Which factors decrease the rate of evaporation of moisture from a person to the surrounding air?

The rate of evaporation of moisture from a person to the surrounding air is influenced by several environmental factors, particularly temperature and humidity. Evaporation occurs when moisture transitions from a liquid state (like sweat on the skin) to a gas state (water vapor in the air), and this process is affected by the relative humidity of the air and the temperature.

When the surrounding air has a low dry bulb temperature and high relative humidity, the capacity of the air to absorb additional moisture decreases. High relative humidity indicates that the air is already saturated with moisture, which slows down evaporation, as there is less "room" for additional water vapor to enter the air.

On the other hand, a low dry bulb temperature means that the air is cooler, which can also slow down the molecular movement, further decreasing the rate of evaporation. The combination of cool temperatures and high humidity creates conditions that are not conducive to evaporation, as the body’s ability to lose moisture through sweating is significantly reduced.

Therefore, the chosen answer accurately describes a scenario where both factors — low temperature and high humidity — result in a decreased rate of evaporation of moisture from a person's skin to the environment.