Heat stress and outdoor activities in open spaces of public housing estates in Hong Kong: A perspective of the elderly community

2020 ◽  
pp. 1420326X2095044 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianxiang Huang ◽  
Yang Chen ◽  
Phil Jones ◽  
Tongping Hao
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Heat Stress ◽  
Public Housing ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Universal Thermal Climate Index ◽  
Open Spaces ◽  
Thermal Climate ◽  
Housing Estates

Open spaces in Hong Kong are in short supply and they are often underused due to the adverse climate, especially in hot and humid summer. This is a missed opportunity that can be otherwise realized to promote health and social interactions for local communities. The high density urban environment makes the condition worse by raising the urban heat island effect and leaving planners with fewer mitigation options. This study aims to test the hypotheses that an unfavourable thermal environment disrupts the use of outdoor open spaces; if yes, whether such disruptions differ by age groups. On-site measurement and computer simulations were conducted in three open spaces in public housing estates in Ngau Tau Kok, Hong Kong. Thermal conditions were assessed using the Universal Thermal Climate Index. Occupant activities were recorded, together with a questionnaire survey. Results showed that an open space purposefully designed for breeze and shading was 2.0°C cooler in Universal Thermal Climate Index compared with the other two. It attracted more optional/social activities, higher frequency of visits, and longer duration of stay. The elderly activities were more susceptible to disruptions from heat stress compared with younger groups. Elderly activities largely diminish when ambient thermal environment exceed 39°C in Universal Thermal Climate Index. Findings have implications to design and retrofitting of open spaces in order to maximize their use.

scholarly journals Bioclimatic conditions of Lublin based on the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI)

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 118-127
Author(s):  
Mateusz Dobek ◽  
Sylwester Wereski ◽  
Agnieszka Krzyżewska
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Cold Stress ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Human Organism ◽  
Universal Thermal Climate Index ◽  
Thermal Climate ◽  
Bioclimatic Conditions

AbstractThe objective of this paper is to describe bioclimatic conditions in Lublin and Radawiec in the period 1976–2015 using the UTCI index. The paper shows that in Lublin and Radawiec, the most frequent biometeorological conditions caused no heat stress and were neutral for the human organism. At the analysed stations, biometeorological conditions causing cold stress occurred more frequently than those causing heat stress. Biometeorological conditions in the analysed period were characterised by high year-to-year variability. We observed that in recent years there was an increase in frequency of conditions favouring heat stress and a decrease in conditions favouring cold stress.

scholarly journals The Universal Thermal Climate Index UTCI Compared to Ergonomics Standards for Assessing the Thermal Environment

2013 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter BR^|^Ouml;DE ◽  
Krzysztof BLAZEJCZYK ◽  
Dusan FIALA ◽  
George HAVENITH ◽  
Ingvar HOLM^|^Eacute;R ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Universal Thermal Climate Index ◽  
Thermal Climate

scholarly journals Zagrożenie organizmu człowieka stresem cieplnym występujące w godzinach okołopołudniowych w czasie dni upalnych = Heat-stress threats to the human body around noon on very hot days

2020 ◽  
Vol 92 (3) ◽  
pp. 361-376
Author(s):  
Monika Okoniewska
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Thermal Stress ◽  
Analysis Of Variance ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
The Body ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Universal Thermal Climate Index ◽  
Hot Days ◽  
Thermal Climate ◽  
Severe Heat Stress

This article seeks to analyse the universal thermal climate index (UTCI, °C), in order to characterise hazards associated with high air temperature that may possibly occur in Poland around noon on very hot days. Values for the index (calculated for UTC by reference to air temperature (°C), relative humidity (%), wind speed (v∙ms-1) and cloudiness (%)) related to from the Polish cities of Kołobrzeg, Poznań and Kraków, and to the period 2001–2018. Mean values with standard deviations were calculated, with minimum and maximum values noted, amplitudes, lower and upper quartiles and the skewness coefficient. One-way analysis of variance was deployed to determine whether UTCI values at midday on very hot days differ significantly from month to month. The frequency of occurrence of different intensities of heat stress was also determined. In each case, analysis related to both the overall period and individual years. Hours around noon on very hot days were mainly associated with “moderate” or “severe” heat stress, though instances “very sever heat stress” may also arise. The greatest threat of thermal heat stress could be noted for July and August, with conditions noticeably more severe in Kraków than the other stations studied. Kołobrzeg faced the most-limited hazard associated with the occurrence of heat stress, and only in July may “very severe heat stress” appear there sporadically. In turn, Poznań – located in a region with bioclimatic conditions typical for Poland – was rather characterised by “moderate” or “severe heat stress”. Equally, on a majority of the very hot days studied, all three stations recoded above-average UTCI values, with this fact making it clear that when a high level of thermal stress arises it may be rather a country-wide phenomenon. The most stable, near-average conditions characterised May, while biothermal differentiation peaked in July and August. Analysis of variance showed that, other than in relation to April in Poznań, levels of thermal stress on hot days did not differ significantly from one month to another. Analyses of the variability to values for the multi-year universal thermal climate index revealed an increase over time for maxima, especially in Kraków. This may point to an intensified risk associated with overheating of the body, in the south of Poland in particular. In addition, calculations confirm both spatial and temporal differentiation of biothermal conditions. Years in which hot days proved particularly burdensome were 2005, 2007, 2010 and 2013.

scholarly journals The assessment of human bioclimate of Vranje health resort (Serbia) based on Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) with the focus on extreme biothermal conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-222
Author(s):  
Milica Pecelj ◽  
Anna Błażejczyk ◽  
Nemanja Vagić ◽  
Peca Ivanović
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Thermal Stress ◽  
Cold Stress ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Universal Thermal Climate Index ◽  
Heat And Cold Stress ◽  
Thermal Climate ◽  
Extreme Cold ◽  
Bioclimatic Conditions

The study deals with an assessment and interpretation of the bioclimatic conditions in Vranje (southern Serbia). The study aims at temporal distributions of bioclimatic conditions focussing on extreme thermal stress based on the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). The meteorological data required for the calculation of UTCI concern hourly (7 and 14 CET) weather data collected for the period 2000-2017. The frequency of very strong heat stress (VSHS), very strong cold stress (VSCS) and extreme cold stress (ECS) for both morning and midday hours. Furthermore, the daily difference of the UTCI hourly values (diurnal UTCI change) are specified, giving the daily variance of heat and cold stress. The results revealed the frequency of days in which thermal stress prevails for the studied period. The obtained results show an increase in extreme heat biothermal conditions, while extreme cold biothermal conditions are in decline, especially in the last 10 years. However, the frequency (the number of days) of very strong heat stress (VSHS) increased since 2007. A spectacular increase in heat stress was observed in the month of September, particularly in 2015.

scholarly journals Thermal stress in the northern Carpathians and air circulation

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 147-160
Author(s):  
Błażejczyk Krzysztof ◽  
Nejedlik Pavol ◽  
Skrynyk Oleh ◽  
Halaś Agnieszka ◽  
Skrynyk Olesya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Heat Stress ◽  
Thermal Stress ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Universal Thermal Climate Index ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Thermal Climate ◽  
Air Circulation

AbstractIn mountain areas, air circulation plays a major role in the forming of the climate. This paper examines how it influences thermal stress in the northern Carpathians. The Niedźwiedź’s classification of air circulation was applied. Thermal stress was assessed by Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). Daily meteorological and circulation data for the period 1986–2015 were used for 20 stations in Poland, Slovakia and Ukraine. Air circulation was found to have a significant impact on thermal stress. The highest UTCI values are observed at Ca+Ka (centre of the high and anticyclonic wedge or ridge of high pressure) and the lowest values at N+NE and W+NW circulation; at the Southward stations, UTCI is higher than in the Northward ones; thermoneutral days are more frequent on the southward than on the northward slopes; during N+NE, E+SE and W+NW circulation and for heat stress days, the greatest thermal privilege of the southward slopes is observed at E+SE, S+SW, Ca+Ka and Cc+Bc (centre of low and through of low pressure) types of circulation.

scholarly journals The influence of external environment on workers on scaffolding illustrated by UTCI

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 929-936
Author(s):  
Iwona Szer ◽  
Jacek Szer
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Heat Load ◽  
External Environment ◽  
Hazard Identification ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Universal Thermal Climate Index ◽  
Safety Measures ◽  
Thermal Climate ◽  
Extreme Heat Stress ◽  
Lower Silesia

Abstract The aim of the article was to present the influence of the external environment on people working on scaffolding. For this purpose, the heat load of a man was determined using the universal thermal climate index. The research was carried out on 40 facade scaffolds located in four voivodeships in Poland: Lower Silesia, Lublin, Lodzkie, and Masovian. The conducted analysis showed that employees may experience strong or very strong heat stress, and also extreme heat stress in isolated cases. The highest probability at 0.30 level occurs on scaffolds located in the Lodzkie voivodeship. Environmental conditions are therefore unfavourable for people working outside. This can lead to reduced concentration, longer reaction time, and greater fatigue, contributing to an increase in situations that could lead to accidents. Hazard identification allows to take safety measures that improve the comfort of work on scaffolding.

scholarly journals The stimuli of thermal environment defined according to UTCI in Poland

2021 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-200
Author(s):  
Magdalena Kuchcik ◽  
Krzysztof Błażejczyk ◽  
Agnieszka Halaś
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Stress ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Universal Thermal Climate Index ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
Thermal Climate ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Individual

The assessment of thermal stress stimuli in Poland was based on the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). Daily values of UTCI at 24 stations selected to represent the whole area of Poland at 12:00 UTC were calculated over the period 1951-2018. Various UTCI characteristics, i.e., spatial averages of daily, monthly and annual values, daily spatial contrasts (i.e., the difference between daily highest and lowest UTCI values) were defined in each of 8 bioclimatic regions of Poland. Ten-year trends for UTCI and spatial contrast values were counted and their statistical significance was analysed. A statistically significant increase in UTCI values was found in all the regions of Poland. However, contrasts in thermal stress both for Poland as a whole and in most of the regions decreased significantly, especially in the north-east of Poland, the country’s coldest region. This indicates a reduction in the stimuli of thermal environment in Poland and in most of the individual regions.

scholarly journals Universal thermal climate index associations with mortality, hospital admissions, and road accidents in Bavaria

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0259086
Author(s):  
Wael Ghada ◽  
Nicole Estrella ◽  
Donna P. Ankerst ◽  
Annette Menzel
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Spatial Association ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Federal State ◽  
Road Accidents ◽  
Universal Thermal Climate Index ◽  
Thermal Climate ◽  
External Reasons

When meteorological conditions deviate from the optimal range for human well-being, the risks of illness, injury, and death increase, and such impacts are feared in particular with more frequent and intense extreme weather conditions resulting from climate change. Thermal indices, such as the universal thermal climate index (UTCI), can better assess human weather-related stresses by integrating multiple weather components. This paper quantifies and compares the seasonal and spatial association of UTCI with mortality, morbidity, and road accidents in the federal state of Bavaria, Germany. Linear regression was applied to seasonally associate daily 56 million hospital admissions and 2.5 million death counts (1995–2015) as well as approximately 930,000 road accidents and 1.7 million people injured (2002–2015) with spatially interpolated same day- and lagged- (up to 14 days) average UTCI values. Additional linear regressions were performed stratifying by age, gender, region, and district. UTCI effects were clear in all three health outcomes studied: Increased UTCI resulted in immediate (1–2 days) rises in morbidity and even more strongly in mortality in summer, and lagged (up to 14 days) decreases in fall, winter, and spring. The strongest UTCI effects were found for road accidents where increasing UTCI led to immediate decreases in daily road accidents in winter but pronounced increases in all other seasons. Differences in UTCI effects were observed e.g. between in warmer north-western regions (Franconia, more districts with heat stress-related mortality, but hospital admissions for lung, heart and external reasons decreasing with summer heat stress), the touristic alpine regions in the south (immediate effect of increasing UTCI on road accidents in summer), and the colder south-eastern regions (increasing hospital admissions for lung, heart and external reasons in winter with UTCI). Districts with high percentages of elderly suffered from higher morbidity and mortality, particularly in winter. The influences of UTCI as well as the spatial and temporal patterns of this influence call for improved infrastructure planning and resource allocation in the health sector.

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