Wet Bulb Globe

Temperature
 WBGT
• Earliest users of WBGT were the 
U.S. Marines and U.S. Army
• Difficult to say and isn’t easy to calculate, but
monitoring WBGT is a stress-free way to protect student
athletes, employees, and overall operations from
extreme heat
 What is WBGT
• According to the National Weather Service, wet bulb
globe temperature (WBGT) is an apparent
measurement used to estimate the most accurate level
of heat stress in direct sunlight
• With WBGT, groups like military agencies and 
sports programs can manage their workloads effectively
in high-temperature environments
Five Factors
 How to Calculate

The equation is: WBGT = 0.7 Tw + 0.2 Tg + 0.1 Td

       The first variable is Tw, or the natural wet bulb temperature, which indicates hu
       Next is Tg, or the globe thermometer temperature, which indicates radiant heat
       Finally Td is the dry bulb temperature, which indicates ambient air temperature
 Wet Bulb Temprature
• Wet bulb temperature is a measurement taken by a thermometer that has a bulb
covered by a water-soaked cloth. When air passes over the cloth to evaporate the
water, the evaporative cooling shows the wet bulb temperature on the
thermometer.
• But why do we care about this?
• We often use this temperature to find the dew point and/or humidity as we compare it to the
dry bulb air temperature.
Category
 Function

• Each category includes water intake guides for both heat acclimated and

unacclimated individuals.  
• Heat acclimatization is the process of adjusting one’s body to high-
temperature conditions.
• This process lowers the possibility of heat illness or exertional heat stroke
 (EHS)
 Suggestions

 Do not practice longer than 3 hours per day

         No consecutive double practices
         Increase workout intensity gradually over a few days
         Increase sodium intake as sweat increases
         Hydrate regularly throughout games and practices
         Take frequent rests to avoid overheating
 Conclusion

• The real purpose of using wet bulb globe temperature as a heat

measurement is to keep people safe while performing strenuous
outdoor activities at high temperature.
• It is the most comprehensive and therefore most reliable measure of how
hard or easy it is for athletes to perform in their specific outdoor
environment.