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Human nasal protrusion, latitude, and climate
American Journal of Physical Anthropology
|November 1, 1981
Summary
Human nose protrusion increases with latitude and decreases with absolute humidity. Cold climate variables were more influential than warm measures in this global skeletal study.
Area of Science:
- Anthropology
- Human Evolution
- Biogeography
Background:
- Human skeletal morphology exhibits regional variations.
- Nasal protrusion is a key craniofacial feature influenced by environmental factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between human skeletal nasal protrusion, geographic latitude, and climatic variables.
- To determine the predictive power of humidity and temperature on nasal morphology.
Main Methods:
- Utilized craniofacial dimensions from 55 skeletal populations (Woo and Morant, 1934).
- Employed multivariate statistical techniques including correlation and regression analysis.
- Analyzed 13 climate-related variables against nasal protrusion indices.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant cline of increasing nasal protrusion with increasing latitude was observed.
- Decreasing absolute humidity strongly correlated with increased nasal protrusion.
- Cold climatic variables demonstrated greater importance than warm measures in predicting nasal shape.
Conclusions:
- Latitude and absolute humidity are significant predictors of human skeletal nasal protrusion.
- Environmental adaptations, particularly to cold and dry climates, appear to shape nasal morphology.
- Absolute humidity is a more critical factor than relative humidity in this adaptation.