What impact does humidity have on aerial application?

Humidity plays a significant role in the effectiveness of aerial applications, particularly in how it influences pesticide drift and evaporation rates. High humidity levels can reduce the rate of evaporation from spray droplets, allowing the pesticides to remain in a liquid state longer, thereby enhancing their effectiveness upon reaching the target. Conversely, low humidity environments tend to increase the evaporation rate, which can lead to smaller droplet sizes and potential drift away from the intended area, diminishing application efficacy.

This relationship highlights the importance of monitoring humidity conditions before conducting aerial applications to achieve optimal results. In high humidity conditions, the risk of drift can also be lower, as the heavier, larger droplets are less susceptible to being carried away by wind. Therefore, understanding humidity levels is crucial for aerial applicators to manage both the precision of their applications and the environmental impact of the chemicals being used.