New Layers: Wet-Bulb Temperature, Solar Power and UV Index
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With the latest update, three new temperature layers arrive on Windy.com - Wet-bulb temperature, UV Index, and Solar Power.
Let's look at each layer and how you can utilize it!
Wet-bulb temperature
This year's heat has been record-breaking across many places on the planet, such as repeated heatwaves in India this Spring or more than 40C in the UK in July. So having accurate temperature data in such moments is extremely crucial.
But the temperature figures alone don't give a complete picture of the impact of heat on humans. So what is missing? It is the humidity that plays a significant role in how we actually experience high temperatures and how dangerous they are.
This is where the Wet-bulb temperature comes in, as it combines dry air temperature with humidity. It is a value indicating the lowest level of temperature that can be obtained through evaporative cooling of a water-wetted, ventilated surface. The wet-bulb temperature varies with the humidity levels; the more saturated the air is, the less evaporation will occur.
In essence, the WBT value means how well humans can cool themselves by sweating.
The WBT critical threshold is considered 35C, where we can no longer cool down our bodies by sweating. At this temperature, human bodies switch from shedding heat to the environment, to gaining heat from it.
The wet-bulb temperature is especially important for indoor environments, where deaths often occur during heatwaves, and no other factor like solar power or wind comes into effect.
Solar power
Solar Power is the amount of solar radiation (also known as shortwave radiation) that reaches a horizontal plane at the surface of the Earth. It can be characterized as solar irradiance (power per area at a given moment).
Solar radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun, measured in watts per square metre (W/m2). On a clear day, the maximum surface value is approximately 1000 W/m2 at solar noon.
It is an essential renewable energy source, as it can be captured and turned into various forms of energy, including electricity using solar panels (PV).
With that said, the Solar power layer can be used to indicate how much energy can be produced during one day with a certain amount of resources, in this case, PV panels.
This parameter comprises both direct and diffuse solar radiation. To a reasonably good approximation, this parameter is the model equivalent of what would be measured by a pyranometer (an instrument used for measuring solar radiation) at the surface.
UV Index
UV Index is a measure of the level of UV radiation at a particular place and time. The UVI indicates the level of radiation and the danger of short-term and long-term exposure to the sun.
Most of us choose what to wear or where we will go based on a weather forecast. We can do the same with the UV Index forecast. The UVI provides valuable information about whether we should adopt protective measures when going outside to avoid health risks and injuries.
The values of UV radiation change throughout the day. The daily maximum UV levels occur during the four-hour period around solar noon (when the Sun passes a location's meridian).
UV index values meaning:
0to2means low danger from the Sun's UV rays for the average person.
3to5means moderate risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure.
6to7means high risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure.
8to10means very high risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure.
11ormoremeans extreme risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure.
How to access the new layers
The new layers are located under the Temperature category on both the desktop and the app. And are also available on the 3D Globe for Premium users (desktop only).
If you do not see them right away, open the "More layers.." option and select them from the layer list.
https://www.windy.com/-Wet-bulb-temp--wetbulbtemp?wetbulbtemp,38.461,-29.403,3,internal
Korina
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Pinned by
Korina
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@Korina good information
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@Korina The solar radiation value is an especially helpful resource for me. Me and some of the meteorologists I work with have already started using it to forecast solar energy at our assets. Thanks!
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@mark-ingalls Perfect!
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Fantastic enhancements! Thank you!
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Perfect. Good job. Thank you very much. This is very useful.
I would like to see Forecast WindPower as the next layer. :-) -
fantastic! Great! Are there any possibilities to get the SOLAR Power value for a defined geo position? I want the value for control my devices based on the photovoltaic system.
Many thanks,
Wolfgang -
@WG01
Select the Solar power layer and then place the picker over your location, you get the power value as forecasted at this hour. -
traditional chinese translate
Wet-Bulb Temperature=濕球溫度
Solar Power=太陽能
UV Index=紫外線指數 -
@Chong-Wei-Huang Hello, these translations are already available on Windy if you select Chinese traditional.
