As the world continues to grapple with extreme heat waves, which are becoming ever more regular due to climate change, the clothing we wear is a vital component in how we stay cool. Researchers have found that by wearing appropriate clothes, it is possible to turn the air-conditioning up by 2 degrees Celsius.

When it comes to color, most people wear white in the summer — because white reflects the sun’s rays, rather than absorbing the light like black does.

However, heat doesn’t just come from the sun — it comes from our bodies too. When that heat from our bodies hits the white clothing, it is reflected back at us.

In 1980, a study of why Bedouins — an indigenous, semi-nomadic people who inhabit desert regions in the Arabian Peninsula, Middle East and North Africa — wear black robes in the desert, found that heat exposure was the same whether tribal members wore black or white robes.

Black-colored fabrics absorb heat emanating from the body — so this can also play a role in cooling your body down. The Bedouin’s secret is wearing loose-fitting black clothing, especially if it’s windy. The loose black clothes heat up the space between the fabric and the skin, promoting an upward air current — like a chimney — and providing cooling relief.

So the fit of the clothing is actually more important than the color. However, if you are going to be wearing tight-fitting clothing, then stick with white. Fabrics with texture — such as seersucker or pique, a fabric often used in sports polo shirts — also help to lift clothing off your skin.

“In terms of clothes, it’s better to have a material that allows water vapor to pass through so that it doesn’t block the sweat evaporation.” says Rhett Allain, associate professor of physics at Southeastern Louisiana University. “Some of the newer sports-based materials do this. Cotton does not do so great with this.”

Uncoated cotton, linen, nylon and polyester are all classed as breathable fabrics to some degree — meaning they allow sweat and heat to escape through the material. Cotton absorbs moisture but it doesn’t dry quickly, so if you’re sweating a lot your clothes will stay wet, making them less comfortable. Linen is widely worn as it has excellent breathability due to its large fibers, but like cotton it is slow to dry. Merino wool has been a popular choice for outdoor enthusiasts as it’s breathable and wicks moisture without retaining odor.

Nylon and polyester are used in most activewear as they wick moisture and dry quickly — but they retain odor. Research has also shown that nylon has a higher moisture absorption and better wicking capabilities than polyester, but is slower to dry. Synthetic fibers like nylon and polyester can feel uncomfortable when they get wet though, and one study suggested wearing clothing made of bamboo, which is a low conductor of heat, and doesn’t compromise on comfort.

Words to Learn 相关词汇

【土著】tǔzhù indigenous naturally existing in a place rather than arriving from another place

【泡泡纱】pàopàoshā seersucker a light cloth that has a pattern of raised and flat strips on it

全球还在继续与极端热浪作斗争，而且受气候变化影响这种极端天气越来越频繁，而我们如何穿衣对于保持凉爽十分关键。研究发现，如果穿对衣服，空调可以调高2度。

说到颜色，大多数人夏天穿白色衣服，因为白色能反射太阳光，不像黑色会吸收光线。然而，不仅太阳会释放热量，身体也会散发热量。来自身体的热量遇到白色衣服，就会反射回身体。

1980年的一项研究想知道在阿拉伯半岛、中东和北非的沙漠地区活动的半游牧原住民贝都因人为什么在沙漠中穿黑色长袍，结果发现，这些部落成员无论穿白色还是黑色长袍接触到的热量都一样多。黑色面料吸收了身体散发的热量，因此黑色衣服有助于给身体降温。贝都因人的秘诀在于他们穿宽松的黑色衣服，尤其在有风的日子里。宽松的黑衣服让面料和皮肤之间的空间升温，从而形成了向上的气流，就像烟囱一样，从而让身体凉爽下来。

所以衣服的松紧比颜色更重要。不过，如果穿紧身衣服，那就穿白色。有纹理的面料，比如泡泡纱或POLO衫常用的珠地网眼面料，也有助于让衣服和皮肤不紧贴在一起。

东南路易斯安那大学的物理学副教授瑞特•阿兰说：“衣服要凉快，最好是采用能让水蒸气通过的面料，这样才不会阻止汗液蒸发。有些新型运动面料能做到这点。棉布的透湿性则要差一些。”

没有涂层的棉布、亚麻、尼龙和涤纶都有一定的透气性，这意味着汗液和热气都能通过这些面料。

棉布吸湿却不能速干，所以如果你出汗多，衣服就会湿湿的不舒服。很多人爱穿亚麻衣服，因为亚麻的粗纤维赋予其极佳的透气性，但是和棉一样，亚麻干得慢。美利奴羊毛既透气又吸湿排汗而且不会留下汗臭味，因此受到户外运动爱好者的欢迎。

尼龙和涤纶吸湿排汗又速干，因此大量应用在运动装中，但这两种面料不防臭。研究表明，尼龙的吸湿排汗能力比涤纶更强，但是比涤纶干得慢。不过，尼龙和涤纶这样的化纤面料湿掉后会让穿着者不舒服。一项研究指出，竹纤维面料不易导热，穿着舒适度高。(SD-Agencies)