ScienceAugust 18, 2026

hygrometer

hy-GROM-uh-ter

Definition

An instrument used to measure the moisture content or humidity of the atmosphere or a specific environment.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek word 'hygros' meaning 'wet' or 'moist' and the suffix '-meter' meaning 'measure.' It entered the English language in the late 17th century to describe tools designed to gauge dampness.

In the news

The article notes that the Viking 2 lander lacked a surface hygrometer, making it difficult for researchers to accurately determine the surface humidity conditions necessary to confirm the existence of liquid brine.

NASA’s Viking 2 lander photographed frost forming on Mars in the 1970s. Nearly half a century later, a University of Arkansas researcher fed its old weather measurements into a model and found something Viking’s scientists never knew: for roughly 30 Martia

Read the full article ↗

Space Daily

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