Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: EmmaHildyard on 19/08/2019 10:51:55
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Adrian has asked...
Hi, so my question is similar to a topic that was discussed in one of your science news articles. My question is "why does the sea feel warmer at night?"
My thoughts are that it's more to do with your body's internal perception of heat, due to day time solar radiation heating the skin to cause vasodilation, which, upon entering cooler water causes reflex vasoconstriction. This causes the unpleasant feeling of entering water even in summer. While the same sea 1 hour after sunset, the air has cooled so vasodilation is less prior to entering, thus reflex constriction is less and the experience is milder.
Rather than us blubber-ing on about an answer... we thought that you might like to help?