Thermal Properties of An Igloo

Journal of Special Topics
A1_4 Thermal Properties of an Igloo

S. Jinks, R. Hopton, T. Glossop
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH.
February 23, 2011
Abstract
This paper investigates the thermal properties of an igloo. Assuming a steady state system of a single
human body radiating heat inside an igloo, this paper predicts that a temperature difference
between inside and outside of the igloo of ∆T ≈ 49K could be maintained. Limitations to this model
are discussed.
Introduction Thus, a convective circulation flow would

Igloos are domed houses made of blocks of be created inside the igloo, so the
ice “glued” together with snow, often temperature inside is not constant.
associated with the Inuit people of the
Canadian Arctic [1]. Igloos are known to Analysis
effectively keep humans warm in very cold The rate of flow of energy (thermal
environments, but how? current) [3] through the igloo walls is given
Loosely packed snow has air spaces by:
between snow crystals, which cause it to act
as an insulator [2]. The wall and floor of an
igloo comprised of, or covered in, snow could,
therefore, theoretically keep a human’s body
heat inside the structure. where κ is the thermal conductivity of the
Figure (1) shows a simple model of an igloo packed snow (κ ≈ 0.25Js−1m−1K−1 at sub-zero
with a human inside: temperatures [4]). AI is the internal surface
area of the igloo equivalent to 2πR2 (simply
taking the curved walls of the igloo as the
area through which heat is lost, assuming no
heat loss to the ground). ∆x is the thickness of
the igloo wall and (Ti−Te) is the difference in
temperature between the interior and
exterior of the igloo. As explained in the
introduction, the temperature of the interior
is not constant, due to convection, so Ti is the
average temperature of the air inside the
Figure (1): Igloo Model Schematic. igloo.
We can use the Stefan–Boltzmann law for
Heat transfer occurs via conduction, blackbody radiation [3] to determine roughly
convection and radiation. The air surrounding the amount of heat emitted by the human
the human body would increase in body inside the igloo in a given time:
temperature due to conduction and radiation.
As a result, the density of this warmer air
decreases and, due to buoyancy, is pushed up
towards the top of the igloo. Cool air next to
the igloo wall/roof would flow downwards, as where Ph = the power radiated by the human
it is denser than the rising warmer air. at temperature Th (assuming our human
1
Igloos, February 23, 2011.
subject is naked, the skin temperature Th = conditions, the human would be wearing
306.15K (33°C), which is the “comfortable” clothes, so the body surface temperature
skin temperature for a human [5]). εh = the would be lower. We assumed a constant
emissivity of the radiating human (human skin human body temperature, but it is likely that
is almost a perfect emitter, or blackbody, with the temperature would drop as the body loses
an emissivity of εh ≈ 0.98 [6]). Ah = surface heat to the air. We assumed that there would
area of the radiating human (Ah = 2.12m2 for be no heat loss through the ground beneath
an average human of height 1.8m and mass the igloo, but this would not be the case in
90 kg [7]). σ = Stefan’s constant = 5.6703x10-8 reality. Also, there would most likely be other
Wm-2K-4. heat sources within the igloo, such as an oil
Assuming that the system has had time to lamp.
reach a steady state, in which the heat
produced by the human can be equated with Conclusion
the heat conducted by the igloo to the Assuming a steady state system of a single
outside, human’s body heat radiated to the air inside
the igloo and then conducted through the
igloo wall to the cold exterior, this model
predicts that a temperature difference
between inside and outside of ∆T ≈ 49K could
Solving this expression for (Te – Ti) gives: be maintained.
However, this prediction could be made
more accurate by obtaining a model of the
convective circulation flow inside the igloo,
which is beyond the scope of this paper.
Given the values stated above, along with
arbitrary values of R = 2.0m and ∆x = 0.3m: ∆T References
≈ 49K. In a region of Greenland, where igloos [1]http://ecommons.library.cornell.edu/bitstr
exist, the night temperatures can get as low eam/1813/125/2/Igloo.pdf
as 230.15K (-43˚C) [8]. So, even on the coldest Accessed: 5/2/2011.
nights, this theory predicts that the inside of [2]http://www.earthgauge.net/wp-
the igloo could still be as warm as 279.15K content/EG_Snow.pdf
(6˚C) with just one adult human inside. Accessed: 7/2/2011.
[3]P. Tipler, G. Mosca, Physics for Scientists
Discussion and Engineers (4th Ed.), (W.H. Freeman and
By changing the values for the thickness of Company/Worth Publishers 2007), p.646.
the igloo, ∆x, and its radius, R, the difference [4]http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/ice-
in temperature obtained might be thermal-properties-d_576.html
unrealistically high. This suggests that our Accessed: 7/2/2011.
model requires additional refinement. [5]http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2001/Aba
Ideally, to determine how warm the air is ntyFarzana.shtml
by the interior wall of the igloo at all positions Accessed: 22/2/2011.
and, hence, fully calculate how much of the [6]http://www.thesnellgroup.com/storage/fc
heat radiated by the human would be k/File/thinkthermally/ThinkThermally_2007_
transferred through the igloo wall, a model of Winter.pdf
the convective circulation flow inside the igloo Accessed: 7/2/2011.
is required. This could also lead to [7]Wilson, J. Gonz’ alex-Espada, et al. Physics
determining whether parts of the igloo wall Education 36 (4), 290-292 (2001).
interior would melt due to the warm air [8]http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/w
transferring heat to it. eather.php3?s=20240&refer=&units=metric
The human inside the igloo was initially Accessed: 7/2/2011.
assumed to be naked with a body
temperature of 306.15K. In more realistic

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Journal of Special Topics

A1_4 Thermal Properties of an Igloo

Introduction Thus, a convective circulation flow would

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