LET’S BE SENSIBLE – 4 SCIENTIFIC REASONS CRETE IS COOLER THAN THE UK IN JULY AND AUGUST

We want to take you back to school for a moment and talk about GCSE (or O Level if you’re old enough) geography. In general terms we’re talking about what we all learned about weather. More specifically we’re talking about the ‘sensible temperature’ – and we don’t mean sensible as in ‘reasonable’ or ‘rational’. We’re talking ‘sensible’ in the context of what your ‘senses’ feel. For example in winter the temperature can be 5°c but with a north wind blowing it can feel like -5°c. Likewise in the summer it may be 35°c but with a cooling onshore breeze can feel 10 degrees lower.

LET’S BE SENSIBLE #1: ANABATIC AND KATABATIC WINDS

At a beach resort like Maleme, backed by mountains inland, local wind systems known as anabatic and katabatic winds strongly influence daily weather conditions. These winds are caused by temperature differences between mountain slopes and surrounding air.
During the daytime, the mountain slopes heat up quickly under the sun. The warm air near the slopes becomes lighter and rises uphill, creating what is known as an anabatic (onshore) wind. At the resort, this produces a gentle flow of air from the beach toward the mountains. Visitors at the resort experience pleasant breezes during the day because of this process. The uphill movement of air can also reduce humidity near the shoreline and improve visibility. As such the ‘sensible temperature’ can be lowered by up to 5°c – more if you’re in the shade.

WHAT HAPPENS AT NIGHT?

At night, the situation reverses. The mountain slopes lose heat rapidly after sunset, causing the air above them to cool, become denser, and flow downhill toward the coast. This movement is called a katabatic (offshore) wind. At the beach resort, katabatic winds can bring cooler and drier air during the evening and early morning hours. Guests may notice a drop in temperature after dark, especially if the mountains are high and steep, greatly aiding sleep.
Together, anabatic and katabatic winds create a regular ‘diurnal’ or ‘daily’ pattern that influences the climate and comfort of coastal mountain resorts, particularly in reducing humidity.

NB: you don’t get this inland in the UK, which it why it gets so hot and humid.

LET’S BE SENSIBLE #2: CEILING FANS

As any Hollywood fan will know, ceiling fans have been a cooling feature of many a steamy movie – The Big Sleep (1946), Apocalypse Now (1979), Twin Peaks (1992). Ceiling fans do not actually lower the air temperature of a room. Instead, they create a “wind-chill effect” by moving air across your skin. This breeze accelerates the evaporation of sweat, making the sensible temperature (what it feels like) drop by about 2°c – 4°c. Fans cool people – at the Mistral we have them installed in the dining area and the bar. When combined with the breezes they make the environment very comfortable.

LET’S BE SENSIBLE #3: AIR CONDITIONING / CLIMATE CONTROL

What’s not to love about air-conditioning on a warm day? Every room at the Mistral has air-con, as now do the bar and dining area. This allows the ‘sensible’ temperature to be exactly controlled and is a major boon when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep. Actually many guests start the week setting it too cool in rooms – Adonis recommends setting it no lower than 20°c when you first get back to your room, letting the room cool down and then turning it off.

LET’S BE SENSIBLE #4: A COOLING DIP

The most traditional way to cool down on a holiday is to jump into the pool, or the sea. Core body temperature ranges around 36.5°c to 37.5°c. Skin temperature is 4-5°c below that. Temperatures in both pools at the Mistral in high summer are around mid-20s and so always a cooling influence.

WHAT SUMMER TEMPERATURE COOLING ‘BOXES’ CAN YOU TICK AT HOME

So ask yourself these questions and see how many boxes you can tick:

– Can I guarantee cooling breezes every day throughout July and August?
– Do I have a ceiling fan I can sit under and cool off?
– Do I have air conditioning in my home?
– Do I have a choice of two pools I can jump into to cool off (OK, one will do 😊)

Then ask would you rather be sitting at home in the UK in the predicted high 30s or even 40 degree heat – or would I rather be chilling out in Crete at the Mistral in temperatures that are probably going to be just the same?