Radiant Temperatures of Hair Surfaces

Abstract

The radiant temperatures T(r) of the surfaces of winter pelage of white-tailed deer, mule deer, snowshoe hare, cottontail rabbit, and red fox decrease with a decrease in air temperature T(a) and an increase in wind velocity (U). The relationship between T(r) and T a is linear, but nonlinear for T(r):U. Changes in the lower velocities have a relatively greater effect than changes in the higher velocities. The variation between species results in considerable overlap; the use of thermal scanning techniques for censusing of these different species is doubtful under most field conditions.