Relative humidity in the early morning is generally _____ compared to the afternoon.

Relative humidity in the early morning is generally higher compared to the afternoon due to a combination of temperature and moisture dynamics. In the early morning, temperatures are typically at their lowest, which allows the air to hold moisture more efficiently, leading to higher relative humidity levels. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced after a cool night where the air cools down, and moisture in the form of dew may also form on surfaces.

As the day progresses and temperatures rise, air can hold more moisture, but the actual amount of moisture in the air often does not increase correspondingly, leading to a decrease in relative humidity. Thus, while the ability of warm air to hold moisture increases, the relative humidity measured as a percentage does indeed drop in the afternoon compared to the early morning hours when cooler temperatures prevail.