Heat Index Chart
Have you ever wondered how the 'heat index' is decided?
Here's your chart!
And here's the skinny:
Your comfort level plummets when it's both hot AND humid because the body can't function efficiently. When our body temperature reaches roughly 95 degress, the body begins to emit a salty fluid from our pores (sweat). That moisture normally evaporates (and in the evaporation process, heat is required, which our bodies normally supply, therefore REMOVING heat from our body and cooling us).
HOWEVER....when it's HUMID, the air surrounding our body is saturated with moisture. Therefore, the sweat doesn't evaporate as freely (as all of the surrounding moisture retards the process). And since the humidity slows down the evaporation process (or stops it completely), our bodies don't cool off properly and the end result is that we wish we lived someplace cooler.
Oh, AC.....you saved the Mid-South.
posted by Joey @ 2:41 PM
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