Mean skin temperature calculation method for asymmetrically dressed Xizang people on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau

Abstract

Skin temperature, a critical physiological parameter in the study of thermal comfort, has increasingly been recognized as a key determinant of human thermal sensation. Extreme climatic environments and distinctive asymmetrical dressing patterns of the Xizang people have resulted in unique thermal sensitivity characteristics, setting them apart from plain population. Based on this, this paper proposes a 15-point mean skin temperature (MST) calculation method based on the weighting of thermal sensitivity (15P-WTS) for Xizang people. In this paper, the effect of cold-neutral (hot)-cold temperature change on thermal sensitivity was fully considered for 16 subjects by simulating three temperature step change experimental conditions. Fifteen representative measurement points from 39 body regions were selected as skin temperature weighting points under asymmetrical dressing. Seven MST calculation methods were developed, employing body surface area ratio, thermal sensitivity, and a combination of both as weighting factors. Correlation analysis between MST and thermal sensation revealed that the method using the average thermal sensitivity coefficient as the weighting factor exhibited the highest accuracy, with a correlation coefficient of 99.39 %.