humidity - lesson 4

Question 1

define humidity

Answer 1

defined as the amount of water vapour in the air.

Question 2

what are the effects of exercising in a hot and humid environment?

Answer 2

• humidity limits the evaporation of sweat on the skin surface, which results in higher skin temperature.
• there will be less cooling of the blood circulating below the skin surface = a smaller gradient for the transfer of heat between the warmer body core and the skin
  = leads to a rise in core body temperature and a decrease in performance

Question 3

what are strategies to cope with exercise in a humid environment?

Answer 3

• acclimatisation can only assist to a certain extent

- fluid intake = prevent or delay dehydration