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Natural convection around the human head.
Author(s) -
Clark R P,
Toy N
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.1975.sp010797
Subject(s) - supine position , head (geology) , schlieren , mechanics , convection , radiative transfer , materials science , boundary layer , flow (mathematics) , natural convection , optics , physics , geology , medicine , surgery , geomorphology
1. Factors determining the convective flow patterns around the human head in ‘still’ conditions are discussed in relation to body posture. 2. The flow patterns have been visualized using a schlieren optical system which reveals that the head has a thicker ‘insulating’ layer of convecting air in the erect posture than in the supine position. 3. Local convective and radiative heat transfer measurements from the head have been using surface calorimeters. These results are seen to be closely related to the thickness of the convective boundary layer flows. 4. The total convective and radiative heat loss from the head of a subject in the erect and supine position has been evaluated from the local measurements. For the head of the supine subject the heat loss was found to be 30% more than when the subject was standing.