‘Raw’ Weather

Abstract

REFERRING to Mr. Beckett's letter in NATURE of January 28, p. 132, by cold moist air I meant air which feels moist, and contains particles of water whether visible or invisible. For equal volumes, water has some 3,000 times the thermal capacity and 200 times the conductivity of air. To convert 1 gm. of water at skin temperature into vapour about 600 calories of heat must be supplied. Thus we see how particles of cold mist cool down the skin surface where they touch, and produce the sensation of cold.