What process describes the cooling of air to the dew point, leading to dew formation?

The process that describes the cooling of air to the dew point, leading to dew formation, is condensation. When air cools to its dew point temperature, it can no longer hold all the moisture in the form of vapor. As a result, the water vapor in the air condenses into tiny droplets, forming dew. This process occurs when the air becomes saturated, meaning the relative humidity reaches 100%.

Convection refers to the vertical movement of air due to temperature differences, which doesn’t directly relate to the cooling to dew point for dew formation. Long wave cooling typically refers to the loss of heat from the Earth's surface at night, which can affect temperature but isn't a specific mechanism for dew formation. Advection involves the horizontal movement of air, which can transport moisture but doesn’t directly describe the cooling process at the dew point. Thus, condensation is the key process that allows for moisture in the air to transition into liquid, resulting in the creation of dew.