ALTITUDE
As altitude increases, the air becomes thinner or less dense. This is because the atmospheric pressure acting on a given volume of air is less, allowing the air molecules to move further apart. Dense air contains more air molecules spaced closely together, while thin air contains less air molecules because they are spaced further apart. As altitude increases, density altitude increases.
TEMPERATURE
Temperature changes have a large affect on density altitude. As warm air expands, the air molecules move further apart, creating less dense air. Since cool air contracts, the air molecules move closer together, creating denser air. High temperatures cause even low elevations to have high density altitudes.
MOISTURE (HUMIDITY)
The water content of the air also changes air density because water vapor weighs less than dry air. Therefore, as the water content of the air increases, the air becomes less dense, increasing density altitude and decreasing performance.
Humidity, also called “relative humidity,” refers to the amount of water vapor contained in the atmosphere, and is expressed as a percentage of the maximum amount of water vapor the air can hold. This amount varies with temperature; warm air can hold more water vapor, while colder air can hold less. Perfectly dry air that contains no water vapor has a relative humidity of 0 percent, while saturated air that cannot hold any more water vapor, has a relative humidity of 100 percent.