Wind Chill Factor: Definition, Measurement & Impact

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of the wind chill factor, its definition, measurement, and its impact on humans compared to conventional thermometers. Participants explore the differences in how wind chill affects living beings versus inanimate objects, as well as the implications of different wind chill scales.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that the wind chill factor is specifically relevant to humans and must be calculated from temperature and wind speed, referencing various scales.
  • One participant expresses confusion regarding the new wind chill standards, noting discrepancies between past and present measurements in Fahrenheit and Celsius.
  • Another participant questions the fundamental differences between humans and thermometers in relation to wind chill susceptibility, seeking clarification on the mechanisms involved.
  • It is proposed that humans experience evaporative cooling due to moisture on the skin and generate heat, which contributes to the perception of colder temperatures in windy conditions.
  • One participant humorously notes that a thermometer measures the ambient temperature while a human typically maintains a higher body temperature, suggesting that this difference affects how wind chill is perceived.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the wind chill factor affects humans differently than thermometers, but there are competing views regarding the implications and accuracy of various wind chill scales.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved questions about the accuracy and applicability of different wind chill scales, as well as the specific mechanisms by which wind affects human perception of temperature.

p.tryon
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What exactly is the wind chill factor? Do conventional mercury thermometers measure the wind chill factor?
 
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Thanks for that link, Mgb. I've had a bit of trouble adjusting to the new standard. It sounds so much warmer these days, while I remember it hitting 75° below F. when I was a kid. Now it's like -50 C. and feels the same. Even accounting for the conversion between F & C, the numbers are considerably different.
 
Hello
Thank you for your replies. In what ways is a human different to a thermometer, that would mean the former are subseptible to the wind chill factor while the latter are not?
Thanks
 
The human differs from a thermometer because (1) the human skin is moist, and in the presence of wind, this leads to evaporative cooling, and (2) the human body generates heat, so there is a heat flux from the body surface to the ambient environment. You can "feel" the effect of wind, the idea is that when the wind blows, it "feels" to you like the air is colder. The various wind chill scales (in my opinion) all have their own problems.
 
p.tryon said:
In what ways is a human different to a thermometer, that would mean the former are subseptible to the wind chill factor while the latter are not?

Hello p.tryon! :smile:

A thermometer is the same temperature as what it is measuring, but a human is usually warmer. :wink:

(So a human can be insulated by a surrounding layer of air, which the wind can make thinner.)
 

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