Underlying mechanism of diurnal change in thermal sensation response at high relative humidity
Abstract
Diurnal changes in physiological and behavioral responses to constant relative humidity (RH) were investigated in summer to validate a hypothesis that thermal sensation responses (TSR) vary with the diurnal cycle while maintained at stable RH's of 60, 70, or 80%. Seven lightly clothed male subjects were exposed to one of three RH while air temperature (T a) was held at 28 °C from 9:00-18:30. Mean skin temperature (T‾sk) and tympanic temperature (T ty) were monitored at 2-min intervals throughout the experimental period. Cutaneous warm and cool sensation thresholds and stratum corneum water content (SCWC) on the anterior forearm, posterior forearm, and anterior thigh, finger blood flow rate (S k BF) were measured by a thermal stimulator controlled by a Peltier element (Intercross-230; Intercross, Co., Tokyo, Japan), a water content of stratum corneum monitor (Corneometer CM825 & MPA 5; Integral Co., Tokyo, Japan), and a laser flowmeter (ALF21; Advance Co., Tokyo, Japan), accordingly at the end of three periods: 9:30-10:30, 13:30-14:30, and 17:30-18:30. The TSR and the thermal comfort response were also recorded using subjective scales of thermal sensation and comfort thresholds at the end of three periods. The T ty and mean skin temperature (T‾sk) remained unchanged during the day under all RH conditions. Temperature difference between warm and cold sensation thresholds and S k BF decreased slightly towards the evening under all RH conditions whereas SCWC increased from the morning to the evening at 60% and 80% RH. Behaviorally, the subjects responded more than "slightly warm" at 70%, and 80% RH, and then the TSR changed significantly (p < 0.05) to less than "slightly warm" in the evening, although T̅sk remained unchanged at 34.0 °C. The results from the previous study in winter was reconfirmed, and the data verify the hypothesis that TSR changes diurnally even though subjects are exposed to a constant and high RH's and stable T a. It was confirmed in summertime as previously shown in wintertime that the combined reduction in S k BF to increases SCWC when exposed to high RH explains the altered TSR although T a are unchanged.
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More recent evidence contradicts findings from early thermal comfort studies, suggesting circadian variation plays a role in human thermal perception.
“However, more recent evidence contradicts the findings from those early studies [18,19], suggesting that circadian variation plays a role in human thermal perception.”
From Human thermal perception and time of day: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [19]
Among the 15 reviewed experimental studies investigating diurnal variations in thermal perception, six observed significant differences in thermal perception.
“six observed significant differences [19,71–74,77]”
From Human thermal perception and time of day: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [19]
Based on results from four studies, there is a tendency to prefer higher temperatures in the early evening compared to other times of the day.
“based on the results from four studies [18,19,73,77], there is a tendency to prefer higher temperatures in the early evening compared to other times of the day.”
From Human thermal perception and time of day: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [19]
In two of the six studies finding significant differences, the differences were observed only in male subjects.
“In addition, two out of the six studies finding significant differences observed these differences only in male subjects [19,72].”
From Human thermal perception and time of day: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [19]
In Kakitsuba's summer experiment, male subjects' thermal sensation was found to be lowest in the evening and the difference compared to morning and afternoon was significant.
“the male subjects’ thermal sensation was found to be lowest in the evening and the difference compared to morning and afternoon was significant.”
From Human thermal perception and time of day: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [19]
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Human thermal perception and time of day: A review
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- Authors
- Kakitsuba, N.
- Affiliations
- Meijo University (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Kakitsuba, Naoshi
- ORCID
- Kakitsuba, Naoshi
- Venue
- Journal of Thermal Biology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2021-04
- Volume
- 97
- Pages
- 102870
- ISSN
- 0306-4565 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3134667539
- Cited by
- 4
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 0.63
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Thermal Biology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Meijo University
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Building Energy and Comfort Optimization
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Urban Heat Island Mitigation
- Keywords
- diurnal variation, thermal sensation, relative humidity, high humidity, skin blood flow, stratum corneum water content, skin temperature, tympanic temperature, thermal comfort
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Body Temperature, Circadian Rhythm, Humans, Humidity, Male, Seasons, Skin, Temperature, Thermosensing, Water, Young Adult
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