Modeling Cold Stress - Russian Soldiers in Ukraine
Abstract
Media reports on 14 March 2022 suggested that Russian soldiers bogged down in vehicles, possibly without fuel resupply, were at serious risk for hypothermia and/or surrender in the next 72 hours due to predicted ambient temperatures as low as -20 deg C near Kyiv. This short report demonstrates the power of predictive thermal models developed by USARIEM to predict relevant operational outcomes within a very short period of time (hours). The results of the modeling did not support the media predictions of hypothermic soldiers although there would likely be some uncomfortably cold conditions. Instead, serious peripheral freezing cold injuries, especially the feet, were predicted as the most likely injury risk. More specific data can produce more accurate predictions. For example, USARIEM has a large database of biophysical properties of various cold weather uniforms from the US, Norway, and Canada. These data were used in this modeling exercise as similar uniform systems based on analysis of current media photos of the clothing of captured Russian tank crews.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1165626
Entities
People
- Adam W Potter
- David P. Looney
- Karl E. Friedl
Organizations
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine