What is saturation vapor pressure?

Saturation vapor pressure refers to the pressure exerted by water vapor in the air when it has reached its maximum capacity to hold moisture at a specific temperature. At this point, the air is considered fully saturated with water vapor, meaning it cannot hold any more moisture without condensation occurring. This pressure varies with temperature; warmer air can hold more water vapor, thus exhibiting a higher saturation vapor pressure compared to cooler air.

When air is fully saturated, any additional moisture will lead to condensation, which is why saturation vapor pressure is a critical concept in understanding humidity, cloud formation, and weather patterns. This relationship between moisture and temperature is essential in atmospheric science and helps meteorologists predict weather conditions.