Science in the Park

How does distance from bodies of water affect humidity?

In Průhonice Park, you may come across sensors that measure temperature and air humidity. This is part of research conducted by the Department of Geoecology at the Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, aimed at better understanding the habitat conditions of the park and selecting suitable sites for individual plant species.

Humidity is important for plants because it directly affects transpiration – the process in which water flows from roots to leaves and evaporates into the air.

• Moderate humidity promotes healthy growth, ensuring good nutrient uptake and photosynthesis.
• High humidity can lead to fungal diseases.
• Low humidity causes plants to close their stomata to conserve water – but this slows growth and may lead to plant death.

Air temperature plays a crucial role. Warmer air can hold a greater amount of water vapor. At the same relative humidity, this means that the absolute deficit of water vapor is larger in warm air than in cool air. As a result, plants perceive warmer air as drier.

The research is part of the project Průhonický park and the school of landscape painting and composition, an admired and rejected model for 20th century landscape design supported by the NAKI III programme – a programme to support applied research in the field of national and cultural identity for the years 2023 to 2030.