You've probably heard about it many times temperature and des thermal feeling, and you found that they don't match. In fact, it's something we've all experienced: the thermometer shows an average temperature, but we feel a cold that penetrates to our bones.
This is not due to an error in our perception or the thermometer, but rather due to the difference that exists between the actual temperature and the sensation of heat. But why? Below we explain everything about the sensation of heat and why it is a relevant factor.
What is thermal sensation?
The thermal feeling It is the perception of cold or heat that a person feels according to a Combination of factors meteorological factors such as temperature, humidity and wind speed. Even if the actual air temperature is the same, some days we feel colder than others.
Our skin is surrounded by a thin layer of air that prevents heat loss. However, when the wind blows at high speed, the thickness of this layer decreases, causing us to lose heat. This is precisely why it is important to talk about the sensation of heat.
In winterthe thermal feeling depends on the combination of temperature and windbecause these are the factors increase the feeling of cold. For example, on a day with a temperature of 0°C and a calm wind, the thermal sensation is 0°C. The feeling of warmth is calculated for temperatures below 10 ºC. If a wind blows at a speed of 25 km/h at the same temperature, the feeling is -6°C. In summerThe feeling of warmth is calculated for temperatures above 20 °C.
It is important to remember that not all people are equally hot or cold. The sensation of heat is measured by a formula This includes the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit and the wind speed in miles per hour. It is also possible to perform the calculation using degrees Celsius and meters per second.
Which factors influence the sensation of heat?
These are the factors that influence the sensation of heat:
1. Temperature: This is the most obvious factor and is measured with a thermometer. The higher the temperature, the stronger the feeling of warmth.
2. Relative humidity: is the amount of water vapor present in the air. The higher the humidity, the stronger the feeling of warmth.
3. Wind speed: The higher the wind speed, the stronger the feeling of cold.
4. Sunlight exposure: Direct sunlight can increase the feeling of heat.
5. Metabolic rate: is the amount of heat produced by the human body. The higher the metabolic rate, the stronger the feeling of warmth.
6. Clothing: The clothing you wear can affect how you feel warm.
7. Age, Gender and Weight: Not all people are the same when it comes to feeling hot or cold. For example, fat people tend to be less cold than thin people, women tend to be less cold than men, and young people tend to be less cold than old people, although there are many exceptions.