CAN POLAR BEAR HAIRS ABSORB ENVIRONMENTAL ENERGY?

Abstract

A polar bear (Ursus maritimus) has superior ability to survive in harsh Arctic regions, why does the animal have such an excellent thermal protection? The present paper finds that the unique labyrinth cavity structure of the polar bear hair plays an important role. The hair can not only prevent body temperature loss but can also absorb energy from the environment.

Keywords

Dates

  • Submission Date2011-07-03
  • Acceptance Date2011-07-07

DOI Reference

10.2298/TSCI1103911H

References

  1. Grojean, R. E., Sousa, J. A., Henry, M. C., Utilization of Solar Radiation by Polar Animals: An Optical Model for Pelts, Applied Optics, 19 (1980), 3, pp. 339-346
  2. Tributsch, H., Goslowski, H., Küppers, U., Wetzel, H., Light Collection and Solar Sensing through the Polar Bear Pelt, Solar Energy Materials, 21(1990), 2-3, pp. 219-236
  3. Wang, Q. L., He, J.-H., Pan, N., Structure of Polar Bear Hair, Nonlinear Science Letters D, 1 (2010), pp.159-162
  4. Wang, Q. L., He, J.-H., Li, Z. B., Fractional Model for Heat Conduction in Polar Bear Hairs, accepted for publication in Thermal Science, 16 (2012), No. 2
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