What is the general relationship between temperature and relative humidity?

The relationship between temperature and relative humidity can be understood through the concept of air's capacity to hold moisture. As temperature increases, the air can hold more water vapor, which means that for a given amount of moisture in the air, the relative humidity will decrease.

Relative humidity is defined as the amount of water vapor present in the air, expressed as a percentage of the maximum amount of water vapor the air can hold at that temperature. Therefore, if the temperature rises (while the water vapor content remains constant), the relative humidity will decrease since warmer air can accommodate more moisture without reaching saturation.

In cooler temperatures, air can hold less moisture, and if the moisture content does not change, this will result in a higher relative humidity. Thus, the correct option highlights this inverse relationship: as temperature increases, the relative humidity tends to decrease, assuming no additional moisture is introduced into the air. This fundamental principle is crucial for understanding weather patterns, aviation meteorology, and climate studies.