>Thus, the relative humidity will drop by a factor of 2 for each 20 °F (11.1
°C) increase in temperature, assuming conservation of absolute moisture. For
example, in the range of normal temperatures, air at 70 °F (21.1 °C) and 50%
relative humidity will become saturated if cooled to 50°F (10 °C), its
dewpoint

Thanks Allen!  Note that the air from the broodnest is normally (in summer
at least) at about 60% RH.  If it is held at a similar RH in winter, then
there would be a drop in temperature of over 50F from the broodnest to the
bees in the mantle.  This means that most of the water vapor would condense
before it reaches the outside bees.

Yet, on the other hand, we clearly observe that plenty of moisture does
indeed get convected out of the cluster (the condensation on the cover).  So
the bees apparently "allow" some moisture to escape.

Randy Oliver

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