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Abstract

abstract

The general attitude of all members of the 8th South African National Antarctic Expedition to Antarctica both to environment and the clothing worn, was studied by means of a questionnaire on clothing and comfort. Although indoors the men felt comfortable at temperatures ranging from 3- l6°C, they could detect changes in temperature of 2°C. At higher temperatures some of the men felt too hot. The preferred indoor temperature was 13,4°C. The overall picture gained from the outdoor studies was that as time passed and the men became more experienced they learnt how to be as comfortable as possible; for instance, they dressed more suitably for the conditions to which they were exposed in the second half of the year than during the first few months at the base. Comparisons were made between the amount of clothing worn and thermal comfort, both indoors and outdoors, and in the periods before and after midwinter. The results indicate that there was a certain measure of acclimatization to cold.