*** Windchill Factor Formula ***

Mon Jan 13 14:35:24 1997
From: CMorHiker
Address : cmorhiker@aol.com
Subject : Wind chill misconception
Org.  : AOL http://www.aol.com

I've been following the discussion on wind chill and was confused by all
the talk about cars and other non-human impact. I had always been told
that wind chill only referred to evaporation of moisture from exposed
skin. The World Book Encyclopedia (1996 edition) says it is "the
estimate of the relationship between wind speed and temperature, with
respect to the physical effects of the wind on LIVING THINGS." The New
Encyclopedia Brittanica says wind chill can be "expressed by a formula
K=(10.45+10 (square root of v-v) (33-t) where K is the heat in kilogram
calories lost by one square meter of SKIN in one hour..." The physics
teachers at my high school agree, stating further that "the average
temperature of the air is as cold as an object can become."

So use of wind chill by TV/weather reporters is useful to let people know
they should put on more clothes, but should not be used by the reporters
(or received and interpreted by listeners) as hype regarding the effect
of the cold on car engines, etc.
Happy trails!

Chuck's Backpacking Bonanza
http://members.aol.com/CMorHiker/backpack/

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