Heat index

prefLabel
  • Heat Index
definition
  • The heat index (HI) or “apparent temperature” is an approximation of how hot it “feels” for a given combination of air temperature and relative humidity (RH). Generally, higher RH values at the same temperature feel warmer or more stressful because of less evaporative cooling when people perspire. The HI is the result of extensive biometeorological studies over a period of decades by various researchers, most notably Robert G. Steadman.
broader
Abstract from DBPedia
    The heat index (HI) is an index that combines air temperature and relative humidity, in shaded areas, to posit a human-perceived equivalent temperature, as how hot it would feel if the humidity were some other value in the shade. The result is also known as the "felt air temperature", "apparent temperature", "real feel" or "feels like". For example, when the temperature is 32 °C (90 °F) with 70% relative humidity, the heat index is 41 °C (106 °F). The humidity where the heat index feels like itself is typically left unstated. The heat index example in this case, 41°C, feels like 41°C only when the humidity is 21%. The human body normally cools itself by perspiration, or sweating. Heat is removed from the body by evaporation of that sweat. However, high relative humidity reduces the evaporation rate. This results in a lower rate of heat removal from the body, hence the sensation of being overheated. This effect is subjective, with different individuals perceiving heat differently for various reasons (such as differences in body shape, metabolic differences, differences in hydration, pregnancy, menopause, effects of drugs or drug withdrawal); its measurement has been based on subjective descriptions of how hot subjects feel for a given temperature and humidity. This results in a heat index that relates one combination of temperature and humidity to another. Because the heat index is based on temperatures in the shade, while people often move across sunny areas, the heat index can give a much lower temperature than actual conditions of typical outdoor activities. Also, for people exercising or active, at the time, then the heat index could give a temperature lower than the felt conditions.

    不快指数(ふかいしすう、英: discomfort index または temperature-humidity index, THI)とは夏の蒸し暑さを数量的に表した指数で、の一つ。Discomfort index は Earl Crabill Thom が1957年に発表した。類似した指標は多数ある。

    (Source: http://dbpedia.org/resource/Heat_index)