Global extreme heat hazard

Extreme Heat hazard classified using the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT, in °C), more specifically the daily maximum WGBT for period 1980-2009. The WBGT has primarily relevance for labour productivity and human health, but it is relevant in all kinds of projects and sectors, including infrastructure related, as heat stress affects personnel and stakeholders, and therefore the design of buildings and infrastructure. Heat stress studies in the scientific literature that make use of the WBGT apply thresholds of 28°C and 32°C to categorise heat stress risk. The damaging intensity thresholds are applied following this definition of slight/low (<28°C), moderate/high (28-32°C) and severe/very high (>32°C) heat stress. The dataset is framed into three probabilistic scenarios (Return Periods) corresponding to 1 in 5 years, 1 in 20 years and 1 in 100 years probability.