A wet-bulb globe temperature validation study using standard meteorological inputs and modeled solar irradiance

Abstract

Heat-stress-related injuries and deaths are a serious concern to the military. A joint Army/Air Force publication (TB MED 507) provides heat stress guidance based on the wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT), soldier work rate, and clothing level. In a military environment, however, accurate WBGT measurements or predictions (for planning purposes) may not be available or practical to obtain; thus, a physics-based model provides the WBGT value from standard meteorological inputs. Likewise, the surface solar irradiation value (required for the WBGT computation) is determined from a model as a function of cloud amount and type, surface albedo, geographic location, and date/time. The author performed an experimental study to determine the validity of using the two models for obtaining the WBGT. The WBGT and solar irradiation models, as well as the TB MED 507 guidance, have been hosted on an Android-based smartphone to provide heat stress guidance on a highly portable solution for the Army. One advantage of the current capability over WBGT instrumentation is its ability to be used as a planning tool via entry of forecast input parameter values into the algorithm.