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August 26, 2005

Strange But True!

Q. In what parts of the world might you encounter the stickiest, ghastliest summer heat?

A. Bangkok, Thailand is one tough place to keep your cool, with average highs in the upper 90s and minimums in the lower 80s for six months of the year, says Penn State meteorologist Paul Knight. A simple way to measure the discomfort level is to combine the air temperature (measured in the shade at 1.5 meters above the ground) with the dew point, the temperature where the air becomes saturated and condensation occurs. Combined values over 160 are very uncomfortable and 170 is downright oppressive. The lack of ventilation plus other heat sources in a large city such as Bangkok only add to the stifling atmosphere.


 
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