How does wind chill affect skin and core temperatures compared to still air?

• A. Wind decreases convective heat loss
• B. Wind increases convective heat loss, accelerating skin cooling and core cooling
• C. Wind has no effect on skin or core temperatures
• D. Wind only affects dehydration, not temperatures

Answer: (C)

Wind chill reflects how speeding air increases heat loss from the body. In still air, a thin layer of warm air sits close to the skin, acting as insulation and slowing heat transfer. When wind blows, that insulating boundary layer is removed, boosting the rate at which heat is carried away by the air. As a result, skin temperature drops faster. If exposure to cold wind continues and metabolic heat production can’t keep up, the body can begin losing heat from deeper tissues too, eventually lowering core temperature, though the core is usually protected longer than the skin by physiological responses and clothing. So wind increases convective heat loss and accelerates cooling of both skin and, with enough exposure, core temperature.