scholarly journals A High Spatiotemporal Resolution Global Gridded Dataset of Historical Human Discomfort Indices

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 835
Author(s):  
Malcolm N. Mistry
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Reanalysis Data ◽  
Apparent Temperature ◽  
Heat Index ◽  
Gauge Potential ◽  
Climate Indices ◽  
Spatiotemporal Resolution ◽  
Wet Bulb Globe Temperature ◽  
Globe Temperature ◽  
Land Data Assimilation System

Meteorological human discomfort indices or bioclimatic indices are important metrics to gauge potential risks to human health under varying environmental thermal exposures. Derived using sub-daily meteorological variables from a quality-controlled reanalysis data product (Global Land Data Assimilation System—GLDAS), a new high-resolution global dataset referred to as “HDI_0p25_1970_2018” is presented in this study. The dataset includes the following daily indices at 0.25° × 0.25° gridded resolution: (i) Apparent Temperature indoors (ATind); (ii) two variants of Apparent Temperature outdoors in shade (ATot); (iii) Heat Index (HI); (iv) Humidex (HDEX); (v) Wet Bulb Temperature (WBT); (vi) two variants of Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT); (vii) Thom Discomfort Index (DI); and (viii) Windchill Temperature (WCT). Spanning 49 years over the period 1970–2018, HDI_0p25_1970_2018 fills gaps in existing climate indices datasets by being the only high-resolution historical global-gridded daily time-series of multiple human discomfort indices based on different meteorological parameters, thus offering applications in wide-ranging climate zones and thermal-comfort environments.

The heat is on: Observations and trends of heat stress metrics during Florida summers

2022 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Heat Waves ◽  
South Florida ◽  
Heat Index ◽  
Daily Maximum ◽  
Wet Bulb Globe Temperature ◽  
Key West ◽  
Outdoor Work ◽  
Temperature And Humidity ◽  
Globe Temperature

Abstract Extreme heat is annually the deadliest weather hazard in the U.S. and is strongly amplified by climate change. In Florida, summer heat waves have increased in frequency and duration, exacerbating negative human health impacts on a state with a substantial older population and industries (e.g., agriculture) that require frequent outdoor work. However, the combined impacts of temperature and humidity (heat stress) have not been previously investigated. For eight Florida cities, this study constructs summer climatologies and trend analyses (1950–2020) of two heat stress metrics: heat index (HI) and wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT). While both incorporate temperature and humidity, WBGT also includes wind and solar radiation, and is a more comprehensive measure of heat stress on the human body. With minor exceptions, results show increases in average summer daily maximum, mean, and minimum HI and WBGT throughout Florida. Daily minimum HI and WBGT exhibit statistically significant increases at all eight stations, emphasizing a hazardous rise in nighttime heat stress. Corresponding to other recent studies, HI and WBGT increases are largest in coastal subtropical locations in Central and South Florida (i.e., Daytona Beach, Tampa, Miami, Key West), but exhibit no conclusive relationship with urbanization changes. Finally, danger (103–124°F) HI and high (> 88°F) WBGT summer days exhibit significant frequency increases across the state. Especially at coastal locations in the Florida Peninsula and Keys, danger HI and high WBGT days now account for > 20% of total summer days, emphasizing a substantial escalation in heat stress, particularly since 2000.

scholarly journals Estimation of the wet bulb globe temperature from temperature and relative humidity gradients

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Osvaldo Borges Pinto Junior ◽  
Sérgio Wagner Gripp Silveira ◽  
Carlo Ralph De Musis ◽  
Luiz Annunciação ◽  
Osvaldo Alves Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Heat Exposure ◽  
Heat Index ◽  
Multivariate Statistical ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Wet Bulb Globe Temperature ◽  
Hiking Trails ◽  
Globe Temperature ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The City

In this study, maps of the estimated heat index for a preservation area in the city of Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil, were constructed using temperature and relative humidity gradients. Understanding microclimate variable behavior is useful for explaining the relationship between urban sprawl and increased environmental distress. The implementation and preservation of green areas is one way to mitigate the environmental impacts of human activities. Urban parks are one common type of green area in cities. According to ISO 7243, heat exposure can be assessed using the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT). This study used multivariate statistical techniques and ordinary kriging to produce a WBGT map of the park during the dry and rainy seasons. Places with heat or freshness islands were identified. Locations along hiking trails and areas with exercise equipment were analyzed for WBGT tendencies in order to propose precautionary heat exposure measures.

Developing and Validating Heat Exposure Products Using the U.S. Climate Reference Network

2021 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 543-558
Author(s):  
J. Jared Rennie ◽  
Michael A. Palecki ◽  
Sean P. Heuser ◽  
Howard J. Diamond
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Heat Exposure ◽  
The United States ◽  
Reanalysis Data ◽  
Extreme Heat ◽  
Apparent Temperature ◽  
Heat Index ◽  
Reference Network ◽  
Climate Risks ◽  
The U.S

AbstractExtreme heat is one of the most pressing climate risks in the United States and is exacerbated by a warming climate and aging population. Much work in heat health has focused only on temperature-based metrics, which do not fully measure the physiological impact of heat stress on the human body. The U.S. Climate Reference Network (USCRN) consists of 139 sites across the United States and includes meteorological parameters that fully encompass human tolerance to heat, including relative humidity, wind, and solar radiation. Hourly and 5-min observations from USCRN are used to develop heat exposure products, including heat index (HI), apparent temperature (AT), and wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT). Validation of this product is conducted with nearby airport and mesonet stations, with reanalysis data used to fill in data gaps. Using these derived heat products, two separate analyses are conducted. The first is based on standardized anomalies, which place current heat state in the context of a long-term climate record. In the second study, heat events are classified by time spent at various levels of severity of conditions. There is no consensus as to what defines a heat event, so a comparison of absolute thresholds (i.e., ≥30.0°, 35.0°, and 40.0°C) and relative thresholds (≥90th, 95th, and 98th percentile) will be examined. The efficacy of the product set will be studied using an extreme heat case study in the southeastern United States. While no heat exposure metric is deemed superior, each has their own advantages and caveats, especially in the context of public communication.

scholarly journals An Evaluation of Portable Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Monitor Accuracy

2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (12) ◽  
pp. 1161-1167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Earl Cooper ◽  
Andrew Grundstein ◽  
Adam Rosen ◽  
Jessica Miles ◽  
Jupil Ko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Heat Stress ◽  
Sports Medicine ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Heat Stroke ◽  
Heat Index ◽  
Mean Bias Error ◽  
Bias Error ◽  
Wet Bulb Globe Temperature ◽  
Globe Temperature

Context:  Wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) is the gold standard for assessing environmental heat stress during physical activity. Many manufacturers of commercially available instruments fail to report WBGT accuracy. Objective:  To determine the accuracy of several commercially available WBGT monitors compared with a standardized reference device. Design:  Observational study. Setting:  Field test. Patients or Other Participants:  Six commercially available WBGT devices. Main Outcome Measure(s):  Data were recorded for 3 sessions (1 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon) at 2-minute intervals for at least 2 hours. Mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), mean bias error (MBE), and the Pearson correlation coefficient (r) were calculated to determine instrument performance compared with the reference unit. Results:  The QUESTemp° 34 (MAE = 0.24°C, RMSE = 0.44°C, MBE = –0.64%) and Extech HT30 Heat Stress Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Meter (Extech; MAE = 0.61°C, RMSE = 0.79°C, MBE = 0.44%) demonstrated the least error in relation to the reference standard, whereas the General WBGT8778 Heat Index Checker (General; MAE = 1.18°C, RMSE = 1.34°C, MBE = 4.25%) performed the poorest. The QUESTemp° 34 and Kestrel 4400 Heat Stress Tracker units provided conservative measurements that slightly overestimated the WBGT provided by the reference unit. Finally, instruments using the psychrometric wet bulb temperature (General, REED Heat Index WBGT Meter, and WBGT-103 Heat Stroke Checker) tended to underestimate the WBGT, and the resulting values more frequently fell into WBGT-based activity categories with fewer restrictions as defined by the American College of Sports Medicine. Conclusions:  The QUESTemp° 34, followed by the Extech, had the smallest error compared with the reference unit. Moreover, the QUESTemp° 34, Extech, and Kestrel units appeared to offer conservative yet accurate assessments of the WBGT, potentially minimizing the risk of allowing physical activity to continue in stressful heat environments. Instruments using the psychrometric wet bulb temperature tended to underestimate WBGT under low wind-speed conditions. Accurate WBGT interpretations are important to enable clinicians to guide activities in hot and humid weather conditions.

scholarly journals Empirically Derived Equation from Simple Heat Index for Calculating Wet Bulb Globe Temperature: A Case Study of Thailand

2020 ◽  
pp. 25-39
Author(s):  
Wutthichai Paengkaew ◽  
Atsamon Limsakul ◽  
Rittirong Junggoth ◽  
Somsak Pitaksanurat
Keyword(s):  
High Reliability ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Heat Index ◽  
Simple Linear Regression ◽  
Wet Bulb Globe Temperature ◽  
Globe Temperature

The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index is a standard for assessing environmental heat stress, but the requirement of expensive instrument with specialized maintenance is limited its use. This study aims to develop the empirical equation to estimate the WBGT from Heat Index (HI) calculated from portable temperature and humidity recorder (THR), based on the data collected at seven sites covering all regions of Thailand. Comparative analysis shows that the HI values calculated from THR (HITHR) are consistent well with those measured from the thermal environmental monitor (HIQT36) as evidenced by a highly positive correlation between them (r=0.97; p<0.01; n=4,303). These results suggest high reliability of the portable THR and its acceptance to be used instead of the standard QT36 device. Based on a simple linear regression developed to estimate WBGT from the HITHR, it was found that the model accounts for at least 90% of the variance of the observed WBGT (dependent variable). In addition, validation of the model with the statistical methods shows relatively small errors of the estimated WBGT values in comparison to the observed values. With this evidence, the developed empirical regression equation can be used to estimate WBGT with high accuracy and confidence. Simple and easier to use for the practitioners who are involved in public health works at community level, a heat monitoring tool kit consisting of a THR, WBGT chart and recommended actions were further developed based on the results obtained. This tool kit is a low-cost and simple device which can be used by various community-level stakeholders to prevent and reduce heat injuries and deaths of risk groups, especially the elderly. This tool is necessary in light of anthropogenic-induced warming and Thailand’s aging society.

scholarly journals Reply to “Comment on Fitria et al. ‘Environmental and Occupational Risk Factors Associated with Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology in West Javanese Rice Farmers, Indonesia’ Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 2020, 17, 4521”

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (19) ◽  
pp. 7273
Author(s):  
Laila Fitria ◽  
Nurhayati Adnan Prihartono ◽  
Doni Hikmat Ramdhan ◽  
Susan Woskie
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Heat Index ◽  
Unknown Etiology ◽  
Measured Temperature ◽  
Occupational Risk Factors ◽  
Average Heat ◽  
Wet Bulb Globe Temperature ◽  
Weather Stations ◽  
Globe Temperature

Examining the WBGT (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature) profiles in the two study locations was intended to show temperature differences during the week of the study. Information obtained from the weather stations that provide contextual long-term information on heat and humidity also showed temperature differences. The average measured temperature and humidity in the past year from each of these weather stations show an average heat index of 22 °C in Bogor and an average heat index of 32 °C in Karawang. Interpretation of the chronic kidney disease (CKD) and chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) findings was more complicated because we also found that farmers in our two locations reported differences in the use of mechanization in their farming, presumably impacting their workloads.

scholarly journals Assessment of Heat Stress Exposure among Construction Workers in the Hot Desert Climate of Saudi Arabia

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 505-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Al-Bouwarthan ◽  
Margaret M Quinn ◽  
David Kriebel ◽  
David H Wegman
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Heat Stress ◽  
Heat Exposure ◽  
Construction Workers ◽  
Heat Index ◽  
Stress Exposure ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Excessive Heat ◽  
Wet Bulb Globe Temperature ◽  
Globe Temperature

Abstract Objectives Excessive heat exposure poses significant risks to workers in hot climates. This study assessed the intensity and duration of heat stress exposure among workers performing residential construction in southeastern Saudi Arabia (SA) during the summer, June–September 2016. Objectives were to: identify work factors related to heat stress exposure; measure environmental heat exposure at the construction sites; assess the heat stress risk among workers using the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index; and determine if temperature-humidity indices can be appropriate alternatives to WBGT for managing heat stress risk at the construction sites. Methods Worksite walkthrough surveys and environmental monitoring were performed, indoors and outdoors, at 10 construction sites in Al-Ahsa Province. A heat stress exposure assessment was conducted according to the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH®) guidelines, which uses the WBGT index. WBGT measurements from two instruments were compared. Alternative heat stress indices were compared to the WBGT: the heat index (HI) and humidex (HD) index. Results Construction workers were exposed to excessive heat stress, indoors and outdoors over a large part of the work day. Complying with a midday outdoor work ban (12–3 p.m.) was not effective in reducing heat stress risk. The highest intensity of exposure was outdoors from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.; a period identified with the highest hourly mean WBGT values (31–33°C) and the least allowable working time according to ACGIH® guidelines. Comparison of the alternative indices showed that the HI is more reliable than the HD as a surrogate for the WBGT index in the climate studied. Conclusion The extreme heat exposure represents a serious risk. The severity of heat stress and its impact are projected to increase due to climate change, emphasizing the need for immediate improvement of the current required protective measures and the development of occupational heat stress exposure guidelines in SA.

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