect line is due to the slope of ground, canopy cover, wind speed, and soil temperature, as illustrated in Graph 11. Graph 11, illustrates the relationship and the effect of soil temperature, canopy cover, slope of ground and wind speed on relative Humidity. As, can be seen from Graph 11, the temperature of soil decreases with increase in slope of ground, wind speed and canopy cover. In Quadrant 1, the slope of the ground was -8°, the percentage of canopy …show more content…
The decline in the slope of ground increases the canopy cover, decreasing the soil temperature, increasing wind speed and relative humidity. Relative humidity is dependent on the air temperature and the volume of water vapour present in the air. Relative humidity has significant influence on evapotranspiration. Evapotranspiration (ET) is part of the water cycle, which converts water-to-water vapour for the evaporation and plant transpiration from an area with vegetation (Agriinfo.in, 2015). Evaporation occurs when liquid water is converted to water vapour from surfaces such as the soil, vegetation, and water bodies (Agriinfo.in, 2015). Hence, at low tide, relative humidity increases due to the evaporation of seawater, soil and the transpiration of plant. Transpiration is the movement of water within a plant and the loss of water as vapour through stomata in its leaves. Thus, due to more canopies cover in Quadrat 4 than in Quadrat 1, the transpiration rate within the mangroves leaves increases, increasing the relative humidity by trapping the water vapour in the air and excreting …show more content…
At constant temperature, changes in atmospheric humidity affect transpiration by modifying the vapour pressure gradient from leaf to air, hence increasing humidity and transpiration rate in mangroves leafs. Whereas in high tide, Quadrat 1 and 2, the relative humidity tends to be lower than Quadrat 3 and 4 due to the slope of the ground, further away from the water bodies, and due to 0% and 2% canopy cover and 0 km/hr wind respectively. In coastal regions, the amount of humidity varies depending upon whether the wind is on-shore or offshore. As can be seen from Graph 11, the sea breeze brings moisture increasing the relative humidity at low tide. Hence, winds affect the relative humidity by bringing moist. Areas with a lot of surface water, such as coastal areas, have high humidity levels due to evaporation. The water vapour that comes from the ocean waters, evaportaes raising the humidity, because there is more water vapour in the air that means the air gets saturated faster. Trees transpire water through their leaves, increasing the surface area contributing to evaporation, as can be seen by Graph