A bioclimatic index of human survival times in the Antarctic
Abstract An index of human ‘survival time outdoors in extreme cold’ (STOEC) has been developed, using body-atmosphere energy budget modelling procedures. The index, which is applicable in places like Antarctica where only limited climatological data are available, is based on the calculated rate of...
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
1987
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247400008354 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247400008354 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0032247400008354 2024-03-03T08:38:29+00:00 A bioclimatic index of human survival times in the Antarctic de Freitas, C. R. Symon, L. V. 1987 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247400008354 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247400008354 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms Polar Record volume 23, issue 147, page 651-659 ISSN 0032-2474 1475-3057 General Earth and Planetary Sciences Ecology Geography, Planning and Development journal-article 1987 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0032247400008354 2024-02-08T08:43:00Z Abstract An index of human ‘survival time outdoors in extreme cold’ (STOEC) has been developed, using body-atmosphere energy budget modelling procedures. The index, which is applicable in places like Antarctica where only limited climatological data are available, is based on the calculated rate of fall of core temperature from 37°C to 27°C of a standard inactive healthy subject in full polar clothing. Applied to data from 12 Antarctic stations it indicates relative severity of their mean and extreme climatic conditions. The severest winter conditions become lifethreatening after only about 20 minutes. At most stations in winter, exposure outdoors for more than two hours would be dangerous. Conditions at all coastal stations in summer are mildenough to allow a normal core temperature to be maintained. The index has many applications, for example estimating likely survival times of immobilized accident victims and guidelines for duration of work periods outside. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Polar Record Cambridge University Press Antarctic The Antarctic Polar Record 23 147 651 659 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Cambridge University Press |
op_collection_id |
crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
topic |
General Earth and Planetary Sciences Ecology Geography, Planning and Development |
spellingShingle |
General Earth and Planetary Sciences Ecology Geography, Planning and Development de Freitas, C. R. Symon, L. V. A bioclimatic index of human survival times in the Antarctic |
topic_facet |
General Earth and Planetary Sciences Ecology Geography, Planning and Development |
description |
Abstract An index of human ‘survival time outdoors in extreme cold’ (STOEC) has been developed, using body-atmosphere energy budget modelling procedures. The index, which is applicable in places like Antarctica where only limited climatological data are available, is based on the calculated rate of fall of core temperature from 37°C to 27°C of a standard inactive healthy subject in full polar clothing. Applied to data from 12 Antarctic stations it indicates relative severity of their mean and extreme climatic conditions. The severest winter conditions become lifethreatening after only about 20 minutes. At most stations in winter, exposure outdoors for more than two hours would be dangerous. Conditions at all coastal stations in summer are mildenough to allow a normal core temperature to be maintained. The index has many applications, for example estimating likely survival times of immobilized accident victims and guidelines for duration of work periods outside. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
de Freitas, C. R. Symon, L. V. |
author_facet |
de Freitas, C. R. Symon, L. V. |
author_sort |
de Freitas, C. R. |
title |
A bioclimatic index of human survival times in the Antarctic |
title_short |
A bioclimatic index of human survival times in the Antarctic |
title_full |
A bioclimatic index of human survival times in the Antarctic |
title_fullStr |
A bioclimatic index of human survival times in the Antarctic |
title_full_unstemmed |
A bioclimatic index of human survival times in the Antarctic |
title_sort |
bioclimatic index of human survival times in the antarctic |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
1987 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247400008354 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247400008354 |
geographic |
Antarctic The Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic The Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Polar Record |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Polar Record |
op_source |
Polar Record volume 23, issue 147, page 651-659 ISSN 0032-2474 1475-3057 |
op_rights |
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0032247400008354 |
container_title |
Polar Record |
container_volume |
23 |
container_issue |
147 |
container_start_page |
651 |
op_container_end_page |
659 |
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1792506871917051904 |