Antarctic Climate, Clothing and Acclimatization

• Main Authors: Rogers, A. F., Sutherland, R. J.
• Other Authors: BRISTOL UNIV (UNITED KINGDOM) DEPT OF PHYSIOLOGY
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1971
• Subjects: Stress Physiology; *STRESS(PHYSIOLOGY); *CLOTHING; *ANTARCTIC REGIONS; *ACCLIMATIZATION; ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE; TOLERANCES(PHYSIOLOGY); BODY WEIGHT; SLEEP; COLD WEATHER TESTS; BODY TEMPERATURE; *COLD TOLERANCE; Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0734071; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0734071

A detailed computer analysis was made of the clothing worn by the members of the Trans-Antarctic Expedition, and the relevant climate data. The analysis covers a period of just over fourteen months and includes the 2,158 mile journey across Antarctica. The cold stress was severe. No evidence of whole body acclimatization to cold in man could be found. The clothing worn was clearly shown to be more closely correlated with temperature than with windchill. The measured clo values of twenty eight different assemblies of Antarctic clothing were compared. A simple direct relationship between a weighted 'number of layers' count and the clo value of an assembly was shown to exist. This relationship is of immediate use in comparing the relative thermal insulation of two cold weather clothing assemblies. Other data, including weight fat thickness and sleep records, are discussed. The data presented are consistent with the suggestion that man creates and controls his own micro climate.