What a scorcher—no, what a muggy day! This humidity has been especially intense this year, starting as early as June.
It’s gotten even worse since July. Today is September 1st, and we’ve already battled this heat for three months. Forecasts say it will continue through all of October.
Yesterday, Tokyo recorded its first temperature above 40°C (104°F). Already this year, over 100 people have died in Tokyo alone from heatstroke.
While nationwide statistics aren’t out yet, last year saw over 1,200 deaths from heatstroke. This year will likely surpass that number, setting a new record.
Hi, how are you? How’s temperature in your place? As you can imagine, with global warming, the world is now experiencing hot, humid summers like Japan’s, and I’m sure everyone is struggling.
About sixty years ago, when I was in my twenties, I worked on tours in Europe, especially Paris. Looking back, Tokyo’s heat back then wasn’t as intense as it is now, but compared to Paris, Paris was much cooler and I felt it would be heavenly.
But now, even in France, temperatures are approaching 40°C, melting the asphalt and causing car tires to get stuck, resulting in accidents.
Similarly in Japan, from mid-August, scorching heat around 40°C hit, with Narita Airport’s runways reaching 50°C. The asphalt melted, causing wheels to get stuck in ruts. Material improvements and changes will likely be required.
Incidentally, it also happened at Haneda Airport.
Likewise, Greece has been hit by a heatwave, resulting in large-scale wildfires and significant damage to tourism and related businesses.
In addition, India and Pakistan are experiencing scorching temperatures approaching 50°C(122°F), with life-threatening temperatures. Working outdoors literally became a matter of life and death.
Contents
What’s “weird clothing?”
In such a desperate situation, a foreigh media outlet reported on the “bizarre wear” seen at the Japanese construcion sites.
It was the site of workers laboring on a midsummer construction site, their backs of workwear puffing up like balloons around the fans.
Initially, that scene was introduced in an amusing way overseas. But it didn’t take long for that laughter to turn into astonishment and gratitude.
On such a hot day, if they keep letting hot air into their bodies, won’t they collapse from heatstroke…?
At first glance, I thought for a moment that if they were to blow hot air like that from a hair dryer into their clothes, their body would be boiled to death, but then I quickly remembered the phenomenon of evaporation.
About “latent heat of vaporization”
Latent heat of vaporization is the thermal energy absorbed from its surroundings when a liquid changes into a gas.
The mechanism of latent heat of vaporization and examples of its use are as follows:
Familiar examples:
★ Thermoregulation: When sweat evaporates, it removes heat from the body, lowering body temperature. The reason your body feels cold after a bath is because the water droplets on your wet body absorb body heat and evaporate.
★ Sprinkling water (Uchimizu): When water is sprinkled on the ground, as it evaporates, it removes heat from the asphalt and other surfaces, lowering the surrounding temperature.
★ Refrigerators and air conditioners: When the refrigerant (liquid) evaporates, heat is absorbed from the surrounding area, creating cool air.
★ Alcohol disinfectant: As the alcohol evaporates from the skin, it removes heat, making it feel cool.
How it works: Energy is required for a liquid to evaporate, and this energy is provided by absorbing heat from the surrounding area. This process of absorbing heat has a cooling effect on the surrounding area.
Humans possess an almost perfect cooling system that can chill the body. It is a natural cooling system called ‘sweat’.
When the air temperature exceeds 33°C (91.4°F), surpassing skin temperature, the brain’s thermoregulatory center signals sweat glands to secrete the necessary amount of sweat.
The body attempts to cool itself through the evaporative heat of perspiration. However, the air surrounding the body warms up due to body heat and becomes more humid, making it harder for sweat to evaporate.
Since the body cannot cool itself, the brain tries to produce more sweat. Heatstroke occurs because this spiral
causes the body to lose water.
That’s when Mr.Ichigaya who’s an inventor came up with a groundbreaking idea. attach a small fan to clothing to draw in outside air.
Creates a layer of air between clothing and skin to instantly evaporate sweat. The latent heat of vaporization draws away body heat, creating a cooling effect.
It maximizes the human body’s inherent cooling system through the power of technology. It was an extremely rational idea with minimal environmental impact. Thus, innovative ideas that overturn conventional wisdom.
This became the foundation for the ‘wearable air conditioner’ that would later save the world.
This is the story behind the creation of the air-conditioned suit, however, this brilliant invention was not at first, understood by anyone.
Please watch the video below to see the inventor’s solid concept and enthusiasm for product development.
Subtitles in English, Narration in Japanese
Thanks for visiting, have a nice cooling summer！
