Hitte

Hitte is the Dutch term for heat, referring to the form of energy transfer that occurs between bodies when there is a temperature difference. In everyday language hitte describes both the sensation of high ambient temperatures and the process of heating objects or spaces. In physical terms, heat is energy that moves from a hotter to a cooler body, whereas temperature measures the average kinetic energy of particles.

Heat is quantified in energy units; the amount of heat transferred is measured in joules, and the rate of transfer is expressed in watts (joules per second). In many contexts, calories are used for smaller quantities. For a substance, the relationship Q = m c ΔT links heat added or removed (Q) to mass (m), specific heat capacity (c), and the resulting temperature change (ΔT).

Heat transfer occurs mainly by conduction, convection, and radiation. Conduction transmits energy through solids via particle interactions; convection involves fluid motion; radiation travels as electromagnetic waves, allowing heat transfer even through a vacuum, as with sunlight. Materials with low thermal conductivity act as insulators, slowing heat exchange.

In everyday life and climate science, hitte has practical implications for health, comfort, and energy use. High ambient hitte can cause heat stress and strain electrical grids, while in buildings, insulation, ventilation, and heat exchangers are used to manage heat flow and improve energy efficiency. Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of heat events in many regions.