Climate and Climate Change

The climate is increasingly changing. The topics global warming and greenhouse effect are our constant companions. Man intervenes significantly in nature, which is not without negative consequences – for people and nature. Overall, temperatures are higher. In summer as well as in winter temperatures are rising and there is less frost in winter. Dry periods alternate with excessive precipitation. Too much heat and drought leaches the soil and plants cannot thrive. Heat is often mistakenly based only on the measured air temperature. The heat index goes beyond that. It is a quantity given in units of temperature to describe the perceived temperature based on the measured air temperature and relative humidity.Heat Index/US Heat Index (Metric Version)

Temperature (°C)
27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43
Relative humidity (%)
40 27 28 29 30 31 32 34 35 37 39 41 43 46 48 51 54 57
45 27 28 29 30 32 33 35 37 39 41 43 46 49 51 54 57
50 27 28 30 31 33 34 36 38 41 43 46 49 52 55 58
55 28 29 30 32 34 36 38 40 43 46 48 52 55 59
60 28 29 31 33 35 37 40 42 45 48 51 55 59
65 28 30 32 34 36 39 41 44 48 51 55 59
70 29 31 33 35 38 40 43 47 50 54 58
75 29 31 34 36 39 42 46 49 53 58
80 30 32 35 38 41 44 48 52 57
85 30 33 36 39 43 47 51 55
90 31 34 37 41 45 49 54
95 31 35 38 42 47 51 57
100 32 36 40 44 49 54

Legend

Caution Prolonged periods of time and physical activity may cause symptoms of fatigue.
Increased caution There is a possibility of heat injury such as sunstroke, heat cramp, and heat exhaustion
Danger Sunstroke, heat cramp, and heat exhaustion are likely; heat stroke is possible.
Increased danger Heat stroke and sunstroke are likely.

Cold is often mistakenly based only on the measured air temperature.The wind chill temperature goes beyond this. This is a quantity given in units of temperature to describe the perceived temperature based on the measured air temperature as well as the wind speed. Wind Chill Temperature

Wind speed Air temperature
0 km/h 10 °C 5 °C 0 °C −5 °C −10 °C −15 °C −20 °C −30 °C −40 °C −50 °C
5 km/h 9,8 4,1 −1,6 −7,3 −12,9 −18,6 −24,3 −35,6 −47,0 −58,3
10 km/h 8,6 2,7 −3,3 −9,3 −15,3 −21,2 −27,2 −39,2 −51,1 −63,0
15 km/h 7,9 1,7 −4,4 −10,6 −16,7 −22,9 −29,1 −41,4 −53.7 −66,1
20 km/h 7,4 1,1 −5,2 −11,6 −17,9 −24,2 −30,5 −43,1 −55,7 −68,3
25 km/h 6,9 0,5 −5,9 −12,3 −18,8 −25,2 −31,6 −44,5 −57,3 −70,2
30 km/h 6,6 0,1 −6,5 −13,0 −19,5 −26,0 −32,6 −45,6 −58,7 −71,7
40 km/h 6,0 −0,7 −7,4 −14,1 −20,8 −27,4 −34,1 −47,5 −60,9 −74,2
50 km/h 5,5 −1,3 −8,1 −15,0 −21,8 −28,6 −35,4 −49,0 −62,7 −76,3
60 km/h 5,1 −1,8 −8,8 −15,7 −22,6 −29,5 −36,5 −50,3 −64,2 −78,0

Note: Blue fields pose a risk of frostbite within 30 minutes or less. This exists when the skin temperature reaches -4.8°C, above which frostbite occurs for about 5% of people. See the following topics on the subject of “climate”:

  • Climate change – pros and cons
  • Consequences of climate change
    • Agriculture
    • People and diseases
    • People, animals and buildings