WBGT ANALYSIS OF THERMAL COMFORT OF THE AREA OF SEMBERIJA

Abstract

Thermal comfort of urban areas is a highly researched field of science, which is gaining more and more importance in the field of ecology. The research of the area from the aspect of the convenience of physical activities and outdoor life provides data that is also useful in the health sector. This research included the area of Semberija in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is characterized by unfavorable conditions during summer, due to high temperatures, swampy land and increased artificial presence of construction and industries.

Not all areas have the same weather conditions, therefore other factors such as relief and presence of forests are important in the overall state of the area. Therefore, data from two meteorological stations, at a short distance from each other, but in a different natural and artificial environment, were analyzed. These are the station in the town of Bijeljina and the station within the Mine and Thermal Power Plant in Ugljevik.

Within this research, the WBGT bioclimatic model was used, which is widely used in the world for the purposes of calculating the time that the human body can spend in direct sunlight during work or exercise, without rest. Given that the same time period is not covered, an average of 14 years (period 2005 – 2018) was analyzed for the area of Bijeljina, and an average of 8 years (period 2015 – 2022) for Ugljevik. The period from 2015 to 2018, which covers both locations, was also analyzed in order to make a comparison and notice the differences and determine the factors that affect the thermal comfort of the space.