Re: [Paddlewise] Taking Water Temps

From: Rafael Mier Maza <sildriel_at_ciateq.net.mx>
Date: Fri, 05 Jul 2002 15:35:03 -0500
>I've never done anything like this, but I will mention that moving the 
>thermometer
>will result in slightly different temperatures than keeping it still - 
>think of
>wind chill.
>
I may be wrong but I think the chilling factor has to do with the body 
loosing heat to try to maintain the surface temperature. The more wind the 
faster the surface is cooled down because there is more energy 
removed.  The chilling factor affects living mechanisms that fight to keep 
the surface temperature. A body may need to send out 500 calories for a 
given static temperature or the same for a higher temperature but with 
wind, the wind conversion to the equivalent static temperature is the 
chilling factor. A thermometer will measure the temperature of the water 
moving since it does not have internal energy to supply to keep the surface 
temperature at a give value. The only temperature change might be due to 
heating by friction against the water which I think  is so small that could 
be neglected.

Therefore I think the reading should be very accurate of the average 
surface temperature which in a moving lake should take care of a couple or 
three feet depth, and is close to the temperature a capsized individual 
might feel in his face and body.

As Mike says depending on the objective deeper measurements might be 
useful. I would be interested in teh close to surface temperatures anyway.

Best Regards,

Rafael Mier Maza
mayanseas.com




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Received on Fri Jul 05 2002 - 13:33:19 PDT

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