If air and the water are existing in the same climate, why does water feel so much cooler than air? Why can we take a dip in a pool (even an above the ground pool) and feel cooler? Does the top of water provide some sort of defensive shield, so only a thin, undetectable layer of water is as hot as the air?
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Water has a much higher ability to **transfer** heat, both because it’s a liquid, as well as some more complicated things.
The effect of this is that, even if you have air&water of the same temperature, water is able to “pull” a lot more heat from you, making it *feel* colder.
Think of touching a metal disc versus a plastic disc. Metal may feel colder, but that is because it transfers heat better.
[Obligatory Veritasium](https://youtu.be/vqDbMEdLiCs)
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