Why does 70 in the summer feel warmer than 70 in fall/winter?

Question

I never understood why temperature can sometimes feel different in different context. Thanks for educating me!

In: 465

Answer 1

The perception of temperature can be influenced by a variety of factors, not just the actual temperature reading.

Sunlight: During the summer, the sun’s rays hit the Earth at a steep angle, and the light does not spread out as much, thus increasing the amount of energy hitting any given spot. Also, the long daylight hours allow the Earth plenty of time to reach warm temperatures. In contrast, during the winter, the sun’s rays hit the Earth at a shallow angle.

Air Movement and Radiant Temperature: Air temperature is only one of three parameters that influence thermal comfort. The others are air movement and the radiant temperature of the surroundings. In winter, you may experience more discomfort from drafts, as air entering the room is likely to be colder. This gives you an increased feeling of cold at the same air temperature. The radiant temperature of your surroundings is a function of the temperatures of all the surfaces around you. These are likely to be lower in winter than in summer.

Humidity: The level of humidity can also affect how we perceive temperature. Higher humidity can make the air feel warmer, while lower humidity can make it feel cooler.