Shakia Clark on Heat Index
From GeoClasses
- Audio Narration:Media:clark.wav
Contents |
Introduction
According to our Geography book Geosystems, the heat index (HI) is defined as the indication of the human body’s reaction to the combination of air temperature and water vapor. The heat index specifically focuses on hot weather. There are different levels of concern in which heat index plays a major role in. These levels range from a category I, which is extreme danger, all the way to a category IV, which is a level of caution.
Explanation
The National Weather Service recorded that the all time highest July temperature in Memphis was in 1980, where the temperature reached 108 degrees, which according to our text, would put us in a Category III level of extreme caution. At this level the effects can be sunstroke, heat exhaustion, and even heat cramps. The most recent was in August of 2000, where the highest August temperature reached 106 degrees, which according to our text would put us in a Category II level of danger. The effects of this level are the same from level III.
The heat index can affect people in many ways. Not only will the meteorologist advise people not to go outside unless they have to, but many people can die from the heat. Such as the Chicago heat wave in 1995, that killed a total of 700 people.
| Average High | Average Low | Mean | Average Precip | Record High | Record Low | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49°F | 31°F | 40°F | 4.24 in. | 79°F (2002) | -8°F (1919) |
| Jul | 92°F | 73°F | 83°F | 4.22 in. | 108°F (1980) | 52°F (1947) |
| Aug | 91°F | 71°F | 81°F | 3.00 in. | 107°F (2000) | 48°F (1946) |
People living in Memphis have all experienced heat to the extreme. Sometimes it gets so hot that you no longer want to go outside. For elderly people who experienced heat before there was air conditioning, they know the extreme that it can get. I have seen many people sleep with the windows up due to the fact that they had no air. I can remember one summer, when our air conditioning went out in July. We were told that it could not be fixed for about two days. This was a dreadful experience, because the upstairs of our house was ridiculously hot, whereas the downstairs part was fairly hot. I had to sleep downstairs, but even then I was not comfortable.
Predictions
April 2006, we have already reached the 90’s in temperature. Imagine how hot it will be in July? Will we break the record this year? Will we come close to breaking the record. So far, we have reached the temperature-humidity index where most people feel uncomfortable (around 80). Therefore, when July comes around we may reach a level of 85 or more where serious health hazards come into affect.
References:
Christopherson, Robert W. Geosystems Fifth Edition
http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/USTN0325
www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/heat_index.shtml
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/
