With respect to clothing, both meanings of the word "light" apply when it comesto dressing for the heat.While "light" as in "lightweight" should be straightforward, what is it aboutlight shades, especially white, that make them the ones to choose when facing aheat wave?It needs to be understood that light is energy, and the sun sends the bulk ofits energy our way via its powerful stream of visible light.
Depending on a range of physical and chemical properties, some things reflectmuch more light than do others. This is the key, reflected light meansreflected energy, and absorbed light means absorbed energy, energy that isconverted from that of electromagnetic waves to heat.
White things are white because we see light reflected from them. Objects thatare dark, even in bright light, are efficiently absorbing light, and thus beingwarmed by it.
So, those who need, or want, to face the heat of a bright 90-degree or100-degree day with a minimum of discomfort should consider "lightening up."By AccuWeather.com Senior Forecaster Jim Andrews
