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 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 selected mountain system in Central and Eastern Europe – initial research based on UTCI characteristics

2021 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-236
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Błażejczyk ◽  
Milica Pecelj ◽  
Pavol Nejedlik ◽  
Olesya Skrynyk ◽  
Katarina Mikulova
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Thermal Stress ◽  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Central And Eastern Europe ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Mountain System ◽  
Thermal Climate ◽  
Mountain Systems

Mountain areas create specific features of local climates (by modification of air circulation, insolation, air temperature, precipitation, wind regime) and greatly affect ambient weather conditions which influence different kinds of human (climbing, skiing, walking, etc.). However, till now only few studies of human bioclimate in individual mountain ridges in Europe were done. The aim of the present study is to assess thermal stress features represented by Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) in nine mountain systems in Central and Eastern Europe. 37 meteorological stations located at altitudes of 237-3580 m above sea level were considered. The data represent midday observational term and cover the period 2000-2017. Mean, highest and lowest annual thermal stress values and annual frequency of cold and heat stress days are analysed The conducted studies have demonstrated that in the examined mountain systems thermal stress conditions are dependent (though to a various extent) mostly on altitude (UTCI values and heat stress days decrease and number of cold stress days rise significantly due to increase of altitude). However, impacts of latitude and longitude is well seen only in altitude belt of 300-1000 m a.s.l.

scholarly journals Bioclimatic Conditions of Paris, Rome and Budapest on the Basis of the Universal Thermal Climate Index

2010 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danuta Idzikowska
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Stress ◽  
Cold Stress ◽  
Extreme Values ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Universal Thermal Climate Index ◽  
European Cities ◽  
Thermal Climate ◽  
Extreme Cold ◽  
Bioclimatic Conditions ◽  
One Way Anova

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine the main features of the bioclimatic conditions of three European cities using a new Universal Thermal Climate Index. Daily values of meteorological variables for 12 UTC for the cities for 1990-2001 were used in the study. Using the frequency of UTCI and one-way Anova, the results showed that in all the three cities “no thermal stress” dominated throughout the year. “Extreme” values of heat as well as “cold stress” were observed but in none of the cities “extreme cold stress” occurred. The values of UTCI differed for all the three cities in each studied year. The cities differed from each other in each month during the whole year with the exception of spring - March and April.

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 Daily and seasonal variabilities of thermal stress (based on the UTCI) in air masses typical for Central Europe: an example from Warsaw

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Okoniewska
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Stress ◽  
Central Europe ◽  
Early Morning ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Water Vapour Pressure ◽  
Universal Thermal Climate Index ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Thermal Climate ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Masses

Abstract The objective of research involved the comparison of daily and seasonal courses of thermal stress occurring in Central Europe depending on the inflowing air mass. The analysis used data from Warsaw (1991–2000), including air temperature (°C), water vapour pressure (hPa), wind speed (m s−1) and cloud cover (%). Universal thermal climate index was calculated and subsequently averaged for the individual months and four types of atmospheric air masses: polar maritime (mP), arctic(A), polar continental (cP) and tropical (T). The studies analysed differences in daily patterns of the averaged values of universal thermal climate index between air masses and determined the frequency of days with various types of thermal stress in individual air masses. The analyses indicated that under the conditions of Central Europe, the highest daily variance of biothermal conditions occurs between the masses of cP and T in the spring and autumn. Considerably greater diversity of biothermal conditions was observed between the masses during daytime compared with nighttime, especially in the warm half of the year. The thermal stress, which can be encountered in Central Europe, ranges from an “extreme cold stress” in winter at night and early morning hours to “very strong heat stress” in summer at noon. Extreme thermal stress is related primarily to the masses of cP, A and T. The most optimal biothermal conditions occur during the advection of mP air.

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 Applicability of Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) in occupational heat stress assessment: a case study in brick industries

2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javad VATANI ◽  
Farideh GOLBABAEI ◽  
Somayeh Farhang DEHGHAN ◽  
Azam YOUSEFI
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Universal Thermal Climate Index ◽  
Stress Assessment ◽  
Thermal Climate

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.

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