The Effect of Climate

on Heart Rate
Bri Stump, Sarah Schultz and Dani Puccio
2/16/15

Abstract
The purpose of the experiment was to discover the
effects of climate on heart rate. The test subject took their
resting heart rate and then ran for one minute in the cold.
After running their heart rate was taken again. This series
of steps was repeated three times in a temperature of 30
degrees Fahrenheit and an addition three times at a
temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The results
showed that the subjects heart rate increased more when
running in the cold. To conclude, cold weather has a
greater effect on heart rate than warm temperature.

Background
Prior to conducting the experiment, class work and
research provided the basis of information about the
circulatory system. The path of blood was studied through
the creation of a heart box diagram that showed the flow
of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood through the body.
Following the creation of the diagram, a dissection of a

sheep heart was conducted to provide a more detailed

knowledge about the structures and functions of the heart.
Through past experience it was known that physical
activity significantly elevates heart rate, but the effects of
climate were unknown. The goal of this experiment was to
investigate how climate affects heart rate when exercising
in cold and warm temperature.

Hypothesis
Heart rate when running in cold weather will be slower
than when running in warm weather.

Materials and Methods

Materials:
Computer equipped with logger pro software
Heart rate monitor
Test subject
Method:
1. Determine the resting heart rate of subject.
2. Run indoors at 70 degrees Fahrenheit for one minute.
3. Take heart rate
4. Rest until heart rate returns to normal
5. Repeat steps 1-4 two more times. Make sure to
record all data.
6. Determine the resting heart rate of subject.
7. Run outdoors at 30 degrees Fahrenheit for one
minute.
8. Take heart rate
9. Rest until heart rate returns to normal

10.
Repeat steps 6-9 two more times. Make sure to
record all data.

Results
The data revealed that running in cold weather
actually raised the heart rate of the test subject more than
running in warm weather. The net change of the subjects
pulse was greater in each of the three trials for cold
weather.
Warm Weather
Resting
after run
75
150

trial 1

net change
75

trial 2

80

154

74

trial 3

78

166

88

resting

Cold Weather
after run
net change

trial 1

72

170

98

trial 2

66

166

100

trial 3

70

160

90

Discussion
Cold weather requires the heart to pump faster and
harder to keep blood in circulation during running and
other cardiovascular activities. Some sources of possible
error are that the test subject did not run for exactly one
minute each time and the pulse reading could have been

slightly inaccurate because the Logger Pro software didnt

work properly each time. Some suggestions for future
trials are having a set running path and not a timed
amount of exercise and find a more reliable way to
measure heart rate.

Conclusion
Running in cold weather increased heart rate more than
running in cold weather.