Needle longevity as a criterion of response to a climatic fluctuation (so called heat wave) in Scots pine populations at early phases of ontogeny

The paper presents results of an assessment of needle age classes in Scots pine partial populations in the period of three and five years after outplanting in a lowland site in relation to conditions created by climatic elements. The method is based on Skuhravý’s (1987) description when the state of needle age classes of the third whorl (from the apex) is evaluated just once. Five-year summary of meteorological data was assessed according to the criteria of determination of periods of heat waves and dry spells. Differences in numbers of living needle age classes in the groups of Scots pine populations in the period of three and five years after their outplanting in permanent lowland sites proved the highest total number of living needle classes in the group of local lowland populations. On the contrary, the lowest total number of living needle classes was found out in the group of mountain populations. Critical climatic periods are overlaps of heat waves and dry spells that illustrate the complexity of moisture and temperature conditions of lowland sites. Although the Scots pine is a xerophytic species, it responded to the cumulation of adverse factors by accelerated needle senescence. Its physiological response to heat and dry stress consists in needle shedding, i.e. reduction in the assimilating area. As mountain populations are not usually exposed to heat waves, the impact of this phenomenon on them was the highest. On the other hand, the local (lowland) populations carrying information on the patterns of local climate from the reproduction period do not undergo any marked reduction in needle age classes.  

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Needle longevity of Scots pine in relation to foliar nitrogen content, specific leaf area, and shoot growth in different forest types

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x02-044 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 32 (7) ◽

pp. 1225-1231 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Margus Pensa ◽

Arne Sellin

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Content ◽

Leaf Area ◽

Scots Pine ◽

Specific Leaf Area ◽

Specific Pattern ◽

Small Scale ◽

Forest Types ◽

Needle Age ◽

Needle Longevity ◽

Length Increment

The aim of the study was to examine whether the variation in needle longevity of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is of a community-specific nature. Altogether 300 trees were examined in Vaccinium, dry heath, and pine bog forests in Estonia. Mean number of needle age-classes was 4.1 for all forest types, while mean survivorship of needles averaged 70% in Vaccinium forests and 80% in the others (p < 0.01). Mean mass-based nitrogen content (Nm) of the needles was the highest in Vaccinium forests (11.8 mg·g1, p < 0.05) and lower in dry heath (10.4 mg·g1) and pine bog (9.8 mg·g1) forests. Specific leaf area (SLA) did not differ between Vaccinium (6.3 mm2·mg1) and dry heath (6.0 mm2·mg1) forests but was lower in pine bog forests (5.5 mm2·mg1, p < 0.05). Shoot length increment was the smallest in pine bog forests (45.1 mm·year1, p < 0.05) and did not differ between Vaccinium (92.2 mm·year1) and dry heath (95.2 mm·year1) forests. Our findings confirm that the small-scale variation in needle longevity of Scots pine has a community-specific pattern and is in accordance with the trends in Nm and SLA.

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Scots pine needle longevity and gradation of needle shedding along pollution gradients

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x00-161 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 31 (2) ◽

pp. 261-267 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Jukka Lamppu ◽

Satu Huttunen

Keyword(s):

Scots Pine ◽

Age Structure ◽

Time Span ◽

Marked Variation ◽

Pine Needle ◽

Pollution Gradient ◽

Needle Age ◽

Vegetation Zones ◽

Adult Trees ◽

Needle Longevity

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) needle longevity and gradation of needle shedding (the time span with 9010% needle survival) in the middle and northern boreal vegetation zones were studied. The duration of the first half of gradual shedding (the time span with 9050% needle survival) was of special interest, because it represents the number of youngest cohorts that have lost needle biomass. Branches of adult trees along transects with an air pollution gradient were sampled. Mean longevity (the sum of survival proportions) decreased 1540% as pollution sources were approached. To rank or compare the values of a single needle age parameter, we prefer to use mean longevity. It gives an estimate of the whole needle biomass, and it was the parameter with the least variation. The first half of gradual shedding proved to be a valid indicator of changes in needle age structure. The most marked variation in needle age structure was seen in slightly polluted areas, which continued to pose a risk of acute pollution injuries. This study confirmed the feasibility of the needle age structure of branch samples as an objective and reliable vitality indicator for Scots pine.

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Variation in Scots pine needle longevity and nutrient conservation in different habitats and latitudes

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x07-012 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 37 (9) ◽

pp. 1599-1604 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Margus Pensa ◽

Risto Jalkanen ◽

Valdo Liblik

Keyword(s):

Scots Pine ◽

Nutrient Concentration ◽

Shoot Growth ◽

Shoot Length ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Species Variation ◽

Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽

Needle Age ◽

Needle Longevity ◽

Nutrient Conservation

Within-species variation in needle traits is an important characteristic of conifers enabling trees to grow in different environments. We compared mean needle age (NA), shoot growth, and nutrient conservation in Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) populations in different habitats and latitudes (peatlands and Vaccinium -type stands in Estonia (59°N) and Lapland (66°30′N)). In Vaccinium-type stands, trees with higher NA (mostly in Lapland) had lower shoot length increment and lower concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus in current-year needles than trees with low NA (mostly in Estonia). However, in peatlands, variation in NA (which was as high as in the Vaccinium-type stands) was weakly or insignificantly related to shoot growth and needle nutrient concentration. Within latitudes, pines with different shoot length increments and needle nutrient concentrations tend to have similar NAs. Resorption efficiency and concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus in senescent needles decreased with the initial concentrations of these nutrients in green needles. Our results demonstrate that slow growth and low needle nutrient concentration are not necessarily followed by higher NA and greater nutrient conservation in Scots pine. This is the opposite of the results often obtained in among-species comparisons or within species along latitudinal and altitudinal gradients.

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Scots pine needles as bioindicators of sulphur deposition

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x95-170 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 25 (10) ◽

pp. 1559-1569 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Sirkku Manninen ◽

Satu Huttunen

Keyword(s):

Scots Pine ◽

Air Pollutants ◽

Oil Refinery ◽

Age Classes ◽

Short Term ◽

United Nations Economic Commission ◽

Sulphur Deposition ◽

Needle Age ◽

Economic Commission ◽

Surface Waxes

The ranges of total S content in the two youngest needle age-classes of Scots pine (Pinussylvestris L.) in the vicinity of an oil refinery were 1120–2267 μg•g−1 in December 1980, 902–2003 μg•g−1 in January 1986, and 1120–1820 μg•g−1 in December 1989, and annual mean SO2 concentrations were 20–68, 14–34, and 2–32 μg•m−3, respectively. A statistically significant correlation (p < 0.001) was found between needle total S content and the estimated SO2 load, i.e., the total monthly mean SO2 concentrations (r = 0.815) and the highest or second highest daily SO2 concentrations of each month (r = 0.910 or 0.849). It seems that, under conditions of SO2 pollution stress, the needle S content is greatly affected by the high short-term (24 h) SO2 concentrations and newly flushed young needles may absorb S very effectively. The erosion of needle surface waxes typical of areas polluted by SO2 and particle emissions was observed. The results indicate that in areas where the climate is similar to that in southern Finland, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe draft critical levels of 70 μg SO2•m−3 as a daily mean and 20 μg SO2•m−3 as an annual and winter mean, especially in combination with other air pollutants, may result in enhanced S accumulation and needle damage.

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A Quantitative Morphological Method for Mapping Local Climate Types

Urban Planning ◽

10.17645/up.v6i3.4223 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 240-257 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Daniela Maiullari ◽

Marjolein Pijpers-van Esch ◽

Arjan Van Timmeren

Keyword(s):

Urban Form ◽

Large Scale ◽

Heat Waves ◽

Urban Climate ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Urban Morphology ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

Local Climate ◽

Analytical Tools ◽

The Impact

Morphological characteristics of cities significantly influence urban heat island intensities and thermal responses to heat waves. Form attributes such as density, compactness, and vegetation cover are commonly used to analyse the impact of urban morphology on overheating processes. However, the use of abstract large-scale classifications hinders a full understanding of the thermal trade-off between single buildings and their immediate surrounding microclimate. Without analytical tools able to capture the complexity of cities with a high resolution, the microspatial dimension of urban climate phenomena cannot be properly addressed. Therefore, this study develops a new method for numerical identification of types, based on geometrical characteristics of buildings and climate-related form attributes of their surroundings in a 25m and 50m radius. The method, applied to the city of Rotterdam, combines quantitative descriptors of urban form, mapping GIS procedures, and clustering techniques. The resulting typo-morphological classification is assessed by modelling temperature, wind, and humidity during a hot summer period, in ENVI-met. Significant correlations are found between the morphotypes’ characteristics and local climate phenomena, highlighting the differences in performative potential between the classified urban patterns. The study suggests that the method can be used to provide insight into the systemic relations between buildings, their context, and the risk of overheating in different urban settings. Finally, the study highlights the relevance of advanced mapping and modelling tools to inform spatial planning and mitigation strategies to reduce the risk of urban overheating.

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The impact of the building envelope with the green living systems on the built environment

Thermal Science ◽

10.2298/tsci170531225d ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 22 (Suppl. 4) ◽

pp. 1033-1045

Author(s):

Predrag Zivkovic ◽

Dragana Dimitrijevic-Jovanovic ◽

Zana Stevanovic

Keyword(s):

Energy Consumption ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Heat Waves ◽

Urban Ecosystems ◽

Green Roofs ◽

Building Envelope ◽

Living Systems ◽

Local Climate ◽

Run Off ◽

The Impact

Altering the surface cover of an area causes the change in the environment. By erecting buildings change in the flow of energy and matter through the urban ecosystems occurs creating multiple environmental problems. Built areas exert considerable influence over their local climate, amplifying problems such as heat waves, air pollution, and flooding. Greening the building envelope these problems can be partially mitigated. By combining nature and built areas in their designs, architects and urban planners can respond to these serious human health and welfare issues and restore the environmental quality of dense urban areas. Green living systems are not the only solution for new designs. Retrofitting existing buildings by altering the buildings' surficial properties can reduce buildings' energy consumption in case of older buildings with poor existing insulation. Implementation of green living systems in the building envelope, greening horizontal surfaces with intensive and extensive green roofs or using vegetation in vertical greening systems for fa?ades, is a strategy that provides ecological, economic, and social benefits. This review paper presents collected evidence of effects and explores the important role that the green living systems can play in the dense urban areas. Benefits such as heat island amelioration, reduction of buildings energy consumption, air quality and indoor and outdoor comfort conditions improvement, stormwater management and improved water run-off quality, will be mainly considered.

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The Impact of Heat Waves on Mortality in Nanjing Area from 2004 to 2010

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.726-731.931 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 726-731 ◽

pp. 931-935

Author(s):

Yuan Shu Jing ◽

Di Zhang ◽

Min Fei Yan ◽

Jian Guo Tan

Keyword(s):

Heat Wave ◽

Excess Mortality ◽

Heat Waves ◽

Residual Disease ◽

Meteorological Data ◽

Age Groups ◽

Maximum Temperature ◽

Mortality Data ◽

Average Maximum ◽

The Impact

This paper analyzed the excess mortality change in nine districts of Nanjing city, based on mortality data and meteorological data from 2004 to 2010. Taken a typical heat waves process in summer of 2006 as an example, it was discussed of the effect of the heat process on different gender, different age groups , and various disease death toll and excess mortality changes. The excess mortality was associated with the average maximum temperature and average minimum temperature during the heat waves. Excess mortality occurred in the middle of June heat wave when excess mortality was much higher than in other time periods. In late June, early July to early August, the excess mortality is relatively small. The average daily deaths are increasing with increasing age for male and female, and every age death numbers is higher than that with no heat waves during the heat wave period. In addition to the respiratory system diseases, diseases of the genitourinary system, other diseases, residual disease in the heat waves has increased, and diseases of the nervous system and the endocrine system diseases of excess mortality rate reached a staggering 342.93% and 119.63%, accounting for almost half of the total heat excess mortality. The heat waves effect is very obvious. The conclusion is of great significance for prevention of high temperature heat harm.

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The Impact of Heat Waves on Agricultural Labor Productivity and Output

Extreme Events and Climate Change ◽

10.1002/9781119413738.ch2 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 11-20

Author(s):

Federico Castillo ◽

Armando Sánchez Vargas ◽

J. K. Gilless ◽

Michael Wehner

Keyword(s):

Labor Productivity ◽

Heat Waves ◽

Agricultural Labor ◽

Agricultural Labor Productivity ◽

The Impact

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Urban Heat Islands and Thermal Comfort: A Case Study of Zorrotzaurre Island in Bilbao

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13116106 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 6106

Author(s):

Irantzu Alvarez ◽

Laura Quesada-Ganuza ◽

Estibaliz Briz ◽

Leire Garmendia

Keyword(s):

Thermal Comfort ◽

Heat Waves ◽

Urban Environments ◽

Urban Heat Islands ◽

Extreme Weather Events ◽

Climate Index ◽

Physiological Equivalent Temperature ◽

Heat Islands ◽

The North ◽

The Impact

This study assesses the impact of a heat wave on the thermal comfort of an unconstructed area: the North Zone of the Island of Zorrotzaurre (Bilbao, Spain). In this study, the impact of urban planning as proposed in the master plan on thermal comfort is modeled using the ENVI-met program. Likewise, the question of whether the urbanistic proposals are designed to create more resilient urban environments is analyzed in the face of increasingly frequent extreme weather events, especially heat waves. The study is centered on the analysis of temperature variables (air temperature and average radiant temperature) as well as wind speed and relative humidity. This was completed with the parameters of thermal comfort, the physiological equivalent temperature (PET) and the Universal Temperature Climate Index (UTCI) for the hours of the maximum and minimum daily temperatures. The results demonstrated the viability of analyzing thermal comfort through simulations with the ENVI-met program in order to analyze the behavior of urban spaces in various climate scenarios.

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