Specific Humidity (Flu risk) - new overlay suggestion
-
Several scientists have found evidence that risk to spread covid as well as ordinary flu is higher when specific humidity is between 3g/kg and 6g/kg. See this page: https://covid-19calculator.com/en/ and articles on this blog (unfortunately in Dutch): https://www.maurice.nl/2020/04/16/het-bewijs-luchtvochtigheid-vertraagt-of-versnelt-verspreiding-van-virus/
While it's fairly easy to calculate specific humidity from temperature and relative humidity, it would probably be very useful for many people to have an overlay for it in Windy.Thanks
-
Good idea,also I am suggesting viewing relative humidity at airports weather stations and WMO weather stations in addition to dew point.The Dew Point is a very bad indicator for humidity,because sometimes mist and haze can form even if the weather is dry or semi-dry.
-
While relative humidity and dew point have their own uses, for the purpose of health risk (epidemics) it is specific humidity that is most useful, and not just for covid.
Normal influenza epidemics also correlate to specific humidity, see this study for example: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3591336/
Other airborne diseases like meningitis epidemics in Africa are also connected to certain "humidity sweet spots" that let it spread more easily. See: https://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/pdf/10.1175/BAMS-D-13-00121.1
So, a specific humidity overlay in Windy would be useful from several points of view. If the color codes shift 0-3g/kg then 3-6g/kg, 6-9g/kg ... then it would be easy to spot the more safe days (or time of the day) to go out when there is e.g. a flu epidemic...
-
@SpecHum @Ahmed-A-AS Hello, thank you for relevant suggestions! Windy is constantly developing and we always strive to expand our portfolio. We will consider it for out next development.
-
@Korina Great! Thanks.
-
@Korina Thanks for quick response.
