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# Maximum Vehicle Car Temperatures under Different Meteorological Conditions

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A variety of studies have documented the dangerously high temperatures that may occur within the passenger compartment (cabin) of cars under clear sky conditions, even at relatively low ambient air temperatures. Our study, however, is the first to examine cabin temperatures under variable weather conditions. It uses a unique maximum vehicle cabin temperature dataset in conjunction with directly comparable ambient air temperature, solar radiation, and cloud cover data collected from April through August 2007 in Athens, GA. Maximum cabin temperatures, ranging from 41-76 degrees C, varied considerably depending on the weather conditions and the time of year. Clear days had the highest cabin temperatures, with average values of 68 degrees C in the summer and 61 degrees C in the spring. Cloudy days in both the spring and summer were on average approximately 10 degrees C cooler. Our findings indicate that even on cloudy days with lower ambient air temperatures, vehicle cabin temperatures may reach deadly levels. Additionally, two predictive models of maximum daily vehicle cabin temperatures were developed using commonly available meteorological data. One model uses maximum ambient air temperature and average daily solar radiation while the other uses cloud cover percentage as a surrogate for solar radiation. From these models, two maximum vehicle cabin temperature indices were developed to assess the level of danger. The models and indices may be useful for forecasting hazardous conditions, promoting public awareness, and to estimate past cabin temperatures for use in forensic analyses.
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ORIGINAL PAPER
Maximum vehicle cabin temperatures under different
meteorological conditions
Andrew Grundstein &Vernon Meentemeyer &
John Dowd
Received: 4 July 2008 / Revised: 11 December 2008 / Accepted: 24 January 2009
#ISB 2009
Abstract A variety of studies have documented the
dangerously high temperatures that may occur within the
passenger compartment (cabin) of cars under clear sky
conditions, even at relatively low ambient air temperatures.
Our study, however, is the first to examine cabin temper-
atures under variable weather conditions. It uses a unique
maximum vehicle cabin temperature dataset in conjunction
with directly comparable ambient air temperature, solar
radiation, and cloud cover data collected from April
through August 2007 in Athens, GA. Maximum cabin
temperatures, ranging from 4176°C, varied considerably
depending on the weather conditions and the time of year.
Clear days had the highest cabin temperatures, with average
values of 68°C in the summer and 61°C in the spring.
Cloudy days in both the spring and summer were on
average approximately 10°C cooler. Our findings indicate
that even on cloudy days with lower ambient air temper-
atures, vehicle cabin temperatures may reach deadly levels.
Additionally, two predictive models of maximum daily
vehicle cabin temperatures were developed using common-
ly available meteorological data. One model uses maximum
ambient air temperature and average daily solar radiation
while the other uses cloud cover percentage as a surrogate
for solar radiation. From these models, two maximum
vehicle cabin temperature indices were developed to assess
the level of danger. The models and indices may be useful
for forecasting hazardous conditions, promoting public
awareness, and to estimate past cabin temperatures for use
in forensic analyses.
Keywords Automobile .Temperature .Hyperthermia .
Weather
Introduction
Every year infants and young children die from hyperther-
mia after being trapped within cars. A study by Guard and
Gallagher (2005) found that, in the United States, 171
children died from being trapped in vehicles, either
intentionally or by accident, during the period from 1995
2002. Since 1998, Null (2008) found an average of 36
deaths per year from vehicle-related hyperthermia. Often
parents leave children in the car so as to avoid waking them
but are unaware of how quickly temperatures may increase
to dangerous levels (Guard and Gallagher 2005). Indeed,
under ideal conditions with full sun exposure and no
ventilation, temperatures have been observed to increase by
2227°C within an hour (McLaren et al. 2005; Gibbs et al.
1995; King et al. 1981) and reach maximum temperatures
up to 89°C (Marty et al. 2001).
The temperature increase in the car is caused by a
greenhouse effect associated with a radiation imbalance and
reduced ventilation. A net radiation imbalance occurs as
solar radiation can pass into the vehicle through the
windows but long-wave radiation emitted by the car is
trappedand prevented from escaping (Roberts and
Roberts 1976). In addition, a car without ventilation (e.g.,
open windows) blocks the loss of energy via convection.
Studies comparing vehicles in direct sunlight and shade
reveal that cabin temperatures reached values that were 8°C
Int J Biometeorol
DOI 10.1007/s00484-009-0211-x
A. Grundstein (*):V. Meentemeyer
Department of Geography, Climatology Research Laboratory,
University of Georgia,
Athens, GA 30602, USA
e-mail: andrewg@uga.edu
J. Dowd
Department of Geology, University of Georgia,
Athens, USA
19°C greater in the sun (Roberts and Roberts 1976;Surpure
substantially lower cabin temperatures. Maximum cabin
temperatures in vehicles with open windows were over
28°C cooler than those with closed windows but only 8°C
15°C cooler with the windows cracked(open 50 mm)
(Roberts and Roberts 1976;Kingetal.1981; Surpure 1982).
Most of these studies collected data on a single day,
typically a clear one in the summer when both air and car
temperatures would be maximized. Two studies, however,
investigated how variations in meteorological conditions
may affect cabin temperatures. McLaren et al. (2005)
quantified the heating within cars under days with a range
of ambient air temperatures. They collected data for 16
clear sunny days with air temperatures ranging from 22°C
36°C. The maximum cabin temperature of the vehicle,
whichdependedonstartingambientairtemperatures,
increased by an average of 22°C over ambient air temper-
atures within an hour. Even on the coolest day in the study,
with an ambient temperature of 22°C, the cabin temperature
reached a hazardous value of 47°C. Marty et al. (2001)
examined car temperatures under a variety of meteorolog-
ical conditions and in different seasons during the 1995
2000 period. Exposure to direct sunlight lead to dramatic
increases in car temperatures but the degree of heating
varied by season. They offer an approximation that under
direct sun exposure maximum cabin temperatures may
reach 30°C in the winter, 60°C in the spring and fall, and
90°C in the summer. Their sample size of days with
inclement weather such as with rain were insufficient to
make any generalizations about cabin temperatures. The
authors also attempted to develop a model of cabin
temperatures based on the meteorological conditions but
were limited by the temporal resolution of their dataset.
Many United States state governments have recognized
the danger to children posed by high cabin temperatures.
Presently, 14 states have laws that prohibit leaving children
unattended in motor vehicles (Null 2008). However, even
states such as California, Florida, and Texas with such laws
still experience vehicle-related hyperthermia deaths, indi-
cating that the legislation does not provide a complete
deterrent. As mentioned above, many parents and care-
givers are simply not aware of how quickly vehicle
temperatures can reach hazardous levels. Thus, raising
awareness by documenting the degree of heating may be
useful in reducing deaths. The objective of this research,
then, is to build upon the work of McLaren et al. (2005)
and Marty et al. (2001) by examining maximum vehicle
cabin temperatures under a variety of meteorological
conditions during the spring and summer in Athens,
Georgia.
High temporal resolution meteorological and vehicle
cabin temperature datasets are used in this study and will
allow for a quantification of the influence of different
meteorological conditions upon cabin temperatures. In
addition, maximum cabin temperature models based on
commonly available meteorological data will be developed.
It is hoped that the models will be of use in forecasting
dangerous conditions to promote public awareness. In
addition, Marty et al. (2001) noted that there is a gap in
the forensic literature on identifying time of death under
automobiles. Thus, the maximum cabin temperature model
may be useful for reconstructing past car temperatures for
forensic analyses.
Data and methods
The study was conducted from 1 April through 31 August
2007 in Athens, GA. A metallic gray 2005 Honda civic
with gray cloth seats was used. It was parked in an open lot
with direct exposure to sunlight. The windows were closed
during data collection because the objective was to assess
maximum possible temperatures. In addition, the lack of
ventilation represents typical conditions when children are
left in cars (Roberts and Roberts 1976).
The car temperature data were collected by HOBO
temperature sensors (Onset Computer Corporation; http://
www.onsetcomp.com/) that recorded temperatures every 5
min. The sensor was suspended approximately 150 mm
from the ceiling in a manner similar to that used by King et
al. (1981) and was never exposed to direct sunlight.
Ambient air temperature and solar radiation data at 5-min
resolution were obtained from an adjacent weather station
operated by the Department of Geography Climatology
Research Laboratory, located on the roof of the building
approximately 125 m from the parking lot. Cloud cover data
at hourly resolution were obtained from a National Weather
Service (NWS) Automated Surface Observing Station
(ASOS) located approximately 5 km away at Athens Ben
Epps Airport. The cloud cover data were presented in text
format as clear, few (>0/82/8), scattered (3/84/8), broken
(5/87/8), and overcast (8/8). Each category consists of a
range in coverage and is provided, if available, at different
levels in the atmosphere. For each hour, the average
coverage for the range was used and the level with the
greatest cover was set as the cloud cover value.
The study built a daily dataset consisting of maximum
cabin temperature, maximum ambient air temperature, and
average daytime [9:00 A.M.5:00 P.M. eastern daylight time
(EDT)] solar radiation and cloud cover percentage. Only
days where the car was parked in the lot from at least noon
to 3:00 P.M. EDT and in the same parking spot were
retained. A total of 58 days were included in the study.
With this dataset, maximum cabin temperatures were
Int J Biometeorol
examined under a variety of cloud cover conditions and by
season. The seasons were defined as spring (April and
May) and summer (June, July, and August). Only the warm
season was studied because 75% of hyperthermia deaths
related to cars occur in the summer (Guard and Gallagher
2005). The cloud cover conditions were categorized as clear
if cloudiness was 30% and cloudy if greater than 30%.
The partly cloudy (0.40.7) and cloudy (0.71.0) categories
in Changnon (1981) were grouped together in this study to
provide a sufficient dataset.
Maximum cabin temperature models were developed using
meteorological data. The first model uses maximum ambient
air temperature and average daytime solar radiation (9:00 A.M.
5:00 P. M . EDT) as independent variables. These variables
were selected because previous studies have documented the
importance of ambient temperature (McLaren et al. 2005)and
solar radiation (Roberts and Roberts 1976;Surpure1982)on
maximum cabin temperatures. The temporal resolution of the
data (i.e. maximum daily or average daily) were selected to
make the input data as accessible as possible for application.
Therefore, a second model was developed that uses average
daily cloud cover percentage (9:00 A.M.5:00 P. M . EDT) as a
Results
Meteorological conditions during the study
The 58 study days include a wide variety of meteorological
conditions (Table 1). The study period extends from a few
weeks after the Spring Equinox and past the Summer
Solstice, which provide for a wide variety of solar angles and
ranged from just over 250 W m
2
to 800 W m
2
.Cloud
cover conditions varied from clear to overcast, with about
38% of the days classified as cloudy (cloud cover > 30%).
Finally, there was a wide variety in maximum ambient air
temperatures, ranging from mild (21°C) to extremely hot
(41°C).
Maximum cabin temperatures
The maximum cabin temperature data were grouped by
season and cloudiness to illustrate the range in values
(Fig. 1). Cabin temperatures were highest during clear days,
with the greatest values in the summer. Clear days during
the spring averaged 61°C compared to 68°C in the summer.
Cloudy days had lower cabin temperatures, averaging 50°C
in spring and 58°C in summer.
To identify the particular conditions favorable to the
highest cabin temperatures as well as to quantify the
differences, anomalous values (±1 standard deviation) were
examined (Table 2). The difference in average maximum
cabin temperatures between the lowest and highest days
vary from 48°C to 74°C. It should be noted that even the
lowest cabin temperatures in the dataset are still sufficiently
high to pose a significant danger. The high temperature
days had greater ambient air temperatures by 10°C, average
solar radiation values over 200 W m
2
greater, and very
little cloud cover.
Maximum vehicle cabin temperature model
Two regression models of maximum cabin temperature
were developed from the 58 days of data. The first model
uses maximum daily ambient air temperatures and average
solar radiation as input variables. The high temporal
resolution solar radiation data allowed for the computation
of average daily solar radiation. The second model was
constructed using maximum daily ambient air temperatures
sprin
g
-clr sprin
g
-cld summer-clr summer-cld
Temperature (oC)
30
40
50
60
70
80
N=11N=29N=5N=13
Fig. 1 Maximum cabin temperatures by season and cloudiness. The
box shows the lower and upper quartiles with the median marked by
the dark line. The whiskers mark the 5th and 95th percentiles with
outliers plotted as points.Clr Clear (cloudiness < 30%), cld cloudy
Cabin temperature
(°C)
Ambient temperature
(°C)
(W m
2
)
Clear/cloudy
days
Mean 64 32 621 42/16
Max 76 41 802
Min 41 21 256
Table 1 Summary statistics on
meteorological conditions
during the study
Int J Biometeorol
and cloud cover as independent variables. Cloud cover data
are often more commonly available and provide a surrogate
The results show that the model using ambient air
temperature and solar radiation does an excellent job
simulating maximum daily car temperatures (Fig. 2a). The
equation is:
Cabin temperature ¼0:036 solarðÞþ1:02 ambientðÞþ8:8
ð1Þ
where solarrefers to average daily solar radiation
(W m
2
) and ambientto maximum ambient air temper-
atures (°C). It explains 80% of the variability in the data
and has an root mean squared error (RMSE) of 3.7. Some
of the larger residuals, particularly overestimates at the
lower observed temperatures, are the result of using average
daily solar radiation values. On some of the days, there are
clear conditions for much of the day but cloud cover during
midday. As a result, the average solar radiation may be high
(leading to higher cabin temperature estimates) but since
the car is exposed to less solar radiation during peak
heating times, it may have a lower actual interior
temperature. The opposite situation occurred when there
were clouds most of the day but clear conditions during
midday. Overall, however, the model is capable of
capturing the variability among days with a wide range in
meteorological conditions.
Not unexpectedly, the second model using ambient
temperatures and cloud cover, simulates the observed
maximum cabin temperatures less successfully than the
one using solar radiation but still is capable of capturing
much of the magnitude and variability of maximum car
temperatures (Fig. 2b). The model is as follows:
Cabin temperature ¼0:141 cloudðÞþ0:932 ambientðÞþ37:1
ð2Þ
where cloudrefers to average daily cloud cover percentage
and ambientto maximum ambient air temperatures (°C). It
explains 60% of the variance and has a larger RMSE of 5.2.
The lower model performance may be explained by three
factors. First, cloud cover in this study is a surrogate for solar
radiation and is therefore a less direct way of inferring solar
heating. Second, the observing station where the cloud data
were collected is several kilometers from the study site.
Thus, it is possible to have some inconsistencies, particularly
on partly cloud days where it may be clear (cloudy) at the
observing station but cloudy (clear) over the study site. This
is exactly what happened on 20 July, where the model
provided for a large overestimate of the maximum cabin
temperature. The adjacent weather station recorded a drop in
solar radiation during the afternoon indicating cloud cover but
the NWS cloud data indicated clearer conditions, leading the
model to overestimate the cabin temperature. If this point is
removed, the model performance improves considerably with
the explained variance increasing to 66%. Finally, the use of
average dailycloud cover, which is insensitive to the timingof
the cloud cover, affected model performance. The largest
residuals, particularly overestimates, tended to occur on partly
Observed Temperatures (oC)
30 40 50 60 70 80
Modeled Temperatures (oC)
30
40
50
60
70
80
Observed Temperatures (oC)
30 40 50 60 70 80
Modeled Temperatures (oC)
30
40
50
60
70
80
a
b
Fig. 2 Comparison of observed and modeled maximum cabin
temperatures for models using amaximum ambient air temperature
and average solar, and bmaximum ambient air temperature and cloud
cover. The solid line is the one-to-one line
Table 2 Average cabin temperatures and meteorological values for
days with cabin temperatures that are ±1 standard deviation from the
mean. Values rounded to nearest whole numbers
+1 SD 1SD
Ambient temperature (°C) 37 27
Cabin temperature (°C) 74 48
2
) 664 437
Cloud cover (%) 13 46
N(days) 6 10
Int J Biometeorol
cloud days. Cloud cover plays a more significant role in
affecting cabin temperatures when it occurs during midday.
However, in some cases there was heavy cloud cover for
much of the day but less during midday. This would lead to
higher cloud cover averages and underestimates of cabin
temperatures. Clear conditions during most of the day but
clouds during midday would lead to the reverse situation.
Maximum vehicle cabin temperature index
Maximum vehicle cabin temperature indices were devel-
oped to aid in advising the public about the dangers of high
cabin temperatures (Tables 3,4). The indices were derived
from the solar and cloud-based models respectively and are
designed to be similar to the well-known heat index, where
an apparent temperature is computed from the ambient air
temperature and relative humidity (Steadman 1979). To be
consistent with NWS terminology in their heat/health
warning systems, categories that are directly comparable
to heat advisoryand excessive heat warningare used
(NWS 2005). The NWS issues a heat advisorywhen the
heat index is 41°C46°C degrees for less than 3 hours. An
excessive heat warningis issued when the heat index is
41°C for more than 3 hours or exceeds 46°C for any
period of time. This study will define a vehicle interior heat
advisorywhen the maximum cabin temperature is 41°C
46°C and excessive vehicle interior heat warningwhen the
cabin temperature exceeds 46°C.
The range of input values (e.g., maximum ambient air
temperature, solar radiation, and cloud cover) for computing
Table 3 Maximum vehicle cabin temperature index using solar radiation and maximum ambient air temperature. Light shading Interior vehicle
Maximum Ambient Air
Temperature (ºC)
40 57 59 60 62 64 66 68 69 71 73 75 77 78
38 55 57 58 60 62 64 66 67 69 71 73 75 76
36 53 55 56 58 60 62 64 65 67 69 71 73 74
34 51 52 54 56 58 60 61 63 65 67 69 70 72
32 49 50 52 54 56 58 59 61 63 65 67 68 70
30 47 48 50 52 54 56 57 59 61 63 65 66 68
28 45 46 48 50 52 54 55 57 59 61 63 64 66
26 43 44 46 48 50 52 53 55 57 59 61 62 64
24 40 42 44 46 48 49 51 53 55 57 58 60 62
22 38 40 42 44 46 47 49 51 53 55 56 58 60
20 36 38 40 42 44 45 47 49 51 53 54 56 58
200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800
Average Daily Solar Radiation (W m-2)
Table 4 Maximum vehicle cabin temperature index using cloud cover and maximum ambient air temperature. Light shading Interior vehicle heat
40 74 73 71 69 67 66 64 62 60
38 73 71 69 67 65 64 62 60 58
36 61 60 58 56 54 53 51 49 47
34 69 67 65 64 62 60 58 56 55
32 67 65 63 62 60 58 56 55 53
30 65 63 62 60 58 56 54 53 51
28 63 61 60 58 56 54 53 51 49
26 61 60 58 56 54 53 51 49 47
24 59 58 56 54 52 51 49 47 45
22 58 56 54 52 51 49 47 45 44
20 56 54 52 50 49 47 45 43 42
0 1/8 2/8 3/8 4/8 5/8 6/8 7/8 8/8
clear few scattered broken ovc
Average Daily Cloud Cover (octaves)
Maximum Ambient Air
Temperature (ºC)
Int J Biometeorol
maximum cabin temperatures is based on the original data so
that the index values involve no extrapolation. As mentioned
earlier, the models are designed to maximize cabin temper-
atures. Of course, the actual maximum temperatures may
vary depending on the shading and the level of ventilation. In
addition, the hazard depends on the length of exposure to the
high temperatures, the humidity level which may affect the
amount of evaporative cooling from perspiration, and the age
and health of the child. Children are particularly sensitive to
heat illness because of their less effective thermoregulatory
systems and their inability to modify behavior such as
removing excess clothing or exiting the vehicle (McLaren et
al. 2005; Tsuzuki-Hayakawa and Tochihara 1995). Tables 3
and 4show that, under almost any environmental condition
during the spring and summer, maximum vehicle cabin
temperatures reach the heat advisory or excessive heat
warning categories. These tables make clear that under no
circumstances should a child ever be left unattended in a
vehicle.
Discussion and conclusions
This is the first study to quantify the influence of different
ambient air temperatures and solar radiation values on
vehicle cabin temperatures. It uses a unique maximum
cabin temperature dataset that is linked with meteorological
data on ambient air temperatures, solar radiation, and cloud
cover. The study period included a range of ambient air
temperatures along with a variety of cloud cover and solar
The first portion of this study investigates maximum
cabin temperatures. These temperatures ranged from 41°C
to 76°C. The magnitude of maximum cabin temperatures
varied by both season and cloud coverage, which influ-
enced the amount of solar radiation. Clear days in the
spring average 61°C versus 68°C in the summer. The
higher values are related to the higher ambient air temper-
atures in the summer. This is consistent with McLaren et al.
(2005), who found that the maximum cabin temperature
was dependent on the initial ambient air temperature.
Maximum cabin temperatures on cloudy days averaged
approximately 10°C cooler than clear days with temper-
atures of 50°C in the spring and 58°C in the summer.
Cloudy days tended to have a wider range in maximum car
temperatures than clear days owing to the variability in
cover. The upshot of this research is to reinforce the
findings of McLaren et al. (2005) and demonstrate that
cabin temperatures can reach hazardous levels even under
relatively mild conditions (i.e., cloudy with mild ambient
air temperatures).
Using the cabin temperature and meteorological datasets,
two models of maximum car temperatures were developed.
The models were designed to maximize the potential
temperature and thus assume no ventilation and maximum
sun exposure. They were also designed to use average daily
meteorological values that may be more commonly
available. When solar radiation data are available, the
solar-based model (Eq. 1) is recommended because of its
superior performance. These models may be of use in
forecasting hazardous conditions and helping to inform the
public of the dangers of leaving children and infants
unattended in vehicles. For instance, weather forecasts
typically provide daily maximum temperatures and cloud
cover, which could be used to forecast cabin temperatures.
These forecasts may be used in conjunction with the
maximum vehicle cabin temperature indices that assign
danger levels—“vehicle interior heat advisoryand exces-
sive vehicle interior heat warning”—that are consistent with
official NWS terminology. In addition, the models may be
used in forensic analyses to reconstruct cabin temperatures.
Guard and Gallagher (2005) found that over 25% of
vehicle-related hyperthermia deaths occurred when parents
or other caregivers intentionally left a child unattended in a
vehicle, indicating a clear lack of knowledge about the
heat-related hazard. Public advisories have been docu-
mented to raise awareness. Sheridan (2007), for instance,
noted that 90% of survey respondents from several urban
areas were aware of heat warnings. However, many of the
respondents did not actually modify their behavior because
they did not perceive a threat to their health. A warning of
the danger of high cabin temperatures may be successful at
both raising awareness and modifying behavior if it clearly
communicates the vulnerability of children and the distinct
health outcomes, including serious heat-related illnesses or
death.
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Int J Biometeorol
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The paper presents the results of research on humidity in a passenger car cabin equipped with an air cooling system in the summer season in a temperate climate in north-eastern Poland. The choice of the summer season was due to the fact that in temperate climates, the option of air cooling is most often used in the summer period on hot days. Based on the literature, the air quality in the passenger car cabin was assessed in terms of temperature and humidity. The test results were also compared with the results of previous study in which driving a car in summer with air supply without cooling options was investigated. The operation of the cooling system in the car caused a significant decrease in the relative humidity of the air in the car cabin in relation to the relative humidity of the outside air. The average value of relative humidity in the passenger car cabin amounted to between 27.5% and 49.3%. The temperature inside the passenger car cabin ranged from 19.7°C to 33.5°C and was lower compared to the temperature in the passenger car cabin with the cooling system turned off. The paper presents a model of moisture content in a passenger car cabin as a function of time, number of people, cabin volume and the number of air changes. The presented model based on the moisture balance in the car cabin can be used in algorithms for automatic regulation of car ventilation.
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The all-solid-state battery (ASSB) has become one of the most promising next-generation battery systems, since the aspect of safety has emerged as a crucial criterion for new large-scale applications such as in electric vehicles. Despite the recent remarkable progress in the performance enhancement, the real-world implementation of the ASSB still requires full comprehension/evaluation of its properties and performance under various practical operational conditions. Unlike batteries employed in conventional electronic devices, those in electric vehicles—the major application that the ASSB is expected to be employed—would be exposed to wide temperature variations (−20 to ∼70 °C) at various states of charges due to their outdoor storage and irregular discharge/rest/charge conditions depending on vehicle drivers' usage patterns. Herein, we investigate the reliability of a Li 6 PS 5 Cl-based ASSB system in practically harsh but plausible storage conditions and reveal that it is vulnerable to elevated-temperature storage as low as 70 °C, which, in contrast to the common belief, causes significant degradation of the electrolyte and consequently irreversible buildup of the cell resistance. It is unraveled that this storage condition induces the decomposition of Li 6 PS 5 Cl in contact with the cathode material, involving the SO x gas evolution particularly at charged states, which creates a detrimental porous cathode/electrolyte interface, thereby leading to the large interfacial resistance. Our findings indicate that the stability of the solid electrolyte, which has been believed to be failsafe, needs to be carefully revisited at various practical operational conditions for actual applications in ASSBs.
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Climate warming has led to extreme high indoor temperatures above 39 °C in hot and humid areas during the summer, which poses a great risk to work safety. Cognitive impairment is considered to be one of the main causes of work safety accidents under high temperatures. However, there is still no sufficient physiological basis for the damage of high temperature to cognitive performance. EEG is a potential physiological indicator that reflects cognitive performance. Nevertheless, no relevant research on the effects of extreme high indoor temperatures exceeding 35 °C on EEG has been found. In this study, a climate chamber simulation experiment was conducted, and the neutral temperature was set at 26 °C and the extreme high indoor temperature at 39 °C. In the experiment, the subjects completed 6 cognitive tests in the sitting position, and the EEG signals of 14 channels were continuously collected during 25–60 min of the experiment. Based on the analysis of the power of the EEG signals, the effects of extreme high indoor temperature on EEG are investigated in this study. The results showed that, on the one hand, the EEG relative power of δ-band of whole brain increased significantly at 39 °C, while the EEG relative power of β-band of whole brain decreased significantly during certain experimental periods. On the other hand, the accuracy of Overlapping test also decreased significantly at 39 °C. This indicates that the change of δ-band and β-band of EEG signals provides a theoretical basis for the damage of extreme high temperature to cognitive performance from viewpoint of physiology.
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To describe the circumstances surrounding heat related deaths to young children in passenger compartments of motor vehicles. Cases of heat related deaths to children aged </=5 years confined in parked vehicles were retrospectively identified using online news accounts from 1 January 1995 to 31 December 2002. A standardized data form was developed to collect information related to the victim, the vehicle and its design features, external temperature, length of time confined, and the responsible adults. Cases were categorized by whether the child gained access to the vehicle or was left by adults. A total of 171 fatalities that met the case criteria were identified. Twenty seven percent (46) were children who gained access to unlocked vehicles and 73% (125) were children who were left by adults. More than a quarter of the adults were aware they were leaving children in the vehicles, while half were unaware or forgot. Forty three percent (54) of deaths to children who were left were associated with childcare: 32 children were left by family members who intended to take them to childcare but forgot and went to work instead; 22 children were left by child care providers or drivers. Many of the deaths reported in this study may have been prevented by keeping cars locked, educating parents, implementing informed child care transportation policies, passing relevant laws, and working with auto and child safety seat manufacturers to build in warnings and other design features. News sources can be useful for obtaining detailed information not otherwise identifiable through standard sources of fatality data.
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From January 1995 through March 2000, temperatures in the passenger compartment of automobiles of different sizes were measured under varying weather conditions (sunshine, cloudy skies, rain) at two locations in eastern Switzerland. During the cold season, the interior temperature rose to 21°C when cars were exposed to sunshine, whereas in summer interior temperature extremes of up to 89°C were recorded. Make, model, and color of the vehicles were of only minor influence.
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Using as bases the amount of clothing needed to achieve thermal comfort and the reduction in the skin's resistance needed to obtain thermal equilibrium, the relative sultriness of warm-humid and hot-arid summer climates is assessed. Conditions of sultriness are referred to a vapor pressure of 1.6 kPa in order to prepare a table of apparent temperature corresponding to summer temperatures and humidities, - Author
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Records of monthly sky cover, sunshine and temperature for 1901-77 in a 10-state midwestern area were analyzed on a temporal and spatial basis to discern long-term trends and indications of shifts potentially due to added cirrus generated by jet aircraft since about 1960. The skycover data show generally long-term increasing frequencies of cloudy days and decreases in clear days since 1901. Percent of possible sunshine also shows a decrease but to a lesser extent than clear day frequencies. Changes have been greatest since the 1930's. The greatest shifts to cloudier, less sunny conditions occurred since 1960 in an east-west zone across southern Iowa-northern Missouri, northern two-thirds of Illinois and Indiana, and extreme southern sections of Wisconsin and lower Michigan, the area where commercial jet traffic has been greatest. The long-term trends give evidence of natural climate changes, whereas the localized shifts to more cloudiness in the central area since 1960 suggest anomalous changes related to jet-induced cirrus. Months with moderated temperatures (below average maximum and above average minimum) have increased since 1960 in the central east-west zone and largely in summer and fall, the seasons with the major shifts to cloudiness.
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This study suggests that the thermal burden of poorly ventilated parked automobiles can be considerable, particularly when the automobiles are exposed to direct sunlight. Leaving the windows open two inches does not appear to be protective. The practice of exposing infants and toddlers to such thermal risk appears to be common and the need for adequate ventilation unrecognized. Education measures stressing the use of carseats and other safety devices should include the potential hazards of high temperature in parked automobiles.
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To evaluate the heat burden in parked cars, a study was done to measure inside car temperatures in different situations. A large car and a small car were parked in direct sunlight and in shade. In direct sun, the highest temperatures recorded in the small and large cars were 78 C and 65 C, respectively. The highest temperature in shade for the small car was only 44 C. There was a tremendous buildup of heat inside the car parked in direct sun as opposed to shade (p less than 0.001), and the small car heated more quickly than the large car under similar conditions (P less tan 0.001). Leaving the windows partially or fully open is not protective. With partial ventilation the highest recorded temperature in the small car was 70 C. These findings suggest that the heat burden of poorly ventilated, parked cars exposed to direct sun can be enormous. The common practice of leaving infants, toddlers, elderly people, and pets in cars under these conditions could cause them tremendous heat stress. The potential hazards of this practice should be recognized and special precautions should be taken.
Article
Children have died from heat stress because they have been left in closed automobiles. Changes in the internal temperature of various sized automobiles left in the Brisbane summer sun were examined. With all windows and doors closed, this temperature rose from an ambient level of 36 C to a maximum of 67 C within 15 minutes and remained there until the doors were opened. Slightly lower temperatures were found for light colored sedans and station wagons. However, all readings were significantly above ambient and all produced an environment unacceptable for a child. Temperatures approaching ambient were only achieved with ventilation provided by windows at least 200 mm (half) open. A lesser gap (50 mm) resulted in interior temperatures exceeding 50 C, which is still too hot for children. Infants left in such an environment will lose fluid quickly from sweat and could become as much as 8% dehydrated in four hours. Subsequently the cerebral manifestations of heat stroke would ensue. Parents and pediatricians should be warned of the danger of heat stress if children are left in a closed automobile.
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During July 1995, an infant in southeast Louisiana died as a result of heat exposure in an enclosed automobile. To evaluate degree of heat exposure in a vehicle, we compared the temperature rise inside an enclosed, dark-colored vehicle with the temperature rise in light-colored vehicle with the windows partly open. Within 20 minutes, readings in both cars exceeded 125 degrees F and reached approximately 140 degrees F in 40 minutes--a temperature rise of over 45 degrees F. A person who is unable to remove himself from an enclosed vehicle is at risk for a life-threatening crisis if left alone in a sun-exposed car for even a relatively short period of time.
The study was conducted to investigate the thermoregulation of young children compared to that of adults. A group of 19 children (ages 9 months-4.5 years), with only 3 children aged 3 years or above, and 16 adults first rested in a thermoneutral room (air temperature 25°C relative humidity 50%, air velocity 0.2 m·s−1). They were then exposed to a hot room (air temperature 35°C, relative humidity 70%, air velocity 0.3 m·s−) next door for 30 min, and then returned to the thermoneutral room where they stayed for a further 30 min. The rectal temperature (T re), skin temperatures (T sk) at seven sites, heart rate (HR), total sweat rate ($$(\dot M_{sw,t} )$$), local sweat rate ($$(\dot M_{sw,1} )$$) and the Na+ concentration of the sweat were measured. There was no significant difference inT re between the children and their mothers in the rest phase. However, theT re of the children increased as soon as they entered the hot room and was significantly higher than during the control period, and than that of the mothers during heat exposure. MeanT sk, forehead, abdomen and instepT sk were significantly higher in the children during both the thermoneutral and heat exposure. The$$(\dot M_{sw,t} )$$ was significantly higher and Na+ concentrations in the sweat on the back and upperarm were significantly lower for the children during the heat exposure. They had a greater body surface area-to-mass ratio than the mothers by 64%, which indicated that they had advantages for thermal regulation. However, the sweating andT sk responses of the children were not enough to prevent a rise in body temperature. These results would suggest that the young children had the disadvantage of heating up easily due to their smaller body sizes and there may be maturation-related differences in thermoregulation during the heat exposure between young children and mothers.
Article
From January 1995 through March 2000, temperatures in the passenger compartment of automobiles of different sizes were measured under varying weather conditions (sunshine, cloudy skies, rain) at two locations in eastern Switzerland. During the cold season, the interior temperature rose to 21 degrees C when cars were exposed to sunshine, whereas in summer interior temperature extremes of up to 89 degrees C were recorded. Make, model, and color of the vehicles were of only minor influence.