Nose

Everyone knows that people who live in cold countries like Siberia and Greenland have narrower and longer noses compared to those of us who live in countries like Singapore with hot humid climate.

Miss Siberia 2009

Miss Singapore 2009

A recent study by researchers in Germany explained why individuals from cold, dry climates had higher and narrower nasal cavities than those from hot, humid climates.


Narrow nasal passage enhances contact between the air and mucus in the nose, which helps to warm and humidify the air. People in cold climate have more space in the nose to warm up the incoming air.

Moreover, microscopic hairs called cilia, which line the nasal passage, help to keep out pathogens and dust that may infect or irritate the lungs, and the cilia work more efficiently when incoming air is moist. This explains why people from warm climates, moving into cold climates, could be more susceptible to nasal irritation, colds and other sinus-related problems.

Source: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-shape-of-a-nose