What meteorological term describes the measure of the amount of water vapor in the air?

Absolute humidity refers specifically to the measure of the actual amount of water vapor present in a given volume of air, typically expressed in grams of water vapor per cubic meter of air. This term provides a direct quantification of moisture content, making it a key concept in meteorology and an essential aspect in understanding atmospheric conditions.

In contrast, relative humidity describes the percentage of water vapor in the air relative to the maximum amount of water vapor that the air can hold at a specific temperature. Vapor pressure indicates the pressure exerted by the water vapor component of the air, while the dew point is the temperature at which air becomes saturated with moisture and water begins to condense. Each of these terms captures different aspects of humidity and moisture in the atmosphere, but absolute humidity specifically quantifies the total water vapor in the air, making it the appropriate choice for the question posed.