wet-bulb
Moisture-wrapped thermometer reading
Wet-bulb refers to a temperature measurement taken with a thermometer wrapped in wet cloth, which cools through evaporation.
The wet-bulb temperature reflects both heat and humidity—the higher the humidity, the less evaporation occurs and the closer wet-bulb approaches actual air temperature.
The term appears most often in discussions of dangerous heat: a wet-bulb temperature above 35°C (95°F) exceeds the human body's ability to cool itself through sweating, making outdoor exposure fatal.
Wet-bulb temperatures are rising in tropical regions.
Body's cooling system failure
- hyperthermiaDangerously elevated body temperature
- survivabilityCapacity to endure
- thermal stressStrain from temperature change
- heat exhaustionCondition from excessive warmth
core temperature · thermoregulation · mortality · military training · heat index
Air's moisture versus capacity
- dew pointCondensation begins here
- saturationState of complete permeation
- vapor pressureEquilibrium gas-phase partial force
- evaporationLiquid turning to gas
moisture · water vapor · condensation · humid air · muggy · tropical · monsoon · perspiration
Rotating wet-dry bulb thermometer pair
- hygrometerMeasures air's moisture level
- thermometerHeat-measuring instrument
- weather stationAtmospheric conditions measurement facility
- sensorInput-detecting device
reading · calibration · accuracy · monitoring · measurement · instrument · gauge · mercury
Planetary atmospheric transformation
- global warmingRising planetary temperatures
- habitabilitySuitability for dwelling
- Persian GulfInlet between Iran and Arabia
- South AsiaIndia's surrounding region
extreme heat · heat waves · climate modeling · uninhabitable · migration · adaptation · resilience
heatstroke
Body's cooling system failure
- hyperthermiaDangerously elevated body temperature
- survivabilityCapacity to endure
- thermal stressStrain from temperature change
heat exhaustion · core temperature · thermoregulation · mortality · military training · heat index
relative humidity
Air's moisture versus capacity
- dew pointCondensation begins here
- saturationState of complete permeation
- vapor pressureEquilibrium gas-phase partial force
evaporation · moisture · water vapor · condensation · humid air · muggy · tropical · monsoon · perspiration
sling psychrometer
Rotating wet-dry bulb thermometer pair
- hygrometerMeasures air's moisture level
- thermometerHeat-measuring instrument
- weather stationAtmospheric conditions measurement facility
sensor · reading · calibration · accuracy · monitoring · measurement · instrument · gauge · mercury · wick
climate change
Planetary atmospheric transformation
- global warmingRising planetary temperatures
- habitabilitySuitability for dwelling
- Persian GulfInlet between Iran and Arabia
South Asia · extreme heat · heat waves · climate modeling · uninhabitable · migration · adaptation · resilience