Sunday, July 13, 2008

Survey Results

High humidity makes heat more dangerous because it slows the body's evaporation rate of perspiration. This makes the body retain more heat than it would in dry air. The Heat Index combines actual air temperature and relative humidity to determine the human-perceived equivalent of temperature. But, exposure to full sun can increase the Heat Index value by up to 15 degrees. So, here are some examples:
100 degrees at 30% humidity feels like 104
110 degrees at 30% humidity feels like 123
100 degrees at 70% humidity feels like 144

So, it seems that Dallas and Daejeon are most dangerous. The past few days in Daejeon it has been 100 degrees and when you walk outside the air is thick, dense and very liquid. Rain doesn't really cool things off much, just makes it more like a steam bath! Everyone, wherever the heat is intense needs to keep an eye on the Heat Index throughout the summer, drink lots of water and avoid full sun.

2 comments:

mamapickle said...

Right now it is 90 degrees, but we are at 52% humidity so it feels like 96. The only reason it is below 95 is that there is some cloud coverage today and hopefully we will get some rain. I am having to hose water my trees WAY to much. I never knew that you knew so much about the heat index!

Nate P said...

Well all i know is that it is 112 here and whatever the index says it doesnt matter cause you cant touch anything that is outside and when you drive you have to alternate different fingertips for fear of blistering