A bioclimatic index of human survival times in the Antarctic

Polar Record ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 23 (147) ◽  
pp. 651-659 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. de Freitas ◽  
L. V. Symon
Keyword(s):  
Core Temperature ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Survival Times ◽  
Climatological Data ◽  
Human Survival ◽  
Winter Conditions ◽  
Normal Core ◽  
Bioclimatic Index ◽  
Extreme Cold ◽  
The Antarctic

AbstractAn index of human ‘survival time outdoors in extreme cold’ (STOEC) has been developed, using body-atmosphere energy budget modelling procedures. The index, which is applicable in places like Antarctica where only limited climatological data are available, is based on the calculated rate of fall of core temperature from 37°C to 27°C of a standard inactive healthy subject in full polar clothing.Applied to data from 12 Antarctic stations it indicates relative severity of their mean and extreme climatic conditions. The severest winter conditions become lifethreatening after only about 20 minutes. At most stations in winter, exposure outdoors for more than two hours would be dangerous. Conditions at all coastal stations in summer are mildenough to allow a normal core temperature to be maintained. The index has many applications, for example estimating likely survival times of immobilized accident victims and guidelines for duration of work periods outside.

Avalanche zoning in alaska, U.S.A.

1980 ◽  
Vol 26 (94) ◽  
pp. 377-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve W. Hackett ◽  
Henry S. Santeford
Keyword(s):  
Land Use Planning ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Snow Avalanche ◽  
Hazard Evaluation ◽  
Terrain Analysis ◽  
Snow Pack ◽  
Climatological Data ◽  
South Central ◽  
Hazard Zoning ◽  
Data Compilation

AbstractOver 30% of Alaska’s 586 400 squares miles (1 518900 km2) is subject to snow-avalanche activity. For a state-wide avalanche hazard evaluation, Alaska has been divided into six major snow— avalanche regions on the basis of topography, climatological data, dominant snow—pack conditions, and typical avalanche activity. They are: Arctic Slope, Brooks Range, Western, Interior, South—central, and South—east.Mountainous terrain was studied at scales of 1 : 250 000 and 1 : 1 584000; final compilation was at a scale of 1 : 2 500 000. Regional snow—pack and climatic conditions were cross—correlated with relief zonation of each avalanche region to produce a map of Alaska's provisional snow—avalanche potential.Most of the mountainous areas in the South—central and South—east regions, because of their northern latitude, closeness to large masses of water, and large orographic and cylonic weather processes, are susceptible to major avalanche activity. For areas near population centers, the potential avalanche terrain has been identified from data on known and suspected avalanche activity through air photographs, terrain analysis, and documented snow—avalanche occurrences compiled at scales of 1 : 250 000 and 1 : 63 360.The state—wide regional data compilation and study are initial steps toward avalanche zoning in Alaska. Local land—use planning and detailed investigations are needed to establish effective natural—hazard zoning in municipal areas as related to snow avalanche activity.

Central vasopressin V1-blockade prevents salicylate but not acetaminophen antipyresis

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 1793-1798 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. F. Wilkinson ◽  
N. W. Kasting
Keyword(s):  
Rat Brain ◽  
Core Temperature ◽  
Mechanism Of Action ◽  
Arginine Vasopressin ◽  
Sodium Salicylate ◽  
Septal Area ◽  
Receptor Blockade ◽  
Drug Induced ◽  
Normal Core ◽  
The Brain

Recent evidence has suggested that the endogenous antipyretic arginine vasopressin (AVP) may participate in drug-induced antipyresis. This study sought to further those investigations by comparing the effects of two other antipyretic drugs, sodium salicylate and acetaminophen, administered intraperitoneally, during AVP V1-receptor blockade within the ventral septal area (VSA) of the rat brain. During endotoxin-evoked fever, V1-receptor blockade within the VSA of the conscious unrestrained rat significantly antagonized the antipyretic effects of salicylate. The effects of the V1-antagonist on salicylate-induced antipyresis were dose related. In contrast, the antipyresis elicited by acetaminophen was unaffected by VSA V1-antagonist pretreatment. Neither saline nor the V1-antagonist microinjected into the VSA of febrile or nonfebrile rats had any significant effects on the normal progression of endotoxin fever or normal core temperature, respectively. These data suggest that the mechanism of action of salicylate-induced antipyresis includes activation of AVP V1-type receptors within the VSA, as has been shown for indomethacin. However, the lack of effect of the V1-antagonist on antipyresis induced by acetaminophen indicates that not all antipyretic drugs act through the same mechanism in the brain.

Changes in haematological parameters during a summer expedition in Antarctica

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-113
Author(s):  
Alena Žákovská ◽  
Olivie Zezulová
Keyword(s):  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Erythrocyte Count ◽  
Haematological Parameters ◽  
P Value ◽  
Research Station ◽  
The Third ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
Sera Samples

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of extreme climatic conditions and a long stay in isolation on levels of three haematological parameters in the polar expedition participants. This article describes changes in erythrocyte count, hemoglobin and transferrin levels measured on the 9th Czech Antarctic Scientific Expedition during the period of the Antarctic summer. A total of 15 sera samples were collected shortly before the expedition, the second sampling was performed halfway through the stay and the third at the very end of the expedition stationed at the Czech Research Station of J. G. Mendel. The erythrocyte count and the levels of transferrin were significantly increased in between all three sample collections (with p-value < 0.01). A statistically significant increase in hemoglobin levels was only detected between the first and the final sampling (p

scholarly journals Winter Conditions Correlate with Phytophthora alni Subspecies Distribution in Southern Sweden

2015 ◽  
Vol 105 (9) ◽  
pp. 1191-1197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel A. Redondo ◽  
Johanna Boberg ◽  
Christer H. B. Olsson ◽  
Jonàs Oliva
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Alnus Glutinosa ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Southern Sweden ◽  
Black Alder ◽  
Forest Pathogen ◽  
Winter Conditions ◽  
Winter Temperatures ◽  
Major River ◽  
Highly Correlated

During the last century, the number of forest pathogen invasions has increased substantially. Environmental variables can play a crucial role in determining the establishment of invasive species. The objective of the present work was to determine the correlation between winter climatic conditions and distribution of two subspecies of the invasive forest pathogen Phytophthora alni: P. alni subspp. alni and uniformis killing black alder (Alnus glutinosa) in southern Sweden. It is known from laboratory experiments that P. alni subsp. alni is more pathogenic than P. alni subsp. uniformis, and that P. alni subsp. alni is sensitive to low temperatures and long frost periods. By studying the distribution of these two subspecies at the northern limit of the host species, we could investigate whether winter conditions can affect the geographical distribution of P. alni subsp. alni spreading northward. Sixteen major river systems of southern Sweden were systematically surveyed and isolations were performed from active cankers. The distribution of the two studied subspecies was highly correlated with winter temperature and duration of periods with heavy frost. While P. alni subsp. uniformis covered the whole range of temperatures of the host, P. alni subsp. alni was recovered in areas subjected to milder winter temperatures and shorter frost periods. Our observations suggest that winter conditions can play an important role in limiting P. alni subsp. alni establishment in cold locations, thus affecting the distribution of the different subspecies of P. alni in boreal regions.

Wastage of the Klutlan Ice-Cored Moraines, Yukon Territory, Canada

1980 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fletcher G. Driscoll
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Lake Water ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Sediment Concentration ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Yukon Territory ◽  
Climatic Parameters ◽  
Geothermal Heat ◽  
Climatological Data

AbstractA series of ice-cored Neoglacial moraines at the terminus of the Klutlan Glacier covers an area of 90 km2. Studies were made to determine empirically how long ice persisted in the Klutlan moraines and to develop models that can accurately predict wastage rates under current climatic conditions. A meltout curve based on climatological data reflects the sum of three melting processes: surficial melting, melting by lake water, and melting by geothermal heat. About 950 yr are required to melt 180 m of ice with a debris concentration of 1%, or about 1200 yr for a 1.5% debris load. Another meltout curve, based on seismic data, suggests total meltout in about 875 yr. When all geologic factors are considered, the empirical meltout curve is remarkably similar to that derived by considering the major heat-flux parameters. Meltout rates can be predicted if (1) the fundamental climatic parameters can be ascertained, and (2) the sediment concentration in the ice is known.

scholarly journals Prehistory of the British Isles: A Tale of Coming and Going

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
I. De Groote ◽  
M. Lewis ◽  
C. Stringer
Keyword(s):  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
British Isles ◽  
Extreme Cold ◽  
Time Periods ◽  
Geographically Isolated

It is now recognised that Britain has not always been geographically isolated from Europe and, for most of the last one million years, formed an extension of the northwest European landmass. During most of this time, Britain was accessible to migrating humans and animals, although climatic conditions varied greatly from Mediterranean-like through to glaciations and extreme cold, making Britain a difficult place to settle for any length of time. The oldest evidence for humans in Britain dates to between about 850,000 and 1 million years ago. Recovered lithic artefacts suggest that hominin species occupied and deserted the British Isles at least nine times. This article reviews the prehistory of the British Isles and presents the main sites and time periods.

scholarly journals Ethnobotanical Uses of Wild Edible Fruits of Vitaceae in Kerala

2020 ◽  
pp. 72-76
Author(s):  
Rani Joseph
Keyword(s):  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Human Interaction ◽  
Wild Edible Plants ◽  
Edible Plants ◽  
Human Welfare ◽  
Human Survival ◽  
Wild Fruits ◽  
Wild Edible Fruits ◽  
Ethnobotanical Uses

Fruit is a ripened ovary usually developed as a result of flower being pollinated. Plants are cultivated as well as wild, mainly cultivated fruits are grown by farmers for economical value while utility of wild fruits are occurring only in their natural habitat. As population increases the areas of plantation and forest used for human welfare, so wild edible plants lost their identity and decrease in their number. The objective of the study is to analyse ethnobotanically important edible fruits of Vitaceae in Kerala. Wild fruiting plants are major in numbers in Kerala which are not affected by human interaction due to their difficult geographic and climatic conditions which is not suitable for human survival. Vitaceae family includes 5 genus belonging to Kerala that are ethnobotanically very significant and edible.

scholarly journals Climatic indices in viticulture

2020 ◽  
pp. 26-28
Author(s):  
Евгений Александрович Рыбалко
Keyword(s):  
Drought Index ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
International Organization ◽  
Growing Period ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Joint Influence ◽  
Bioclimatic Index ◽  
Method Of Assessment ◽  
Cool Night

В статье рассмотрен вопрос важности анализа климатических условий местности при закладке виноградников. Дан обзор различных подходов к количественной оценке параметров климата. Освещена необходимость расчётов не только отдельных показателей температуры, влажности, освещённости, но и применения комплексных индексов, отражающих совместное влияние климатических факторов на процессы роста и развития виноградного растения. Приведены как традиционные, широко известные (сумма активных и эффективных температур воздуха, гидротермический коэффициент Селянинова), так и редко применяемые индексы (гелиотермический индекс Branas G., биоклиматический индекс Constantinescu Gh.). Рассмотрена методика оценки климатических ресурсов применительно к винограду, предложенная Международной организацией винограда и вина, согласно которой рекомендовано использовать такие показатели как средняя температура вегетационного периода, индекс Уинклера (Winkler Index), биологически эффективная сумма температур, индекс Хьюглина (Huglin Heliothermal Index), индекс холодных ночей (Cool Night Index), индекс Фрегони (Fregoni Index), индекс сухости (Drought index). Приведены формулы для расчёта величины рассматриваемых индексов. Выделены наиболее часто применяемые индексы из перечня, рекомендованного Международной организацией винограда и вина. The article deals with the importance of the analysis of climatic conditions of the area for planting of the vineyards. Various approaches to the quantitative assessment of climate parameters are reviewed. The necessity of calculations of not only separate indicators of temperature, humidity, light intensity, but also of the application of complex indices reflecting joint influence of climatic factors on the processes of growth and development of grapes is highlighted. Both traditional, well-known (sum of active and effective air temperatures, hydrothermal coefficient of Selyaninov) and rarely used indices (solar thermal index of Branas G., bioclimatic index of Constantinescu Gh.) are given. The method of assessment of climatic resources in relation to grapes, proposed by the International Organization of Vine and Wine, according to which it is recommended to use such indicators as the average temperature of the growing period, the Winkler Index, biologically effective amount of temperature, the Huglin Heliothermal Index, the Cool Night Index, the Fregoni Index, the Drought index. The formulas for calculating the value of the considered indices are given. The most frequently used indices from the list recommended by the International Organization of Vine and Wine are highlighted.

scholarly journals Formation and disintegration of the Antarctic ice sheet

1994 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 336-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Huybrechts
Keyword(s):  
Temperature Rise ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Antarctic Ice Sheet ◽  
West Antarctic Ice Sheet ◽  
West Antarctic ◽  
Late Neogene ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
East Antarctic Ice Sheet

A model of the Antarctic ice sheet has been used to simulate the ice sheet in warmer climates, in order to investigate what kind of ice-sheet geometries one can reasonably expect under what kind of climatic conditions and to discover which physical mechanisms may be involved to explain them. The results of these experiments reveal the considerable stability of; in particular, the East Antarctic ice sheet. It would require a temperature rise of between 17 and 20 K above present levels to remove this ice sheet from the subglacial basins in the interior of the continent and of 25 K to melt down the Antarctic ice sheet completely. For a temperature rise below 5 K, the model actually predicts a larger Antarctic ice sheet than today as a result of increased snowfall, whereas the west Antarctic ice sheet was round not to survive temperatures more than 8–10 K above present values. Furthermore, basal temperature conditions in these experiments point to the problems involved in raising the base of the ice sheet to the pressure-melting point over the large areas necessary to consider the possibility of sliding instability. These results bear on a lively debate regarding the late Cenozoic glacial history of Antarctica. Particularly, based on these findings, it is difficult to reconcile a highly variable East Antarctic ice sheet until the Pliocene with modest warming recorded in, for instance, the deep-sea records for the late Neogene.

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