Altered temperature

• Other Authors: Garland, H O
• Format: Book Part
• Language: unknown
• Published: Oxford University PressNew York, NY 1994
• Subjects: Yakutsk
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780192622655.003.0006; https://academic.oup.com/book/chapter-pdf/52223273/isbn-9780192622655-book-part-6.pdf

Abstract Like other mammals, humans are homeothermic animals. We normally keep our core temperature within the narrow range of 36-38°C despite large fluctuations in the environmental temperature and metabolic activity. Environmental temperature variations may be circadian, circannual, or geographic. Diurnal ranges of 35°C are commonly recorded in continental hot deserts. The largest circannual temperature variations occur in the centre of large land masses (for example, N.E. Asia) where winters fall to -65°C and summers have a mean of +20°C. Geographically, individual human populations live in environmental temperatures ranging from -65°C (January in Yakutsk) to + 50°C (July in the Sahara). Metabolic heat production is similarly variable. Pressing a lift button may generate 1-2 kJ; walking up five flights of stairs may produce nearer 100 kJ.