STATISTICAL-ANALYSIS OF THE TEMPERATURE-HUMIDITY COMPLEX AND TIME OF WETNESS OF A TROPICAL CLIMATE IN THE YUCATAN PENINSULA IN MEXICO

We show that the atmospheric temperature-humidity complex (T-HC) of si tes located in a tropical humid climate cannot be well characterized b y annual average values. Better information is given by the systematic study of daily changes of temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH), which can be modeled with linear and parabolic functions. According t o ISO 9223, we determine the time of wetness (TOW) for metallic surfac es in these environments using the T-HC. We recommend the analysis of the different T ranges in which TOW occurs in order to better explain material degradation processes and rates. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.