Why is wet bulb temperature important? How does it effect us?

Question

Edit: Thank you all for the detailed answers! You guys are awesome.

In: 2953

Answer 1

As moisture-containing, sweat-producing creatures, we have a limited ability to cool our own bodies. This ability is greatly impacted by relative humidity in the air, which is not reflected by a standard thermometer. 30 degrees is 30 degrees, regardless of humidity, even though it might feel significantly different and pose completely different levels of risk. A wet-bulb temperature is more directly accurate to human experience, being essentially a thermometer that can sweat.