EFFECTS OF METEOROLOGICAL PARAMETERS ON ADEQUATE EVALUATION OF THE THERMAL ENVIRONMENT

1. Field measurements of the thermal environment were made during an o utdoor study of eight subjects conducted at Fort Bliss, TX, U.S.A. 2. Meteorological parameters measured were temperatures, solar radiation, wind speed and humidity. 3. On two consecutive days, the rise in rect al temperatures for subjects wearing comparable chemical protective ga rments and carrying 22 kg loads averaged 0.5-degrees-C h-1 vs 0.2-degr ees-C h-1. 4. The difference may be attributable to differences of 2.7 -degrees-C in dewpoint temperature and 1.2 m s-1 in wind speed, indica ting that a small difference in meterological parameters can have an i mpact on individuals' thermal responses.