What is a common consequence of immersion in cold water for extended periods?

Immersion in cold water for extended periods leads to hypothermia, which occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, causing the core body temperature to drop to dangerously low levels. This is particularly significant in water because it conducts heat away from the body much more rapidly than air. When submerged in cold water, the body can lose heat through convection, conduction, and radiation.

As the body cools down, physiological responses will kick in, such as shivering, to generate warmth. However, if exposure continues without adequate protection or warming, hypothermia can rapidly set in, leading to symptoms such as confusion, fatigue, and impaired motor functions. This condition can be life-threatening without immediate intervention to restore normal body temperature.

Other options, such as increased buoyancy, hyperthermia, and additional air compressibility, do not commonly arise as consequences of prolonged exposure to cold water. Increased buoyancy relates to the properties of water and the effects of temperature and salinity on density, but it does not specifically correlate with the dangers presented by cold immersion. Hyperthermia is the opposite condition, resulting from overheating, and does not apply to cold water scenarios. Finally, air compressibility is a concern in conditions related to