It is not unusual when driving in different parts of the country to see a sign commemorating some historical event that took place in the area. However, not too far from us, there is a sign commemorating a geographical fact. It explains that it is posted on the 45th parallel of latitude and that is of note because it is the mid-point between the north pole of the planet and the equator. People in the US usually think of Wisconsin as a place with cold winters and deep snow.
We just returned today from Puerto Rico, the American commonwealth island. It lies south of the Tropic of Cancer and is therefore officially in the earth's tropic zone. We were often at the 18th parallel of latitude on our visit. We haven't spent much time in the tropics before the trip, just passing through to get to New Zealand and Australia. We did spend two weeks in Hawaii which is also tropical.
Here in Wisconsin, it is now in 20 and 30° Farenheit temperatures much of the time while in Puerto Rico, the temperature is in the high 80's in the day and high 70's in the coolest part of the night. People in our town dislike temperatures above 80 for the most part while the Puerto Ricans we talked to found the idea of 20° incredible.
Reports and ideas are quite different from experiencing actual conditions. Winds, humidity and clothing, of course, make a big difference in what one actually feels. Since our bodies basically stay at 98° F., all the temperatures lower than that normal level allow heat to escape quickly or more slowly from our bodies.
I have read somewhere that the lowest core body temperature a person has reached and survived is about 90° while death will result for most of us if our bodies reach 107°. So, we wet ourselves, air-condition ourselves, jacket and mitten and long-john ourselves as needed to stay in that narrow 17-20 degree band. We are pretty good at doing so.
But in addition to actual physical matters of hot and cold, we have ideas and rumors. It is no rumor that my finger tips develop splits in the skin if my hands are exposed to too much cold. They are rather delicate and can start showing those fissures when my body as a whole was feeling fine. The mind of a person who has never experienced cold temperatures can deliver fear and dread out of proportion to actual experience. As a teen without a car, I often had to wait for a public bus and got very uncomfortable at 20° while in Wisconsin, with a dry cold usually, one that was not humid as one gets in London, and, yes, wearing good gloves, a good hat and a scarf to keep body heat inside my coat, I am not uncomfortable at 20° below zero. Especially if I am walking or running or snow-shoeing instead of standing more or less still at a bus stop.
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Bill
Main blog: Fear, Fun and Filoz
Main web site: Kirbyvariety
