Agents of weather and climates all go a long way to affect how we feel so it is only normal to wonder what is an uncomfortable dew point.
Dew point and humidity both play a huge role in our lives.
From how we enjoy our everyday activities to how much sweat and messy hair we have to deal with, they play a role.
Generally, an uncomfortable dew point is basically a dew point below average. It is also an uncomfortable dew point when the ambient air in the atmosphere has a dew temperature of 20 to 25º, people perspire profusely.
What Should You Know About Dew Point?
The dew temperature or dew point is the highest temperature at which the water vapor contained in the air begins to condense, producing dew.
It could also produce mist, any type of cloud, or, if the temperature is low enough, frost.
The dew temperature is the point at which the temperature of the atmosphere must drop for the water vapor already existing in the air to begin to liquefy.
First, the minute liquid droplets of water will start forming on all smooth surfaces in the open air. These dewdrops are what give our name to our “dew point”.
Soon the condensation of water will also occur in the atmosphere
Note: So, the dew temperature or point is the point, at which, in cooling air, the formation of fog begins, and also of dew on objects.
How It Is Measured?
It is said that relative humidity is the proportion of vapor contained in relation to that necessary to reach the saturation point.
That is the point dew and is expressed as a percentage.
The dew temperature can be gotten directly from existing relative humidity and temperature data at any time.
The data can come from meteorological reports broadcast radially, or recorded by instruments.
So basically, when the air becomes saturated (relative humidity equal to 100%), the dew temperature is reached.
Saturation is produced by an increase in absolute humidity with the same temperature. It can also be produced by a decrease in temperature with the same absolute humidity.
Tip: For there to be dew, the temperature must be at 0 °C or more, for example (3 °C or 5 °C).
What Is A Comfortable Dew Point?
Before we discuss what is considered an uncomfortable dew point, let’s talk about a comfortable dew point.
In an estimative way, it is possible to verify when the dew temperature in the atmosphere is somewhere around 8 and 13º, we feel a maximum sensation of comfort.
This feeling is experienced mostly with temperatures between 20 to 26º in an area without wind and under a cover or shade.
These are the most helpful weather conditions for the normal cooling of the body.
These points are present in the atmosphere, for example, with a temperature of 30º and humidity of 30%, as well as with a temperature of 20º and 55% humidity (see table).
It is interesting to note that when our dew temperature is 10º. The amount of moisture that is actually for every cubic meter of air. There is a water vapor of gram 7.5.
Note: The ideal dew point for human life is 10º.
Effects Of Dew Points On Humans
There are many effects of dew points in our everyday lives but we would be focusing mainly on the effects it has on the human body and its health.
Effect #1: Effect On Health
Human beings have the biological capacity to maintain a constant internal body temperature of 36º (or 37ºC).
At the same time, the skin on the outside of our bodies has a temperature that is usually 32 degrees (provided it has not been exposed to the sun or excessive heat).
This is why we all feel cold when the temperature of our skin goes lower than 32 degrees.
Similarly, we feel hot and warm when the skin temperature begins to exceed that thermal value.
What role does Homeostasis play in this?
Homeostasis comes into play here by finding a way to cool the body. This is why our skin begins to sweat or perspire.
Then, through the evaporation of the small drops of water that we sweat out, our skin and also the whole body cool down, thus losing excess heat.
Well, what function does “dew point” play?
Doctors, as well as meteorologists, have been able to verify that dew temperature or dew point as it is popularly called, is a very important meteorological index.
It is used to note and calculate the way in which the human skin gives up excess body heat to the outside.
Note: Generally speaking, we tend to say the weather is uncomfortable or heavy when we are overwhelmed with humidity and heat.
What Is An Uncomfortable Dew Point?
Generally, an uncomfortable dew point is basically a dew point below average.
But before we jump right into that, let’s talk about how dew points affect our comfort level in general.
During the hot months, we can use the “Dew Point” as a useful and interesting index of discomfort.
This particular meteorological element gives us an idea of how comfortable or uncomfortable we feel.
Dew Point In Relation To Comfort
Every now and then, the temperature of the hair becomes high, causing heat which in turn makes us feel hot. Our body makes use of evaporation and perspiration to help cool us down.
When we perspire i.e, sweat, the sweat evaporates and, in the process, leaves our body cool.
The coolness we get is always a result of how fast our sweat can evaporate.
Due to homeostasis, our body perspires i.e., sweat, in order to regulate our body temperature.
This is a biological occurrence our body is meant to have no matter the circumstances.
So even at times when our sweat production rate exceeds the rate evaporation occurs.
How About The Air In Our Surroundings?
When the air that is surrounding us is heated up by the heat of our body, it will circulate and switch up with another air.
If the air is blown away from the body by a fan or by a normal breeze, the sweat on our body will evaporate more quickly, making perspiration highly effective in making our bodies cool.
When the perspiration remains unevaporated, we begin to experience discomfort.
Note: The wet bulb thermometer employs evaporative cooling, making it a useful tool for determining comfort levels.
When Is The Dew Point Uncomfortable?
People perspire profusely when the ambient air in the atmosphere has a dew temperature of 20 to 25º. People tend to say the weather is uncomfortable or heavy.
This situation of the climate is a result of the sweat on our body taking time to evaporate or might not even evaporate at all therefore, the body cannot cool off.
A point at which environmental discomfort begins to become obvious is at a dew point value of 20º.
When the air is dry, it can make the skin more easily chapped and irritated. It also makes the airway dry.
The US OSHA suggests that the air inside a place should be kept at 20-25 degrees Celsius (68-76 °F).
This should be accompanied by relative humidity of 20-60%, 15 equal to a point dew temperature of about 3.9 to 17°C.
Lower dew temperature, below 10 degrees Celsius (50.0 °F), coincides with lesser room temperatures and needs lower cooling for the body.
Tip: A lesser dew temperature would be accompanied by an elevated temperature solely when the relative humidity is extremely low, which allows effective cooling.
Certain Conditions That Indicate Uncomfortable Dew Point
Under certain conditions, uncomfortable dew points are always experienced:
- An afternoon with a temperature of 34º and humidity of 45%.
- At night with 26º and humidity of 70%.
- One early morning with a temperature of 22º and humidity of 90%.
People living in tropical climates and occasionally subtropical climates get somewhat acclimated to increased dew temperature.
This is why a person staying in Singapore or Florida, for instance, can have an increased discomfort threshold than a person living in a mild or temperate climate. (such as western Europe).
People who used to have temperate climates tend to start to experience discomfort when the value of the dew temperature is over 15°C.
While others may consider dew temperature as low as 18°C comfortable.
Most people in temperate zones will find dew temperatures over 21°C brutal and tropical, while people in hot and sticky zones may not consider it uncomfortable.
This just goes to say that thermal comfort does not only depend on environmental factors, it also depends on psychological characteristics.
Note: These schismatic conditions usually appear on a number of days in summer in the area of Río Plata, Buenos Aires, and the south of the fluvial coast.
Conclusion
At this point, we all know that what is an uncomfortable dew point depends on so many factors.
It also depends on how the dew temperature is perceived based on the location and a person’s feelings.
We might not be able to change the weather but now and then, an uncomfortable dew point can be made comfortable.
Thanks to technology and science, we now have tools that can make an uncomfortable dew point slightly comfortable.
We have gotten to the end of this article and I hope this article has been helpful. Thank you for your time and patience.
