>So, from that reference, honey has 56 to 73 % of the thermal capacity of
water (which is a nice 1 cal/g/degree

> by definition in the rational metric system).
>

Absolutely right Stan!  Also measured in Joules/kg K, in which the specific
heat of water is 4.18 (for water at 25C; it varies with the temperature of
the water).
And that's where is screwed up--compared apples to oranges!

So, in order to compare apples to apples, according to 1992 HHB, p. 897 the
cal/g/degree C specific heat of honey at 17.6% moisture is 0.62, or a bit
less than 2/3rds that of water at 25C.  The specific heat of water drops to
half that when frozen, but I have no idea what is is for honey at that
temperature.

So forget the comparison to wood--looks like honey has a fair heat capacity,
and should moderate the temperature changes around the cluster, although
during winter, the cold honey would act as a constant heat sink for colony
warmth being radiated from the mantle of the cluster.

Stan, your figure for" thermal conductivity varies from 118 to 143 x 10-~
cal/cm2/sec/0C " is what especially interests me, since the inverse of that
should give you the R value (insulation value) for honey combs.  However,
conductivity values are given these days  in watts/degrees m^2
So to convert:

1 calorie/sec = 4.18 watts, and 10,000 cm^2 = 1 m^2, so say 125
cal/cm2/sec/0C...OK, I get what appears to be a bogus figure.  Someone help
please!

Randy Oliver

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