Air Temperature in an Igloo

Tom M.

I know that an ice rink won't freeze properly if too much water is laid down and not enough ice is scraped off. The top stays mushy, the thickness of the ice insulates it from the piping and the return temps to the refrigeration units are low enough to keep them from running.

Mike T., Swampeast MO

I've always heard, frequently read and accept in faith that the air temp in an igloo won't drop below 32°.

How? Why?

Cosmic rays?

Dave_4

nanook...don't eat the yellow snow...

"The secret to warmth in an igloo is the fact that snow and ice are very good insulators. I have heard that, between body heat and one or two oil lamps, people can keep a relatively comfortable temperature (say, 50-60 F) inside. You won’t be able to run around nude, but with warm clothing you’ll do all right. Apparently what happens is that the inside layer does melt, but turns to ice because of the contact with the snow next to it—so you get good insulation both inside and out. " etc etc etc[1]

[1] Berger D 1997 The MAD Scientist Network: How do you keep warm in an igloo?
Online document: http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/dec97/ 873309099.Ph.r.html

Dave_4

nanook....don't eat the yellow snow

"The secret to warmth in an igloo is the fact that snow and ice are very good insulators. I have heard that, between body heat and one or two oil lamps, people can keep a relatively comfortable temperature (say, 50-60 F) inside. You won’t be able to run around nude, but with warm clothing you’ll do all right. Apparently what happens is that the inside layer does melt, but turns to ice because of the contact with the snow next to it—so you get good insulation both inside and out. " etc etc etc[1]

[1] Berger D 1997 The MAD Scientist Network: How do you keep warm in an igloo?
Online document: http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/dec97/873309099.Ph.r.html

Mike T., Swampeast MO

But why

Without bodies--with nothing more than the mass of the temperature measuring device--won't the AIR temperature go about 32°?

P.S.

I also believe that it's Eskimo tradition to share EVERYTHING with a welcome visitor. The resulting friction only makes everyone more comfortable.

Derek Brazier

igloos

When it is -40 and the wind is howling I have a hard time believing that the air temperature would not drop below 32 degees.So I think that's a myth.

ed wallace

igloos

you guys have way to much time on your hands i strongly suggest that you build an igloo and test the heat and ice theory term papers due next thursday have a good week

To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Dale

Yeah nude

Remember a national geographic film about Eskimo's where the little baby was running arround naked in the Igloo and I see plenty of the locals in Duluth Minn. in shorts and tee shirts when it's 50 usually carrying a couple of 24 packs of Bush.

Art Pittaway

Ask a Boy Scout

that has winter camped. In 1999 and 2000 I camped at Tomahawk Scout Reserve in N.W. Wis. with our troop. Slept outside at +2*f(yes, with proper gear) and in a "Quincy". You build a HUGE pile of snow and hollow out the inside. We had room for 15 sleeping bags. You could stand upright in the center. As stated above, the temp. inside gets quite warm, at least 30*. Now, you do have to have a heat source, like people give off heat, in order to get the temp up. We got our Zero Hero patch when the temp. outside went down to -4*, and it was quite warm inside. If it gets to warm the walls do sweat(melt) so you have to have a waterproof ground cover to keep your bag dry. Oh, don't go out and try this without proper training and equipment. It's quite a treat to see a 14 year old tell his non-scout friends he camped out in the winter and had a blast.
Our council "Klondike Derby" is Jan 18th near Janesville, Wis. A day of outdoor activities to develop teamwork and winter skills. Scouting is what you make it.
Art

mike14

Scout Camping

Art:
My son and I had the opposite experience at Tomahawk Scout camp last summer. We spent three nights in canvas sided tents in 98 degree weather with a dew point of 70+. We also needed water-proof bedding to keep from drowning in sweat. Despite the weather, it was a great experience.

If anyone wants to build an Igloo and test the 32 degree temperature theory, I know there is a plastic form devise you can buy from the Gander Mountains of the world that you pack with snow and build a nice igloo in a few hours time. The only problem is a total lack of snow so far this year.

Craig_2

Ice hotel

I remeember seeing a show about a full service hotel made of ice somewhere in Iceland or Norway maybe. Anyway, it's only open a few months of the year and is rebuilt every year I believe.

Another point to consider, when a frost is due in Florida, the growers spray the orchards with water to create an ice barrier. Apparently it protects at least part of their crop by insulating it from the cold.

-cf

Howard

I vaguely recall something like that, too.

But isn't Iceland green and Greenland icy?

hot_rod

Canada

this is it. It just opened for the season.

http://www.icehotel-canada.com/en/hotel.htm

Noel

Derek Brazier

igloos

In the NWT's they hold igloo building races. The winners can finish one in about 40 minutes.

Lee_3

It can go below 32F

Just because water freezes at 32F doesn't mean it can't get colder. If you had an unoccupied igloo and say it was -30F for a week in the winter with little to no sunlight it would be quite close to -30F in the igloo regardless of what the thing was made of ice, styrofoam or flubber.

George Berkeley

Ok, I bite. What about potty time?

Ok, I bite. I can see where it would be warm inside. I'll buy that, but when nature calls, where do you go and 40 below?

hot_rod

the ground temperature can affect it a little

It doesn't freeze in a basement until long after the aboveground part of a building is below freezing. Of course, where igloos are, the ground surface is below 32° F.

Noel

Art Pittaway

Potty time, no problem!

First, your not going to freeze in a few minutes, so water the tree and go back to bed. But when you have a bigger job to do, you have to go looking for the donut. A ring of foam carpet pad the size of a toilet seat. This is used to keep you from sticking to the facility, which is truley cold. The other keys are drink lots and lots of water. It's real easy to get dehydrated. Wear layers of cloths so you can match the temp. and your activity level. And best of all, start dinner real early because it takes more time to heat the stew when it's 5*f. And, use disposable dishes, washing is a pain. Now you really know more than you wanted to.
Art

[Deleted User]

40 below

Guys, I lived there... Spent 18 years in Barrow, Alaska. Get out your map, it is as far north as you can get on the North American Continent. Also spent some time in an igloo. Air temperature in the igloo is the same as outside, until you add some sort of heat source, like body heat. Then temperature will rise if heat loss is less than heat gain. In other words, more bodies or more activity, more heat. The igloo works mostly because it gets you out of the weather/wind. Usually that snout on the front was lower than the floor of the igloo, warm air rises, cold air stayed in the snout, creating an air plug. They always hung a skin or two over the opening also. Canadian Eskimos are usually credited with designing the round type igloo we are all familiar with. Alaskan Eskimos made square ones with flat roofs. White men acutally showed the Alaskan Eskimos how to make the Canadian style. No one really lives in snow igloos, they were just temporary shelter while hunting or fishing. Permannent winter homes were sod huts, while summer homes were skin tents, which moved easily to follow the caribou herds. An old Eskimo friend told me one time, "Before the white men came, we lived under the ground and buried our dead above ground on racks. After the white men came we lived above the gound and buried our dead below ground, and I've never been warm since."
I now live in Iowa, and the license plate on my '66 Mustang convertible says, "40 BELOW"

Mike T., Swampeast MO

40° below outside doesn't matter

because INSIDE you only have to insulate against 32°

Water is incredible.

When liquid or gasseous it's an ideal conductor.

When frozen it's an ideal insulator.

Alaska Joe

Interior Alaska Cold

The family has been plumbing and heating here in Alaska since 46'. Igloos have always been 'emergency shelters'and today their construction techniques are also taught to military personnel stationed here. The key to heating one is to ensure first, that it isn't built any larger than needed by the occupants to lay and or sit up in, second, it has 6"-12" snow cover (anything more than that and your expending needless energy). Place something between you and the ground (spruce boughs, caribou hides, ect), third, always close the door in Alaska!, light a seal oil lamp or a few candles (candles should be included in every Alaska vehical winter survival pack) and relax.Staying hydrated is the key to winter survival. Winter shelter construction and outdoor survival techniques (such as making a fire, maintaining a water supply, identifying frost-bite, and setting snares, ) are truly fine 'family fun activities' to enjoy. When your service area covers an area the size of most 'lower 48' States and the temps get -35F for weeks at a time, and the next home is a 25 mile hike away, it's good to know these things.(Along with how many flyer miles you have saved up when you get home safely!)It's funny that, when the temps drop below -45F, and your working your way through the ice fog, nine out of ten vehicles you'll see on the road after 9:00p.m. are being operated by plumbers and burner men. I can assure you that it's not a chapped lip problem that makes that grinning appearance too.

tombig

And then a child was born.......and we shall call him....Zambonie!

steve_6

heating systems

what is the heating system of choice in Alaskan homes??

Steve Eayrs

Boilers.....

are getting to be the first choise. Not as much scorched air as most places. And not as easy to sell, since not much need for air conditioning. We do lots of radiant floor/ tekmar controls/ Buderus boilers, but in Anchorage and more populated areas a lot of systems are done w/ bare min. of controls, and cheaper boilers/furnaces, etc.....mainly because everything gets bid to the lowest common denominator, (Cheapest price wins).

Steve