acclimatisation
/əˌklaɪmətaɪˈzeɪʃən/
Definition
The process by which an individual's body physiologically adjusts to prolonged exposure to a new climate or specific environmental heat conditions.
Etymology
Derived from the French 'acclimater', combining the Latin prefix 'ad-' (to) and 'climat' (climate) from the Greek 'klima' (slope or zone). It entered English in the 19th century to describe the biological process of adapting to different environmental conditions.
In the news
In the article, acclimatisation is mentioned as a variable that safety guidelines must account for when assessing heat-related work risks in occupational and sporting environments. It highlights that heat stress indices must be adjusted to account for how well individuals are adapted to their local climate.
The science of climate heat risks has a metric problem
Read the full article ↗Nature