Changes Detected in Five Bioclimatic Indices in Large Romanian Cities over the Period 1961–2016

Bioclimatic indices are very important tools to evaluate the thermal stress of the human body. The aims of this study were to analyze the general bioclimatic conditions in ten big cities in Romania and to find out if there has been any change in five bioclimatic indices over a 56-year period: 1961–2016. The indices considered were: equivalent temperature, effective temperature, cooling power, universal thermal climate index and temperature-humidity index. They were calculated based on the daily meteorological data of air temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed recorded in 10 weather stations in Romania: Bucharest-Băneasa, Botoșani, Cluj-Napoca, Constanța, Craiova, Galați, Iași, Oradea, Sibiu and Timișoara. The features investigated for trend detection consisted of the frequency and length of the occurrence period for each class and for each index. The test used for trend detection was Mann-Kendall and the magnitude of the trend (the slope) was calculated by employing Sen’s slope method. The main results are based on frequency analysis. Three indices showed comfort class as dominant whereas the other two indicated cold stress conditions as dominant in the area. There was a shift from the cold stress conditions to the warm and hot ones for all the indices. The most stressful conditions for hot extremes did not indicate significant change. The climate in the big cities of Romania became milder during the cold season and hotter during the warm period of the year. The analysis of the length of each thermal class indicated mainly longer occurrence periods during the year for comfortable or warm stress classes.

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Biothermal conditions on Mt. Zlatibor based on thermophysiological indices

Archives of Biological Sciences ◽

10.2298/abs151223120p ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 69 (3) ◽

pp. 455-461 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Milica Pecelj ◽

Aleksandar Djordjevic ◽

Milovan Pecelj ◽

Jelena Pecelj-Purkovic ◽

Dejan Filipovic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

Meteorological Data ◽

Methodological Approach ◽

Weather Data ◽

Climate Index ◽

Bioclimatic Indices ◽

Thermal Climate ◽

Human Bioclimatology ◽

A Site ◽

The City

This paper presents part of the research in the field of human bioclimatology and refers to biothermal conditions in different geographical environments in Serbia: an urban area and a mountain of medium height. The goal of the paper was to show bioclimatic differences during the summer between the city of Belgrade (116 m a.s.l.) and the mountain resort of Zlatibor (1498 m a.s.l.). The basic principle of bioclimatic analysis is the human heat balance between man and environment. This methodological approach is a combination of physiological and meteorological parameters that result in thermophysiological bioclimatic indices: heat load (HL) in man and the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). For this analysis, weather data for July, as the warmest month, was obtained, using daily meteorological data for the decade from 2000 to 2010. Results for July indicate a considerable difference between the two abovementioned environments. HL in Belgrade was dominated by degrees of comfort ?hot? and ?extremely hot, with the highest value of 4.540, while for Zlatibor the dominant degree of comfort was ?warm?. The UTCI in Belgrade has dominated by strong heat stress and moderate heat stress, compared to Zlatibor where the UTCI is dominated by moderate heat stress. In addition, a significant part of the monitored decade on Mt. Zlatibor was without heat stress, with the exception of 2006 and 2007, indicating favorable biothermal characteristics. Therefore, compared to Belgrade, with its considerably lower overall heat stress Zlatibor has the characteristics of a site with favorable bioclimatic qualities.

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UTCI as the NWP model ALADIN (CHMI) output – first experiences

Geographia Polonica ◽

10.7163/gpol.0203 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 94 (2) ◽

pp. 237-249

Author(s):

Martin Novák

Keyword(s):

Numerical Weather Prediction ◽

Meteorological Data ◽

Weather Prediction ◽

Climate Index ◽

Basic Information ◽

Universal Thermal Climate Index ◽

Numerical Weather ◽

Weather Forecasters ◽

Thermal Climate ◽

Nwp Model

The article includes a summary of basic information about the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) calculation by the numerical weather prediction (NWP) model ALADIN of the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI). Examples of operational outputs for weather forecasters in the CHMI are shown in the first part of this work. The second part includes results of a comparison of computed UTCI values by ALADIN for selected place with UTCI values computed from real measured meteorological data from the same place.

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Universal thermal climate index in Russia

Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk Seriya Geograficheskaya ◽

10.31857/s2587-5566201923-19 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 3-19 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

V. V. Vinogradova

Keyword(s):

Cold Stress ◽

Thermal Conditions ◽

The Arctic ◽

Climate Index ◽

Universal Thermal Climate Index ◽

Environment Temperature ◽

European Part Of Russia ◽

Thermal Climate ◽

Actual Environment ◽

Almost All

The paper uses the universal thermal climate index (UTCI) to estimate the bioclimate in Russia, initiated by the Commission of the International society of Biometeorology. The UTCI index can be described as equivalent environment temperature (°C), which provides the same physiological impact on humans as the actual environment. Assessment of bioclimatic conditions is shown for the territory of Russia in the period of modern climate change (2001–2015). Cold stress conditions (from low to extreme) were observed in the almost all territory of Russia for about 8–11 months a year. During the rest of the year, the conditions are neutral or comfortable. The period of extreme and very high cold stress is reduced during the modern climate warming (compared to the period 1961–1990), especially in the Arctic, in the European part of Russia, in Western and Eastern Siberia. At the same time, the period with neutral and comfortable thermal conditions increases.

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

Miscellanea Geographica ◽

10.2478/mgrsd-2010-0010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 103-109 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

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.

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Bioclimatic conditions and thermal seasons of the year in Szczecin

Geographia Polonica ◽

10.7163/gpol.0206 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 94 (2) ◽

pp. 283-299

Author(s):

Agnieszka Mąkosza

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Air Temperature ◽

Meteorological Data ◽

Thermal Conditions ◽

Thermal Spring ◽

Early Spring ◽

Climate Index ◽

Relative Air Humidity ◽

Thermal Climate ◽

Bioclimatic Conditions

Climate change is an empirical fact evidenced by subsequent IPCC reports. The observed climate change is also manifested in the altered date of occurrence and duration of the seasons in a year. Variability of thermal conditions due to climate warming will have its toll on the bioclimatic conditions. The assessment of bioclimatic conditions was conducted with the use of Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). The present elaboration is based on hourly values of the following meteorological elements: air temperature, relative air humidity, wind speed and cloud cover. The meteorological data were obtained from the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management – National Research Institute (IMGW-PIB) in Szczecin and cover the period 2000-2019. Variability of bioclimatic conditions is considered per periods corresponding to thermal seasons of the year as identified by the Gumiński (1948) method on the basis of monthly air temperature values. The analysed UTCI values with respect to thermal seasons indicate that mean UTCI values in the period 2000-2019 representative for thermal summer amount to 22.6°C, thermal spring 9,9°C, thermal autumn 8.4°C, thermal winter -10.4°C, early spring -4.6°C, and early winter -7.9°C. For the periods with identified lack of thermal winter, mean UTCI value was -6.6°C. The aim of the present paper is an attempt to assess the variability of biothermal conditions as calculated using the UTCI index against the thermal seasons of the year in Szczecin.

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

Miscellanea Geographica ◽

10.2478/mgrsd-2020-0025 ◽

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.

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

Geographia Polonica ◽

10.7163/gpol.0201 ◽

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.

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Modern assessment methods of comfort of bioclimatic conditions for resort areas

Monitoring systems of environment ◽

10.33075/2220-5861-2021-1-7-17 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 7-17

Author(s):

A.A. Stefanovich ◽

◽

E.N. Voskresenskaya ◽

Keyword(s):

Climatic Conditions ◽

Biologically Active ◽

Climate Index ◽

Physiological Equivalent Temperature ◽

Optimal Method ◽

Bioclimatic Indices ◽

Advantages And Disadvantages ◽

Thermal Climate ◽

Bioclimatic Conditions ◽

Bioclimatic Indicators

The modern approaches to assessing the comfort of bioclimatic conditions for rational recreational activities are analyzed. A review of modern domestic and foreign methods is carried out and their advantages and disadvantages in assessing the thermal comfort of a human are identified. Most of the bioclimatic indicators used are now considered outdated, since they do not take into account human physiological reactions. Many foreign authors are increasingly using in their practice more complex thermal bioclimatic indices based on the human energy balance. In Russia, such studies are still rare. From the indices based on the human heat balance, the paper considers the following: Physiological equivalent temperature (PET), Perceived temperature (PMV), Universal thermal climate index (UTCI). The main algorithms for calculating bioclimatic indices are proposed. The calculations use the complete human thermal balance equation and all parameters that affect human comfort. Calculation of bioclimatic indices of this type is considered to be a more effective method for assessing the comfort of bioclimatic conditions for territories intended for the organization of health-improving recreation and tourism. The noted indices have a greater variability of values and, therefore, a higher informational significance in comparison with other bioclimatic indicators that are simpler in calculations, such as, for example, equivalent effective temperature (EET) and biologically active temperature (BAT). Thus, the conducted review of existing methods for assessing bioclimatic indicators identified their advantages and disadvantages, which is important for the subsequent selection of the most optimal method suitable for a particular recreational area with appropriate weather and climatic conditions.

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PERCEPÇÃO DA POPULAÇÃO SOBRE O CONFORTO TÉRMICO PROPORCIONADO PELA ARBORIZAÇÃO DE RUAS DE CURITIBA-PR

FLORESTA ◽

10.5380/rf.v44i3.31742 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 44 (3) ◽

pp. 515 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Angeline Martini ◽

Daniela Biondi ◽

Antonio Carlos Batista ◽

Kendra Zamproni ◽

Jennifer Viezzer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thermal Comfort ◽

Meteorological Data ◽

Urban Forestry ◽

Climate Index ◽

Universal Thermal Climate Index ◽

Street Trees ◽

Comfort Index ◽

Thermal Climate ◽

The Difference ◽

The City

O objetivo deste artigo foi analisar a percepção da população com relação ao conforto térmico proporcionado pela arborização de ruas na cidade de Curitiba. Para isso foram realizadas entrevistas simultaneamente em uma rua arborizada e outra sem arborização, nas quatro estações do ano. Paralelamente, foram também coletados dados meteorológicos para calcular o índice de conforto térmico nesses ambientes. O índice utilizado foi o Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) e o seu valor foi comparado com a resposta dada pelos entrevistados. A porcentagem de pessoas que declaram não estar sentindo nem frio e nem calor na rua arborizada foi menor do que na rua sem arborização, possivelmente devido ao maior número de entrevistados na primavera e outono, estações com características climáticas amenas. Dos entrevistados, 54,3% sentiam-se confortáveis termicamente nas ruas sem árvores, enquanto que na rua arborizada esse número foi 76,5%. A maioria dos entrevistados (98,3%) afirmou que arborização de ruas proporciona melhores condições de conforto térmico. O índice utilizado, UTCI, refletiu aproximadamente 60% da sensação de conforto expressa pelos entrevistados. Conclui-se que a população que transita pelas ruas da cidade de Curitiba consegue perceber a diferença entre as ruas arborizadas e não arborizadas por meio das sensações de conforto térmico.Palavras-chave: Arborização urbana; índice de conforto térmico; qualidade de vida; UTCI. AbstractPopulation’s perception on thermal comfort provided by street trees of Curitiba - PR. This research aims to analyze the population’s perception regarding thermal comfort provided by street trees in the city of Curitiba. Therefore, interviews were conducted simultaneously on streets with and without trees, during the four seasons. At the same time, meteorological data were collected to calculate the thermal comfort index for these environments. The Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) was used and its value was compared to the answers given in the interviews. The amount of people who said they were not feeling neither cold nor heat on the streets with trees was lower than on the streets without trees, possibly due to a greater number of people who were interviewed during spring and fall, seasons with mild climatic characteristics. While 54.3% of the people felt comfortable in the streets without trees, 76.5% felt the same on streets with trees. Most interviewee (98.3%) said that street trees provide better thermal comfort. The UTCI revealed approximately 60% of the comfort sense expressed by the population. We concluded that the population who roam the streets of the city of Curitiba - PR can perceive the difference between streets with and without trees through the sensations of thermal comfort.Keywords: Urban forestry; thermal comfort index; quality of life; UTCI.

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Summer variation of the UTCI index and Heat Waves in Serbia

10.5194/nhess-2019-270 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Milica M. Pecelj ◽

Milica Z. Lukić ◽

Dejan J. Filipović ◽

Branko M. Protić

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

Heat Wave ◽

Heat Waves ◽

Heat Budget ◽

Meteorological Data ◽

Climate Index ◽

Daily Maximum ◽

Thermal Climate ◽

Maximum Temperatures ◽

Novi Sad

Abstract. The objective of this paper is the assessment of bioclimatic conditions in Sebia. A special emphasis has been given to the heat budget bioclimatic Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) whose purpose is to evaluate degree of thermal stress that human body is exposed to during the last twenty years. In addition, the thresholds of daily maximum temperatures are analysed in order to identify increase and frequency of heat waves in Serbia. For this research, daily and hourly (07 h and 14 h) meteorological data from 3 weather station (Mt. Zlatibor, Novi Sad, Niš) are collected for the period 1998–2017. The results show that the most frequent UTCI heat stress categories are strong heat stress and very strong heat stress. The most extreme heat waves events are occurred in 2007, 2012, 2015 and 2017. Moreover, there were three Heat wave events (HWE) in Niš occurred in July, 2007 lasting 3, 10 and 4 days in row. Heat wave events (HWE) In July 2007 (10 days) and July 2012 (9 days) in Niš are occurrences with maximum number of days in row recorded.

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