Final answer:
The dew point temperature can only be changed through the processes of evaporation, which can lower it, and condensation, which can raise it. These processes affect the humidity of the air and in turn the point at which condensation occurs, affecting temperature range and stability.
Step-by-step explanation:
The only two processes that can change an air mass's dew point temperature are evaporation and condensation. Evaporation is the process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas, which can lower the dew point temperature if the air becomes less humid. Conversely, condensation is the process by which water vapor changes back into liquid form, which can raise the dew point temperature as the air becomes more humid. Since the dew point is the temperature at which relative humidity reaches 100% and condensation starts, any factor that changes the amount of moisture in the air will affect it.
Understanding the dew point is crucial for agriculture, as it helps in predicting freezing temperatures and managing crop protection. In arid regions like deserts where humidity is low, low dew-point temperatures mean condensation is less likely, and thus, there are larger temperature ranges due to the absence of the moderating effect of latent heat release during condensation.