eli5: how is more water in the air(high-humidity) not equal to feeling cool?
In: 3
It can. Air is an insulator for heat, water is a conductor. More humidity means you exchange heat more easily with the environment and there’s more potential for the air to hold heat energy.
When it’s hot this makes it harder for you to shed heat into the air, because sweat doesn’t evaporate. But when it’s cold, you actually lose heat to the air much faster.
If you’re wet and cold, it’s much worse than just being cold.
e: it’s just not really as much as a concern, when it’s 33C and 100% humidity, people will die. When it’s 5C and 100% humidity, it’s foggy
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