2007, Piran, Slovenia

Exer
-
cise
PC Wind
(m·s -1 )
0
neutral
-1
slightly cool
Thermal sensation
-2
cool
-3
cold
Thermal comfort
-4
very cold
S TN 0.2 20.2±2.1(2) 20.3±1.7(14) 18.2±0.9(2)
S TN 1.0 18.2±2.9(12) 17.9±2.8(11)
S TN 5.0 12.7±0.7(2) 11.5±1.1(4) 10.2±3.6(16) 5.9±4.6(2)
S C 0.2 18.3±0.7(12) 18.1±2.0(7) 17.1±0.4(4)
S C 1.0 16.0±0.1(2) 15.6±2.3(12) 15.3±1.7(10)
S C 5.0 10.8±0.5(2) 10.1±1.1(18) 9.8±1.7(2)
L TN 0.2 18.1±2.0(17) 18.3±2.7(18) 16.1±4.0(7)
L TN 1.0 17.3±1.6(7) 16.4±2.3(32) 15.8±1.1(8)
L TN 5.0 9.9±1.2(13) 12.3±1.6(15) 11.9±1.7(17)
M TN 0.2 19.7±1.8(18) 18.2±2.1(18) 16.5±0.9(3)
M TN 1.0 17.3±1.4(14) 17.0±2.4(23) 15.7±1.2(2)
M TN 5.0 13.1±0.9(6) 13.0±2.5(6) 10.9±2.8(15) 11.6±1.8(15)
DISCUSSION
From the measured variables, cheek skin temperature had the strongest association with the
thermal sensations of the face. However, the association was not fixed, as both the
preconditioning, exercise and wind velocity changed the association. The highest skin
temperatures producing a given thermal sensation were measured after thermoneutral
preconditioning. Also the cooling rate was the highest in that condition. However, also during
exercises the cooling rate was almost as high but lower skin temperatures were required to
produce given thermal sensations. Exercise level did not affect markedly the association
between sensations and skin temperatures.
After cool preconditioning, lower cheek skin temperature was required to produce the same
thermal sensation than after thermoneutral preconditioning. This was obviously due to the
slower cooling rate. During each combination of preconditioning, exercise and wind, very
small differences in average cheek skin temperatures produced different thermal sensations.
This is due to the large individual variation in thermal sensations. The linear statistical model
describing the association between cheek skin temperature and thermal sensation could not
markedly be improved by additional parameters like heat flux or cooling rate and further
modelling is therefore required.
REFERENCES
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