On which type of slope is relative humidity typically higher?

Relative humidity is typically higher on north aspects due to the angle of the sun's rays and their heating effect on the landscape. In the northern hemisphere, north-facing slopes receive less direct sunlight compared to south-facing slopes. This reduced sunlight leads to cooler temperatures, which can sustain higher levels of moisture in the air.

In contrast, south-facing slopes experience more sunlight, which leads to higher temperatures and greater evaporation rates, consequently lowering humidity levels. East and west aspects can have variable humidity depending on the time of day—east aspects may have higher humidity in the morning due to cool temperatures overnight, while west aspects may have higher humidity later in the day as temperatures cool down after the peak heating hours. However, overall, north aspects maintain cooler temperatures and have a tendency to retain moisture more effectively, contributing to higher relative humidity.