The Impact of air temperature and humidity on human thermal comfort in Kirkuk City, Iraq (1990-2020)

Air temperature is the most important climatic element, as it is the main driver of the climatic elements. Temperature plays a prominent role in human life, particularly in relation to physical and psychological health, as well as environmental and climatic changes. High temperatures negatively affect human health, causing many diseases. This study aims to show the extent of the impact of heat and relative humidity on human health and comfort in Kirkuk Province during the period (1990-2020), through the application of Thom's law to measure human comfort. The results of the study showed that residents of Kirkuk Province feel comfortable during the month of March every single year, half of the governorate's population feels comfortable during the months of April, May, September, October, and November, while the governorate's population feels uncomfortable during the months of June, July, and August due to the high temperatures, the study also revealed that high temperatures have psychological effects, including stress, discomfort, poor sleep quality, anxiety, and depression, in addition to physical effects, such as heatstroke, increased vasodilation, skin rashes, and respiratory diseases.