celsiusaste

Celsiusaste is a proposed metric intended to express thermal experience by combining ambient temperature with environmental factors that influence perceived heat and cold. It is not a standard unit of measurement in meteorology; rather, it is described as a dimensionless index designed for climate-responsive design, urban planning, and public health assessments.

Calculation and components: Celsiusaste integrates three primary components: a base Celsius temperature T, a humidity-heat factor derived from relative humidity and vapor pressure, and an exposure factor that accounts for wind speed and radiant heat from solar radiation. The index is computed by aggregating these components into a single value CA, with higher CA indicating greater perceived warmth or thermal stress. Coefficients are not fixed and vary by application.

History and development: The term Celsiusaste was first described in a 2013 discussion paper by researchers seeking an intuitive metric for building design. It has since appeared in theoretical discussions and simulations but has not been adopted by meteorological agencies or standard climate indices. It remains a topic of academic exploration rather than a practical replacement for established measures.

Reception and usage: Critics note lack of standardization, limited validation against human thermal comfort data, and the risk of conflating distinct concepts with established indices such as the heat index, Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature, Universal Thermal Climate Index, and humidex. Proponents argue it could complement existing indices in user-facing applications by offering a more intuitive sense of overall thermal stress.

See also: heat index, humidex, WBGT, UTCI, thermal comfort. Celsiusaste remains a theoretical construct discussed in climate design literature rather than a widely adopted meteorological tool.