Spotlights

Comparison of the wet-bulb globe temperature (WGBT) among different surfaces
The on-site WGBT values are significantly higher than those measured by the Japan Meteorological Agency weather station, particularly for hard and sand-filled artificial grass courts, highlighting the need for appropriate countermeasures. .

Researchers, including Hiroki Yamaguchi, a PhD student at the Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, investigate the thermal environments of different tennis court surfaces, offering key insights for effective heat countermeasures

Tennis players are exposed to high-heat environments during matches. Different tennis court surfaces can have different thermal environments, necessitating suitable countermeasures. In a new study, researchers investigated the thermal environment of different tennis court surfaces using on-site measurements and compared the results with the established guideline levels. Their findings can lead to enhanced countermeasures, thus improving the safety of athletes, coaches, referees, and spectators.

Reference
Hiroki Yamaguchi, Takaaki Mori, Hiromi Hanano, Kan Oishi, Kentaro Ikeue, Yuiko Yamamoto & Kojiro Ishii. Using wet-bulb globe temperature meters to examine the effect of heat on various tennis court surfaces. Sci Rep 14, 15548 (2024).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66518-8

This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!.”
NEWS RELEASE 6-AUG-2024, Preventing Heat Stroke in Tennis: Insights into the Heat Environments of Tennis Courts

Image Credit: Hiroki Yamaguchi from Doshisha University
License type: CC-BY 4.0