Examine the microclimatic lapse rate and humidity characteristics in mountainous tropical terrain: Statement I: Relative humidity generally exhibits high values throughout the year in the forested valleys of the Western Ghats due to abundant evapotranspiration and dense vegetation cover. Statement II: Absolute humidity increases infinitely with altitude regardless of ambient temperature changes. Which of the following is correct?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Statement I is correct because dense tropical evergreen canopies continuously release moisture via transpiration, maintaining elevated atmospheric moisture levels. Statement II is incorrect because absolute humidity, which measures the actual mass of water vapor in a given volume of air, typically decreases with altitude as colder air holds significantly lower vapor capacities. Understanding moisture distribution assists in analyzing tropical montane ecosystems and microclimates.