Sitting under a tree is cooler than sitting under a sheet of cloth, for example. Why should that be?
This question was actually already asked 2 weeks ago, but I wasn't happy with the answer. The answer suggested then was that wind can blow easier in the tree shade, which I did not find convincing. I have two ideas:
(1) The tree shade is thicker, there are lots of leaves, so it insulates better
(2) The tree has to keep itself relatively cool to continue photosynthesis, so it cannot transfer as much heat downwards.
I think that explanation 2 is correct. Explanation 1 would only delay the time it takes for the heat to be transferred down, not eliminate it altogether.
I would be grateful for any alternative explanations, or supporting evidence for the explanations I thought of.
Thanks! Eyal
2007-06-29
17:33:03
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10 answers
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asked by
eyal
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Physics