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ibonek_naw_ibo t1_j0lnl0y wrote

Reply to comment by TonyJPRoss in How does high humidity affect perceived temperature in hot and cold environments? by MindTheReddit

What about specific heat? I always thought it was because drier air in our immediate area changes more quickly toward our body temp, and more humid air more slowly. Kind of like sticking exposed skin into an oven is more tolerable than brief exposure to hot water.

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TonyJPRoss t1_j0lukfp wrote

Something with a high specific heat capacity needs more heat to increase its temperature by 1 degree.

Conductivity directly describes how much heat flow you get per difference in temperature.

They're related concepts but I think conductivity is the relevant one here. You feel colder when heat is drawn out of your body.

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kilotesla t1_j0lwdxg wrote

What would be relevant here is the convection coefficient, which is a result of heat capacity, thermal conductivity, and viscosity, as well as the geometry and the wind, if any. But it doesn't change significantly with humidity at cool or cold temperatures.

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