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David

Darling

temperature-humidity index

The temperature-humidity index, also known as the discomfort index or effective temperature, is a quantity that gauges the effect of summer conditions on human comfort. It is used to predict how much power will be needed to run air-conditioning systems. Several different equations have been used to evaluate the temperature-humidity index (THI), which take into account readings of temperature and humidity, dependent on the data available. One such equation is

 

    THI = 0.4(T1 + T2) + 15

 

where T1 is the dry-bulb temperature (the temperature of the air as measured by a standard thermometer ) and T2 the wet-bulb temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (see hygrometer). When the index is 70 almost everyone feels comfortable; at 80 or more, no one.