scholarly journals The effect of sub-climatic characteristics on urban behavior patterns based on two case studies: Yazd (hot and arid climate) and Fooman (moderate and humid climate) urban spaces

Author(s):  
Sara Ahmadi ◽  
Hossein Bahrainy

Abstract Severe climatic conditions are considered as one of the main factors shaping and in some cases limiting urban behaviors. Accordingly, environmental designers seek to make urban spaces usable for a wide range of behaviors during different times by bringing sub-climates closer to the comfort zone. The present study aims to evaluate the effects of sub-climate on behavioral patterns and explore solutions to moderate harsh climatic conditions in architecture and urban planning. This study compared the behavioral patterns of space users in hot and arid (Yazd) and moderate and humid (Fooman) climates. The recording of behavioral patterns was achieved by using the observation method (time-lapse photography) and analysis through the spatial analysis method. Based on the results, climatic characteristics affect both types of urban activities and the time cycles of their occurrence. Severe climatic conditions limit urban behaviors to essential activities and merely transcend space. Such states do not allow for a wide range of optional and social activities. Spatial physical tools such as building density, enclosure, occupancy level, amount of retreat on the ground floor and upper floors, type of building material, and the amount of green space have been used in historical formal-spatial patterns of Iran to moderate the harsh climatic conditions.

2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 146 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Sangkertadi ◽  
Reny Syafriny

This article is about development a regression equation to determine the perception of thermal comfort for pedestrians in the humid tropical climate. Methods used was field studies and questionnaires to 60 samples as respondents in Manado. Each of the respondents was asked to act as pedestrian but walked on a treadmill for 2 minutes 5 five times. They regrouped into two parts, one who walked under open-sky and another group was under the shade of trees. Measurements of climate variables include air temperature, air humidity, radiation temperature, land surface temperature and solar radiation. Measurements to the respondents were their height, weight and skin temperature. By using statistical approach it is obtained a regression equation "Y=- 6.1369 + 0.479 Adu + 0.1143 Ta + 0.0376 Trm + 0.2541 RH + 1.6793 clo". The equation was then validated by comparison with other equations of non-tropical humid climate case. It is found that the empirical regression equations of outdoor thermal comfort developed by means of field studies in a certain climatic conditions could not be applied for a wide range of climate.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Yan ◽  
Chun-lian Wang ◽  
Steffen Mischke ◽  
Jiu-yi Wang ◽  
Li-jian Shen ◽  
...  

AbstractMajor, trace and rare earth element (REE) geochemistry of the late Cretaceous lower Zhoutian Formation from the Jitai Basin of Southeast China were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis to infer the provenance of the sediments and to reconstruct the palaeoenvironment and palaeoclimate. The wide range of Sr/Cu ratios point to a fluctuating palaeoclimate, and the negative correlation between the FeO/MnO and Al2O3/MgO ratios and the Sr/Cu ratio indicates that the late Cretaceous climate during the lower Zhoutian Formation in the Jitai Basin can be divided into two parts. The lower part experienced two cooling periods, whilst the upper part was dominated by warm-humid climate. Mostly corresponding trends of the B/Ga, Sr/Ba and Sr/Cu ratios show that the salinity changed consistently with the late Cretaceous climate during the lower Zhoutian Formation in the Jitai Basin. During the lower part, the salinity changed from salt water to fresh/brackish water. In the upper part, water was mainly fresh/brackish, and there were many changes from fresh/brackish water to salt water. The relatively stable Ni/Co, V/Cr, V/(V + Ni) and Ce/Ce* data indicate a long period of oxic conditions. The La-Th-Sc, Th-Sc-Zr/10 and La/Th-Hf data of the silt- and sandstones of the lower Zhoutian Formation show that its provenance was mainly a mixture of felsic upper crust sediments and older sedimentary rocks.


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 209
Author(s):  
Luiza Tymińska-Czabańska ◽  
Jarosław Socha ◽  
Marek Maj ◽  
Dominika Cywicka ◽  
Xo Viet Hoang Duong

Site productivity provides critical information for forest management practices and is a fundamental measure in forestry. It is determined using site index (SI) models, which are developed using two primary groups of methods, namely, phytocentric (plant-based) or geocentric (earth-based). Geocentric methods allow for direct site growth modelling, in which the SI is predicted using multiple environmental indicators. However, changes in non-static site factors—particularly nitrogen deposition and rising CO2 concentration—lead to an increase in site productivity, which may be visible as an age trend in the SI. In this study, we developed a geocentric SI model for oak. For the development of the SI model, we used data from 150 sample plots, representing a wide range of local topographic and site conditions. A generalized additive model was used to model site productivity. We found that the oak SI depended predominantly on physicochemical soil properties—mainly nitrogen, carbon, sand, and clay content. Additionally, the oak SI value was found to be slightly shaped by the topography, especially by altitude above sea level, and topographic position. We also detected a significant relationship between the SI and the age of oak stands, indicating the long-term increasing site productivity for oak, most likely caused by nitrogen deposition and changes in climatic conditions. The developed geocentric site productivity model for oak explained 77.2% of the SI variation.


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 931
Author(s):  
Mona Giraud ◽  
Jannis Groh ◽  
Horst H. Gerke ◽  
Nicolas Brüggemann ◽  
Harry Vereecken ◽  
...  

Grasslands are one of the most common biomes in the world with a wide range of ecosystem services. Nevertheless, quantitative data on the change in nitrogen dynamics in extensively managed temperate grasslands caused by a shift from energy- to water-limited climatic conditions have not yet been reported. In this study, we experimentally studied this shift by translocating undisturbed soil monoliths from an energy-limited site (Rollesbroich) to a water-limited site (Selhausen). The soil monoliths were contained in weighable lysimeters and monitored for their water and nitrogen balance in the period between 2012 and 2018. At the water-limited site (Selhausen), annual plant nitrogen uptake decreased due to water stress compared to the energy-limited site (Rollesbroich), while nitrogen uptake was higher at the beginning of the growing period. Possibly because of this lower plant uptake, the lysimeters at the water-limited site showed an increased inorganic nitrogen concentration in the soil solution, indicating a higher net mineralization rate. The N2O gas emissions and nitrogen leaching remained low at both sites. Our findings suggest that in the short term, fertilizer should consequently be applied early in the growing period to increase nitrogen uptake and decrease nitrogen losses. Moreover, a shift from energy-limited to water-limited conditions will have a limited effect on gaseous nitrogen emissions and nitrate concentrations in the groundwater in the grassland type of this study because higher nitrogen concentrations are (over-) compensated by lower leaching rates.


2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellis Q. Margolis

Piñon–juniper (PJ) fire regimes are generally characterised as infrequent high-severity. However, PJ ecosystems vary across a large geographic and bio-climatic range and little is known about one of the principal PJ functional types, PJ savannas. It is logical that (1) grass in PJ savannas could support frequent, low-severity fire and (2) exclusion of frequent fire could explain increased tree density in PJ savannas. To assess these hypotheses I used dendroecological methods to reconstruct fire history and forest structure in a PJ-dominated savanna. Evidence of high-severity fire was not observed. From 112 fire-scarred trees I reconstructed 87 fire years (1547–1899). Mean fire interval was 7.8 years for fires recorded at ≥2 sites. Tree establishment was negatively correlated with fire frequency (r=–0.74) and peak PJ establishment was synchronous with dry (unfavourable) conditions and a regime shift (decline) in fire frequency in the late 1800s. The collapse of the grass-fuelled, frequent, surface fire regime in this PJ savanna was likely the primary driver of current high tree density (mean=881treesha–1) that is >600% of the historical estimate. Variability in bio-climatic conditions likely drive variability in fire regimes across the wide range of PJ ecosystems.


2016 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 726-740 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniele Masseroni ◽  
Alessio Cislaghi ◽  
Stefania Camici ◽  
Christian Massari ◽  
Luca Brocca

Many rainfall–runoff (RR) models are available in the scientific literature. Selecting the best structure and parameterization for a model is not straightforward and depends on a broad number of factors, including climatic conditions, catchment characteristics, temporal/spatial resolution and model objectives. In this study, the RR model ‘Modello Idrologico Semi-Distribuito in continuo’ (MISDc), mainly developed for flood simulation in Mediterranean basins, was tested on the Seveso basin, which is stressed several times a year by flooding events mainly caused by excessive urbanization. The work summarizes a compendium of the MISDc applications over a wide range of catchments in European countries and then it analyses the performances over the Seveso basin. The results show a good fit behaviour during both the calibration and the validation periods with a Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient index larger than 0.9. Moreover, the median volume and peak discharge errors calculated on several flood events were less than 25%. In conclusion, we can be assured that the reliability and computational speed could make the MISDc model suitable for flood estimation in many catchments of different geographical contexts and land use characteristics. Moreover, MISDc will also be useful for future support of real-time decision-making for flood risk management in the Seveso basin.


2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 109-126
Author(s):  
Laurent Poget ◽  
Catherine Goujon ◽  
Samuel Kleinhans ◽  
Serge Maeder ◽  
Jean-Pierre Schaller

Summary In order to assess robustness for the reduction of harmful and potentially harmful constituent (HPHC) levels generated by the Tobacco Heating System 2.2 (THS 2.2), a heated tobacco product, we compared the aerosol of this product with mainstream smoke from the 3R4F reference cigarette under different conditions of temperature and humidity. The desired climatic conditions were achieved by using an air-conditioning system coupled with the smoking-machine housing. Two extreme climatic conditions were selected, representing a “Hot and Dry” climate (30 °C and 35% relative humidity RH) and a “Hot and Very Humid” climate (30 °C and 75% RH). In addition, aerosol and smoke were generated using the standard conditions recognized for smoking-machine analyses of tobacco products (22 °C and 60% RH), which were close to the climatic conditions defined for “Subtropical and Mediterranean” environments (25 °C and 60% RH). The experimental conditions were chosen to simulate the use of THS 2.2 and cigarettes under extreme conditions of temperature and humidity. HeatSticks and cigarettes taken from freshly opened packs were subjected to short-term conditioning from two to a few more days under the same experimental conditions. We analyzed 54 HPHCs in THS 2.2 aerosol and 3R4F cigarette smoke, generated in accordance with the Health Canada Intense (HCI) standard, using modified temperature and humidity conditions for sample conditioning and machine-smoking experiments. We used a volume-adjusted approach for comparing HPHC reductions across the different climatic conditions investigated. Although a single puffing regimen was used, the total puff volume recorded for the 3R4F cigarette smoke varied due to the influence of temperature and humidity on combustion rate, which justified the use of a volume-adjusted approach. Volume-adjusted yields were derived from HPHC yields expressed in mass-per-tobacco stick normalized per total puff volume. The results indicated that, regardless of the considered climatic conditions, the HPHC levels investigated in THS 2.2 aerosol were reduced by at least 90%, on average, when compared with the concentrations in 3R4F cigarette mainstream smoke. This confirmed the robustness in performance for THS 2.2 to deliver reduced levels of HPHCs under the extreme climatic conditions investigated in this study. In order to further characterize the robustness of these reductions, the lowest reduction performance achieved for individual HPHCs across all climatic conditions was used to define the threshold for a robust reduction. The majority of the 54 HPHCs investigated in THS 2.2 aerosol showed more than 90% reduction. Calculations derived from nicotine-adjusted yields also confirmed robust reductions for all investigated HPHCs. The small differences in absolute reduction between the volume- and nicotine-adjusted approaches were predominantly attributed to a combination of the differences in both nominal nicotine deliveries and total puff volumes between THS 2.2 and 3R4F cigarettes; however, this did not influence the determination of robustness. Our findings confirm the value of this approach for assessing the robustness of a product’s performance under different climatic conditions.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Collin B. Edwards ◽  
Louie Yang

AbstractSeveral studies have documented a global pattern of phenological advancement that is consistent with ongoing climate change. However, the magnitude of these phenological shifts is highly variable across taxa and locations. This variability of phenological responses has been difficult to explain mechanistically. To examine how the evolution of multi-trait cueing strategies could produce variable responses to climate change, we constructed a model in which organisms evolve strategies that integrate multiple environmental cues to inform anticipatory phenological decisions. We simulated the evolution of phenological cueing strategies in multiple environments, using historic climate data from 78 locations in North America and Hawaii to capture features of climatic correlation structures in the real world. Organisms in our model evolved diverse strategies that were spatially autocorrelated across locations on a continental scale, showing that similar strategies tend to evolve in similar climates. Within locations, organisms often evolved a wide range of strategies that showed similar response phenotypes and fitness outcomes under historical conditions. However, these strategies responded differently to novel climatic conditions, with variable fitness consequences. Our model shows how the evolution of phenological cueing strategies can explain observed variation in phenological shifts and unexpected responses to climate change.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 180211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Thorpe ◽  
Todd R. Lewis ◽  
Matthew C. Fisher ◽  
Claudia J. Wierzbicki ◽  
Siddharth Kulkarni ◽  
...  

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis ( Bd ) is a pathogen killing amphibians worldwide. Its impact across much of Asia is poorly characterized. This study systematically surveyed amphibians for Bd across rocky plateaus in the northern section of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, India, including the first surveys of the plateaus in the coastal region. These ecosystems offer an epidemiological model system since they are characterized by differing levels of connectivity, edaphic and climatic conditions, and anthropogenic stressors. One hundred and eighteen individuals of 21 species of Anura and Apoda on 13 plateaus ranging from 67 to 1179 m above sea level and 15.89 to 17.92° North latitude were sampled. Using qPCR protocols, 79% of species and 27% of individuals tested were positive for Bd . This is the first record of Bd in caecilians in India, the Critically Endangered Xanthophryne tigerina and Endangered Fejervarya cf. sahyadris . Mean site prevalence was 28.15%. Prevalence below the escarpment was 31.2% and 25.4% above. The intensity of infection (GE) showed the reverse pattern. Infection may be related to elevational temperature changes, thermal exclusion, inter-site connectivity and anthropogenic disturbance. Coastal plateaus may be thermal refuges from Bd . Infected amphibians represented a wide range of ecological traits posing interesting questions about transmission routes.


Vestnik ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 252-255
Author(s):  
Д.К. Айдарбаев ◽  
А.Ж. Жарқынбек

В статье рассматриваются биологические и экологические особенности цистанхе, а также предусматривается этноботанические исследования, рекомендации по рациональному использованию. Выявлены некоторые значения Cistanchе, которое произрастает в Казахстане. Определена область использования в народной медицине цистанхе из семейства Orobanchaceae. В исследовании показана роль цистанхе, как растения с широким спектром фармакологических свойств. Проведен анализ маршрутно-рекогносцировочных исследований популяции цистанхе, определены распределение, запасы и объемы ежегодных заготовок по основным расположенным флористическим районам. Проведен расчет среднего суммарного объема заготовок сырья, собранных в Прибалхашье Алматинской области. В настоящее время в результате глобального потепления климатические условия меняются, и многие виды растений вымирают. Поэтому защита и эффективное использование растений является одной из самых актуальных проблем. Также важно изучить цистанхе, используемый в народной медицине как лекарственное растение. The article discusses the biological and ecological features of cistanche, as well as provides for ethnobotanical research, recommendations for rational use. Some values of Cistanche, which grows in Kazakhstan, are revealed. The scope of use in folk medicine of cistanha from the family Orobanchaceae is determined. The study shows the role of cistanche as a plant with a wide range of pharmacological properties. Conducted analysis of route-reconnaissance studies of cisterna populations, determined the distribution, stock and volumes of annual preparations for the main floristic areas. Calculated the average total volume of raw materials collected in the Balkhash region of Almaty region. As a result of global warming, climatic conditions are changing and many plant species are dying. Therefore, the protection and efficient use of plants is one of the most pressing problems. It is also important to study the tanks used in folk medicine as a medicinal plant.


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