Abstract
The paper aims to represent and scale biometeorological sensations through a thermal index which comprises the effects of temperature, humidity and wind. The cooling power of a measured combination of wind speed and air temperature is equated with that due to the combination of a reference wind speed (related to the air movement experienced by a person walking in still air), and a derived “aerodynamic” temperature. A “biometeorological” temperature which is the average of such an “aerodynamic” temperature and a conventionally measured wet bulb temperature is shown to afford a better measure of comfort in Spain than some other, alternative indices.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
COURT, A. (1948): Wind chill. Bull. Am. Meteor. Soc., 29: 487–493.
DARE, P. M. (1981): A study of the severity of the midwestern winters of 1977 and 1978 using heating degree days determined from both measured and wind chill temperatures. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 62: 974–982.
FLACH, E. (1981): Human Bioclimatology. In: World Survey of Climatology. H. E. Landsberg (ed). General Climatology, 3: 1–87.
GARMENDIA, J. (1974): Determinación del bienestar climático humano. Aplicación a Espaea. Pub. Real Academia de Medicina de Salamanca España.
JAUREGUI, E. and SOTO, C. (1967): Wet-bulb temperature and Discomfort Index, areal distribution in Mexico. Int. J. Biometeor., 11: 21–28.
LANDSBERG, H. E. (1972): The assessment of Human Bioclimate. A limited review of physical parameters. W.M.O. Tech. Note No. 123.
RODRIGUEZ, C., MATEOS, J. and GARMENDIA, J. (1983a): Estudio y determinación del enfriamiento Bioclimático. Avances sobre Investigación en Bioclimatología. Pub. C.S.I.C. Madrid. España.
RODRIGUEZ, C. MATEOS, J. and GARMENDIA, J. (1983b): Sensación Bioclimática Influencia del viento. Rev. de Geof.
SIPLE, P. A. (1945): Measurements of dry atmospheric cooling in subfreezing temperatures. Proc. Am. Phil. Soc., 89: 177–199.
TERJUNG, W. H. (1968): World pattern of the distribution of the monthly comfort index. Int. J. Biometeor., 12: 119–151.
TOUT, D. G. (1980): The Discomfort Index, Mortality and The London Summers of 1976 and 1978. Int. J. Biometeor., 24: 323–328.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rodriguez, C., Mateos, J. & Garmendia, J. Biometeorological comfort index. Int J Biometeorol 29, 121–129 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02189031
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02189031