Extreme adaptation to extreme environments: Case study of hot dry, hot sub-humid, and hot humid climates in Mexico

The paper discusses the results of a field study carried out in four cities in Mexico: Hermosillo, Mexicali, Merida and Colima, during the warmest seasons of 2006-2007. The cities' climates are hot dry, hot sub-humid and hot humid. The respondents were inhabitants of low cost housings without air conditioning. The research was performed during warm seasons and according to ISO 10551. The measurements were processed by the adaptive conventional method and also by alternative methods, useful for asymmetric climates. Individuals declared comfort at very high temperatures; therefore the resulting neutral temperatures are higher than 30°C, except in Colima (28.8°C). The upper limits of comfort ranges achieved temperatures up to 35°C. The results suggest how great is the capacity of humans to adapt to conditions as extreme as those measured in the study.