Work

Thermal scaling laws for open-water swimming

Year: 2026

Type: preprint

Abstract: Open-water swimming defines a thermal phase-boundary problem in which metabolic heat production competes with environmental heat loss. We derive a scaling law that predicts the critical water temperature and shows how body size, swim pace, and insulation shift this boundary. Longitudinal warm- and cold-water data reveal transient dynamics that exceed single-compartment predictions, but emerge naturally from core--peripheral physiology. Together, our results suggest that thermal safety depends on swimmer-specific characteristics and swimming conditions, not on water temperature alone.

Source: arXiv (Cornell University)

DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2608.20719

Authors: Bedem, Henry van den, Kuhl, Ellen

Institution: Stanford University

Language: English

Topic: Thermoregulation and physiological responses

Subfield: Physiology (medical)

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Science Foundation, Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation

Awards: Automated Model Discovery for Soft Matter, G6835881641

OpenAlex ID: W7204095961

Cites: 1

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Related to: 10