There is also evidence that the effects of some weather
variables such as ambient air temperature are not instantaneous
but have a lag time (Scott et al. 1983; Igono
and Johnson 1990). However in most studies, the importance
of weather variations preceding physiological responses
has received very little attention. The degree of
importance of this carry-over effect of thermal conditions
on physiological responses is therefore not clear.
Thus studies incorporating both preceding and current
weather variables, to assess their relative effects on physiological
responses, will further advance our understanding
of the complex relationships between the variables.
The objective of this study was to investigate the relative
influence of minimum, maximum and mean ambient air
temperature, relative humidity and the derived parameter
temperature-humidity index, and rainfall recorded
for current and previous days on a.m. and p.m. rectal
temperatures, respiration rates and pulse rates.