Cultural Adaptations to Cold Climates

The cold is an environmental stress that negatively affects the survival of humans by disturbing homeostasis. As Carl Bergmann (1847) and Joel Allen (1877) observed physiological responses to climate, without the four standard ways to adapt juxtaposed with natural selection, humans will not survive the cold. For instance, cold weather negatively affects homeostasis with frostbite and hypothermia. Frostbite refers to the freezing of tissues. In order for skin to freeze temperatures are said to be 32 ºF which, once at the state, the dead skin will need to be surgically removed. Poorly insulated skin are found on the cheeks, nose, fingers, toes and earlobes. Inadequate blood circulation along with the low temperatures below freezing lead to frostbite. Next, Hypothermia not to be confused with hyperthermia is when the body’s core temperature (98-100 ºF) reaches 95.0 ºF for an extended time. When the body reaches this disruption in homeostasis, the brain becomes less efficient, consciousness is dulled, muscular rigidity begins and breathing becomes shallow: leads to eventual unconsciousness and possible death. 

Four ways in which humans have culturally adapted to the cold is by use of clothes, central air, diet, and tools. Varying from extreme to mild cold temperatures, insulated clothing styles are a way humans have adapted to the cold. As the image above depicts ideal clothing to use when on an expedition to Antarctica, one can get the sense of how important it is to adapt and how well humans have adapted to keeping homeostasis in the cold. 

Another way humans have culturally adapted to the stress of cold is through central air systems in modern homes. This image is an example how central heat systems are installed in homes that dissipate heat within a modern home, so a family can enjoy a peaceful evening in the middle of a blizzard in the state of Alaska by using a central heating system within the home. 

Moreover, diet is an important adaptation that humans have used to survive in the cold. Taking note from the Inuit tribe and Indians of Tierra del Fuego, consumption of large quantities of high calorie fatty foods is essential. Polar bear or seals is a great source of these fatty foods for the Inuit people. Their diets largely increases the basal metabolic rate which results in production of extra body heat. Since modern humans do not live in extreme cold, cultural adaptations to cold regarding diet can be seen in American consumption of chili or soup during the cold months.

Lastly, the unique ability for humans to create tools for survival is another way that they we adapted to the cold. Specifically, the Inuit are a great example of how the use of tools have allowed them to adapt to the cold. They have created a unique way to shield themselves for the “chill factor” while living in their extreme environment. This tool is known as snow.  The perpetual snow is used to build igloos by the Inuit. The snow is shaped by hand into big blocks and stacked together creating a domelike structure. Snow is used because the air pockets trapped in it make it an insulator; on the outside, temperatures may be as low as -49 °F, but on the inside the temperature may range from 19 °F to 61 °F when warmed by body heat alone. 

The benefit of studying human variation from this perspective across environment clines is gaining information that can be useful to help us in many ways. Knowledge is power. So with understanding how the body reacts in cold, for instance, can help how doctors react and treat patients with hypothermia or frostbite. One example would be when there is a natural disaster, the benefit of knowledge would help search and rescue teams to efficiently treat patients that are possibly on the verge of being hypothermic to regaining homeostasis. Using race to understand the variation of the adaptations listed previously is inaccurate. Since categorizations of people based upon skin color, face shape, nose shape, hair color, hair form, and eye color are viewed as human variation, most people typically use these categories to identify a “race.” However, these racial traits are not the only phenotypic factors to social identity. Sex and age play an importance in this as well. Yet, no matter what “race” one is labeled as, people are either female of male and are a certain age. Thus, that fact the race is interchangeably used with ethnicity shows how these phenotypes are closely related to cultural variables shows that race should not be used to understand the variation of the four adaptations addressed earlier.   Therefore, the study of environment influences on adaptation is a better way to understand human variation. When natural selection is considered, these influences become a great source of understanding.