NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Between the warmer temperatures and the sun’s direct rays, the summer months can make a big impact on what you decide to wear each day.
You usually hear meteorologists stressing the importance of light, loose clothing in the summer. Well, that’s not just a saying, it’s science. Darker colors can absorb heat faster and stronger than lighter colors. So, on a day when you know you’ll be outside for a while, avoid wearing colors like black, grey or dark red and that are made of a thick material. Try to find something in your closet that is white, yellow, or pale colors with a thin, looser material.
We decided to do a little experiment at the WSMV station to see for ourselves which colors are best to wear in the hot summer months.
On a 97° day, we set out six different color t-shirts on a table outside for 15 minutes. In that short time, many of them felt hotter to the touch, but a temperature gun really told the truth. The white t-shirt clocked in at 109° while the dark grey t-shirt measured 155° in the same time frame.
This all comes down to the science of color. The Sun emits white light which is easily absorbed by the color black. Lighter materials reflect most of this sunlight away and in return, they absorb less of the heat energy.
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