Question

For heat index: H(T, R) = −42.38 + 2.049T + 10.14R − 6.838 · 10−3T 2 − 0.2248T R − 5.482 · 10−2R 2 + 1.229 · 10−3T 2R + 8.528 · 10−4T R2 − 1.99 · 10−6T 2R 2 . • Use the heat index equation to calculate the heat index in the following locations: – Lafayette, Louisiana in August (T = 91◦F, R = 95%.) – Mojave, California in August (T = 97◦F, R = 40%.) – Davis, California in August (T = 91◦F, R = 85%.) • Calculate the heat index for Minneaolis in January (T = 14◦F, R = 85%). Does your answer make sense?

Answer 1

Heat index calculations are always valid in within a certain range of temperature and relative humidities. After comparing the calculations with the actual values, it seems that the calculations don’t make sense. The heat index should me maximum in Mojave followed by Lafayette and then Davis but the calculations show otherwise.