The wet bulb temperature is a measure of environmental heat as it affects humans, accounting for air temperature, humidity, radiant heat, and air movement. It is measured by a thermometer covered in a wet cloth, reflecting how the human body cools itself with sweat. This temperature is lower than the dry-bulb temperature at lower humidity due to evaporative cooling, and it is used to determine the potential for evaporative cooling and assess heat stress in humans. It is also part of the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) forecast tool used to estimate heat stress on the body in direct sunlight. The American College of Sports Medicine bases its guidelines on the intensity of sports practices based on WBGT. In hot areas, some US military installations display a flag to indicate the heat category based on the WBGT. The wet bulb temperature is important because it relates to the conditions under which humans cannot keep themselves cool, and when it is too high, the body can't cool itself down, leading to serious health risks, especially in extreme heat waves. The National Weather Service provides wet bulb temperature for every location in the US.

What is wet bulb temperature?

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