Analysis of Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature Calculations Using In Situ Observations

Using the Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) to measure heat injury risk is paramount; however, without affordable instruments, the public has to rely on formulas. These formulas either overestimate WBGT (bad for production) or worse, underestimate WBGT (bad for humans, heat injury risk increases significantly and unnecessarily). Data were collected from 16 June 2018 through 16 July 2018 from the QUESTemp$\degree$34 (Q34) and synchronous data from the Oklahoma Mesonet, and WBGT index values were compared from Q34's calculations, Mesonet calculation using approximations of natural wet bulb temperature and black globe temperature, and three equations utilized by Eglin Air Force Base. With roughly 2.5 weeks of valid, filtered data, it was determined that the Mesonet calculations underestimate the instruments', and all three of Eglin’s calculations overestimate the instruments'. Future work includes examining the algorithms created by the Tulsa Weather Forecast Office to calculate the Mesonet WBGT and comparing the WBGT to the Environmental Stress Index.