What does dew point refer to?

Dew point refers specifically to the temperature at which air becomes saturated with water vapor, leading to the formation of dew. When air cools to its dew point, it can no longer hold all the moisture present, resulting in condensation. This is a critical concept in meteorology and plays a significant role in weather prediction and understanding humidity.

Understanding dew point is essential for various applications, including aviation, as it helps in assessing potential weather hazards such as fog formation, cloud development, and the likelihood of precipitation.

The other options, while related to atmospheric conditions, do not accurately define dew point. The freezing temperature of water is related but distinct, and moisture level expressed as humidity does not precisely capture the idea of saturation temperature. Furthermore, the temperature of the surrounding environment doesn't describe the specific point at which air moisture condenses into liquid.