Understanding Humidity, the Dew Point, and Your Comfort

I posted this for those of us who are heat/humidity sensitive...like me. Our dew points have been running in the low to mid 70's here of late (3rd week of August Juneau Co. WI) and it is miserable.

DEW POINT - THE BEST INDICATOR OF COMFORT

By Chief Meteorologist Brian Neudorff

Ever wonder why television meteorologist and weather broadcasters rarely show the current humidity numbers? During the summer, especially when it is as hot and sticky like it has been we will get a few emails maybe even a phone call or two asking why aren't you showing the humidity? Even though we use the term "Humid" to describe the air outside, humidity is actually a bad indication of just how comfortable or uncomfortable the air really is.

Relative humidity is just that... relative. It is relative to the temperature and moisture content of the air. Here is an example of what I mean.

• On a hot, sticky, rather uncomfortable summer day you could have an outside temperature of 92 with a dew point temperature of 68 (which is listed in the uncomfortable zone in the chart above) this would give you a relative humidity of about 46%.
• On a pleasant, warm yet comfortable spring day you could have an outside temperature of 72 with a dew point temperature of 55 (which is listed as pleasant in the above chart) you would have a relative humidity of about 55%.

Although the summer day feels more humid than the spring day its relative humidity is actually lower.

The dew point temperature is the temperature at which the air can no longer hold all of its water vapor, and some of the water vapor must condense into liquid water. At 100% relative humidity, the dew point temperature and the air temperature are the same, and clouds or fog can begin to form. While relative humidity is a relative measure of how humid it is, the dew point temperature is an absolute measure of how much water vapor is in the air (how humid it is). In very warm, humid conditions, the dew point temperature can reach 75 to 77 degrees F, but rarely exceeds 80 degrees.

That means if you hear someone say it is 90 degrees and 90 or 100% humidity they are absolutely wrong. For that to happen you would need a dew point temperature of 86 to 90 degrees. Around here and most of the United States that is nearly impossible.

Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, on the Persian Gulf, recorded a dew point of 95°F on July 8, 2003. In the USA, the highest dew points (above 80°F) occur near the Gulf of Mexico and in parts of the upper Mississippi Valley (lucky me, we're located in the Upper Mississippi Valley).

--------------------------------------------------------------------

A good, succinct, explanation of the topic and something we should all be aware of.

Addendum: Since a picture's worth a thousand words, this picture explains it nicely.

Here's some sites you might find interesting and useful:

• Dew Point Calculator
• Heat Index Calculator
• Wind Chill Calculator

Take care and stay safe,
Joe Doakes aka Kilogulf59
Integrated Close Combat Forum

--------------------------------------------

Please note: prior to commenting or passing judgment, either in a positive or negative manner, I suggest you read About Joe Doakes’ Place and the Disclaimer assuming you haven't already. Thank you.

The Conditions Of Readiness For The Pump Action Shotgun

My decision in writing this was not made because I’ve come up with something new or different. It’s simply to help clarify things for rookie shotgun owners. The seasoned shotgunners already know all of this, possibly by other names or numbers and perhaps with a slightly different twist on the procedures. Nonetheless, a rose by any other name... I’m simply trying to ID the roses.

To keep things less confusing (I hope), I’m going to base these upon The Conditions of Carry For The Automatic Pistol by the late Jeff Cooper.

PLEASE NOTE: Your make and model of shotgun may require slightly different procedures. Much of this applies to many auto-loading shotguns as well. In all, you’ll get the general idea.

I posted an excellent video at the bottom, which shows exactly how a slide or pump action shotgun works. In this case it’s a Remington 870.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Conditions Of Readiness For The Pump Action Shotgun

Condition 0 - A shell is in the chamber, hammer cocked, the magazine is loaded, and the safety is off.

Other than during the process of actually firing the shotgun, I cannot imagine another use for C0. This is certainly not a recommend condition for carry, handling, or storage.

Condition 1 - A shell is in the chamber, the hammer cocked, the magazine is loaded, and the safety is on.

C1 is usually go-mode in my opinion. The possibility of having to discharge the shotgun is imminent. Depending upon individual circumstance, some will maintain their shotgun ready in this condition. Personally, I do not, nor do I recommend it as a day-to-day practice. Some will say that shotguns are not drop safe. Drop safe or not, to the best of my knowledge most modern, higher quality, well maintained, shotguns will not discharge if simply knocked over, or at least I’ve never heard of it happening. However, why take that risk? The decision is yours, based upon your reality and requirements.

Condition 2 - The chamber is empty, the hammer is uncocked (thus unlocking the action), the magazine is loaded, and the safety is on*.

AKA “Cruiser Ready”. Unlike C2 for an automatic pistol (hammer down on a loaded chamber), C2 for a shotgun has the hammer down on an empty chamber. This is because, to the best of my knowledge, so-called “hammerless” shotguns cannot be loaded (or unloaded) without the hammer being cocked. To ready the C2 shotgun for firing, one must operate the shotgun’s pump action (or bolt charging handle for an automatic), which is unlocked. This instead of thumb cocking a C2 pistol’s hammer. Depending upon the condition of the gun and the circumstances of storage/handling, i.e. bouncing around in a vehicle for one, I have heard that there is a possibility of the action opening on it’s own. This is something of which to be aware.

Condition 3 - The chamber is empty, the hammer is cocked (thus locking the action), the magazine is loaded, and the safety is on.

AKA “Cruiser Safe”. It’s the same as C2 except one is now required to manually unlock the action in order to chamber a shell. It’s an additional step, albeit a minor one. As far as I am aware, this is the SOP for many police and security organizations. It assures the action will remain closed and, as a bonus, it’s an additional precaution against unauthorized and untrained people using the weapon.

Condition 4 - The chamber is empty, hammer may or may not be cocked (your option), the magazine is empty, and the safety is on.

In other words, the gun is completely unloaded. It is essentially a safe handling, transportation, and storage condition. This is also the prelude to disassembly and cleaning. Be that as it may, the absolute first thing that one must do when the shotgun, pump or automatic, is handled, is to clear or proof it. The action must be opened and the chamber, carrier or elevator, and magazine checked. Furthermore, when handing the shotgun (or any firearm) to anyone, the action should be cleared and open.

* With any empty chamber method, the weapon can be kept with the safety off, it’s your option. Nonetheless, as a matter of practice, I default to safety on for consistency's sake.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

If you own a pump or automatic shotgun at some point you will undoubtedly use all of the above. Assuming you want to keep a shotgun handy, just in case, your choice is really down to conditions 1, 2, or 3. My advice is to get some training shells and try them. Then pick a set that works for you and stick with those. Make them your SOP. Always let safety be the deciding factor. You own firearms to protect yourself, your family, and possibly others, not to endanger them.

Addendum: Re C2 and C3; please don’t think that the sound of the action being operated is a benefit. In my estimation it is not. If anything it is a detriment as it lets any malefactors know your location and that you’ve got a really big gun. Don’t bet your life on that mystical sound putting fear into the hearts of villains and causing them to flee for their lives, possibly even giving up a life of crime altogether. If it does, ya got lucky, no more, no less. This is not to say that I am recommending C1 instead, I am not. Only you can decide what works out best for you.

As well, I was going to either add comments, pertaining specifically to the automatic shotgun, or make a separate set of conditions. Finally, due to operational differences and brand specific variables, I decided upon neither. C0, C1, and C4 all apply directly to either. C2 and C3 simply become empty chamber carry for the semi. I suppose one could have the bolt locked back with a loaded magazine, however I cannot imagine any reason to carry or store the shotgun in that condition.

Truth be known and as I’m sure you know as well, for automatic pistols and most repeating long guns, there’s really only two basic ready conditions.

Condition 1: Chamber is loaded, magazine full, and safety on.

Condition 2: Chamber is empty, magazine full, and safety on or off.

All the rest is just gun rag tripe, but people like that stuff.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

PDF for your convenience:  Conditions Of Readiness For The Pump Action Shotgun - Kilogulf59.pdf

Take care and stay safe,
Joe Doakes aka Kilogulf59
Integrated Close Combat Forum

--------------------------------------------

Please note: prior to commenting or passing judgment, either in a positive or negative manner, I suggest you read About Joe Doakes’ Place and the Disclaimer assuming you haven't already. Thank you.