Title: Wet bulb globe temperature across Western Turkey according to the ENSEMBLES project

Authors: Hamza Altinsoy; Haci Ahmet Yildirim

Addresses: Boğaziçi University Physics Department, North Campus, KB Building Floor 3-4, 34342 Bebek, Istanbul, Turkey; The Ministry of Labour and Social Security, The General Directorate of Occupational Health and Safety, Occupational Health and Safety Institution, Istanbul Road 14th, Km 06370 Köyler, Ankara, Turkey ' Physics Department, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Sakarya University, 54817, Esentepe, Sakarya, Turkey

Abstract: The direct effects of climate change on workers' thermal comfort as well as its indirect effects on occupational health and safety are analysed. The region of interest is Western Turkey. The regional climate model (RCM) results of daily maximum air temperature and relative humidity from the ENSEMBLES project are used to form past and future projections. There are various indices used to observe the thermal comfort conditions for workers. In this research, wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) is used for outdoor environments as outdoor workers make the prime target group. The seasonal spatial distribution of WBGT across the selected region during the reference period (1970-1999) in addition to alterations thereof for the three future periods (namely, 2010-2039, 2040-2069 and 2070-2099) is calculated. The emerging monthly time series for the annual WBGT is analysed for the time period from 1970 to 2100. By the end of the 21st century, this reaches 24°C in June and August, particularly across Southern Turkey.

Keywords: wet bulb globe temperature; WBGT; Turkey; thermal comfort; ENSEMBLES project; climate change; regional climate modelling; RCM; occupational health and safety; worker comfort; air temperature; relative humidity; outdoor workers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2016.074308

International Journal of Global Warming, 2016 Vol.9 No.1, pp.66 - 80

Received: 25 Jun 2013
Accepted: 19 Apr 2014
Published online: 22 Jan 2016 *

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