Rain or bright sunshine, hurricane-force winds or coastal breezes, high clouds or dense fog are just part of the climatic repertoire that unfolds in different parts of the planet. As each person may have different parameters to qualify a specific type of weather, is it possible to agree on which is the place with the best weather in the world? According to , a magazine specializing in meteorology and climatology, there is now so much information on climate that it is at least worth a try. The first difficulty was to define what conditions characterize the “best” climate. To make matters more difficult, there is no standardized definition, as everyone has different views that depend on both physiology and emotional state. This is where a novel approach proposal arises: if it is possible to define what are the characteristics of a climate that may be detrimental to people’s well-being, it may be possible to rule out conditions that may be detrimental to people and, therefore, get closer to the characterization of the “perfect climate”. Following this hypothesis, the first step was to rule out places that have historically had temperatures above 50ºC or below -70ºC, since in such conditions there is a high probability of harm to people. Even though this first step seems to be an exaggeration, the interesting thing is that by incorporating variables such as humidity, wind speed and solar radiation into the analysis, it is possible to make progress in discarding places that have constantly – or at least with a certain regularity – presented conditions that are threatening to human health. This allows, on the other hand, to define with greater precision which places present conditions that can be considered ideal. The second step of this study was to relate the selected variables to people’s moods. There are several precedents on this subject that allow, for example, linking the dryness of the air with people’s level of irritation or how the cloud cover index affects people’s happiness. With an average annual maximum of 19ºC and an average annual minimum of 12ºC, associated with a slight seasonal variation, Viña del Mar enjoys -probably- the best climate in the world for people. The Humboldt Current, off the coast of the city, plays a fundamental role, serving as a temperature regulator in the summer months, avoiding days with extreme heat. In the winter months, rainfall is moderate and there is no risk of cyclones or tornadoes from the sea. The humidity conditions, being a coastal border, are ideal for the health of people and its beaches are a luxury for outdoor activities or simply to rest. Even when occasionally there are foggy conditions that envelop the region and there are people who simply do not agree with this selection process, what is clear is that Viña has exceptional conditions for a quiet life, where the climate is beneficial for human life.
