scholarly journals Defining Heatwaves with Respect to Human Biometeorology. The Case of Attica Region, Greece

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1100
Author(s):  
Lida Dimitriadou ◽  
Panagiotis Nastos ◽  
Christos Zerefos
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Social Characteristics ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Physiological Equivalent Temperature ◽  
Superposed Epoch Analysis ◽  
Respiratory Mortality ◽  
Thermal Climate

To date, due to climate change, heatwaves are more frequent, with greater intensity and duration resulting in deleterious impacts on human health. To be able to manage heatwaves and quantify the impacts on human health, it is crucial to define them and implement policy preventive measures. However, heatwaves are relative to the climate of a location: The same meteorological conditions can constitute a heatwave in one place but not in another. Due to different climatic conditions, social characteristics, and adaptation, heatwaves should be defined on a local scale, which poses difficulties when it comes to comparison of different definitions. The aim of the present study is to define heatwaves, implementing robust statistical analysis for three different indicators (temperature, physiological equivalent temperature (PET), and universal thermal climate index (UTCI)) for three causes of mortality (i.e., cardiological and respiratory mortality and cardiorespiratory mortality) using Attica (Greece) as a case study. Our results define a heatwave for Attica as a period of at least 3 days when the mean temperature is higher than the 97.5th percentile. Afterwards, we encapsulate the harvesting effect by implementing robust statistical analysis, using the Superposed Epoch analysis. Consequently, quantifying heatwaves is crucial so as to create early warning systems and prevent avoidable mortality.

scholarly journals Modern assessment methods of comfort of bioclimatic conditions for resort areas

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.

scholarly journals Review of Biometeorology of Heatwaves and Warm Extremes in Europe

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1276
Author(s):  
Biljana Basarin ◽  
Tin Lukić ◽  
Andreas Matzarakis
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Heat Exposure ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
High Heat ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Physiological Equivalent Temperature ◽  
European Continent ◽  
Thermal Climate

Numerous extreme heatwaves producing large impacts on human health, agriculture, water resources, energy demand, regional economies, and forest ecosystems occurred during the first twenty years of the 21st century. The present study strives to provide a systematic review of recent studies of warm biometeorological extremes in Europe. The main aim of this paper is to provide a methodical summary of the observed changes in warm extremes, duration, and variability in different parts of Europe. During the last decade, much attention has been paid to the negative impacts of heat and humidity on human health. Therefore, the human biometeorology is required to appraise the human thermal environment in a way that human thermoregulation is taken into account. In many European countries and regions, future heat exposure will indeed exceed critical levels, and a steep increase in biometeorological heatwaves and warm extremes are expected. The indices that take into account human energy balance along with weather conditions should be used to examine the impacts of extreme heatwaves on human health and should be used as a basis for the determination of acclimatization to high-heat-stress conditions. A detailed description of recent studies that have used biometeorological indices such as Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) and Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) for the estimation of warm extremes and their influence on human health is provided. Additionally, a short overview of the existence of the heat-health warning systems (HHWS), their conceptualization, and implementation across the European continent is considered, as well as the possibilities for further investigations and implementation of effective measures and programs that could reduce the adverse health impacts.

scholarly journals A Study of The Relationship Between Bioclimatic Comfort Zones And Land Use: The Case of Sivas Province (Turkey)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Can Bülent Karakuş ◽  
Demet Demiroglu
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Climatic Data ◽  
Physiological Equivalent Temperature ◽  
Bioclimatic Indices ◽  
Climate Parameters ◽  
Bioclimatic Comfort ◽  
Thermal Climate ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract The aim of this study is to reveal the relationship between bioclimatic comfort zones and land use in Sivas province. In this context, the relationship between the climatic data of 1990 and 2018 and the land use data of Sivas province belonging to the same years was evaluated as seasonal and annual periods. The bioclimatic comfort zones in the study area were determined depending on environmental climatic parameters (ECP) [temperature (T), relative humidity (RH) and wind speed (WS)] and bioclimatic indices [Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET), Thermo Hygrometric Index (THI), and Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI)]. The values of the environmental climate parameters of Sivas province for the relevant years were obtained from 9 meteorological stations, the height of which varies between 1121 m and 1528 m. With the help of the Geographical Information System (GIS), the spatial distribution of the bioclimatic comfort zones determined depending on the environmental climate parameters and bioclimatic indices were created. Land use maps of the study area for reference years were obtained by using CORINE land cover data. The relationship between bioclimatic comfort zones and land use was also determined with the help of GIS. According to the results of this study; It was determined that the land use type in which the bioclimatically comfortable areas overlap in Sivas province differs according to the used parameter/indexes, years and annual periods.

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

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.

scholarly journals Parametric Design and Comfort Optimization of Dynamic Shading Structures

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7670
Author(s):  
Doris A. Chi ◽  
Edwin González M. ◽  
Renato Valdivia ◽  
Eduardo Gutiérrez J.
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Parametric Design ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Outdoor Thermal Comfort ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Parametric Modelling ◽  
The Social ◽  
Thermal Climate ◽  
Dynamic Time

This work implements parametric tools to optimize the environmental design of urban adaptive shadings through multiobjective evolutionary algorithms that look for solutions of dynamic (time-changing) structures used in open public spaces. The proposal is located in Malecon Cancun Tajamar in the southeast part of Mexico, and the main objective is to enhance the thermal comfort of users as well as to become part of the social dynamics of the place reinforcing identity through appropriation. The proposed workflow includes four steps: (1) geometric modelling by parametric modelling tools; (2) simulation of environmental parameters by using BPS tools; (3) shape optimization by using an evolutionary algorithm; and (4) environmental verification of the results. The Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) was used to assess the outdoor thermal comfort derived from the dynamic shadings. The results showed a significant improvement in the thermal comfort with absolute UTCI differences of 3.9, 7.4, and 3.1 °C at 8, 12, and 16 h, respectively, during the summer; and absolute differences of 1.4, 3.5, and 2 °C at 8, 12, and 16 h, respectively, during the winter. The proposed workflow can help to guide the early design process of dynamic shadings by finding optimal solutions that enhance outdoor thermal comfort.

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

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.

scholarly journals The Social Characteristics of Postgraduate Students in Ecuador: A Multidimensional Statistical Analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Andrés Bonilla Marchán ◽  
Ramiro Delgado ◽  
Efstathios Stefos
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Hierarchical Clustering ◽  
National Survey ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Factorial Analysis ◽  
Social Characteristics ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
The Social

The purpose of this study is to investigate social characteristics of postgraduate students in Ecuador. The study was conducted with the use of a descriptive and multidimensional statistical analysis, and data from the National Survey of Employment, Unemployment and Underemployment corresponding to 2015. The descriptive analysis has shown the frequencies and percentages of the variables of the research. The multidimensional statistical analysis was used in order to show the main and most important criteria of differentiation and the classification in clusters of people being studied. The methods used are the factorial analysis of multiple correspondences that presents the criteria of differentiation and the hierarchical clustering that defines the groups of people due to their common characteristics.

scholarly journals Performance of Excess Heat Factor Severity as a Global Heatwave Health Impact Index

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. 2494 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Nairn ◽  
Bertram Ostendorf ◽  
Peng Bi
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
The United States ◽  
Excess Heat ◽  
Excess Heat Factor ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Uk

The establishment of an effective policy response to rising heatwave impacts is most effective when the history of heatwaves, their current impacts and future risks, are mapped by a common metric. In response meteorological agencies aim to develop seamless climate, forecast, and warning heat impact services, spanning all temporal and spatial scales. The ability to diagnose heatwave severity using the Excess Heat Factor (EHF) has allowed the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (the Bureau) to publicly release 7-day heatwave severity maps since 2014. National meteorological agencies in the UK and the United States are evaluating global 7-day and multi-week EHF heatwave severity probability forecasts, whilst the Bureau contributes to a Copernicus project to supply the health sector with global EHF severity heatwave projection scenarios. In an evaluation of impact skill within global forecast systems, EHF intensity and severity is reviewed as a predictor of human health impact, and extended using climate observations and human health data for sites around the globe. Heatwave intensity, determined by short and long-term temperature anomalies at each locality, is normalized to permit spatial analysis and inter-site comparison. Dimensionless heatwave event moments of peak severity and accumulated severity are shown to correlate with noteworthy events around the globe, offering new insights into current and future heatwave variability and vulnerability. The EHF severity metric permits the comparison of international heatwave events and their impacts, and is readily implemented within international heatwave early warning systems.

scholarly journals Universal thermal climate index in Russia

2019 ◽  
pp. 3-19 ◽  
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.

scholarly journals The evaluation of biothermal conditions for various forms of climatic therapy based on UTCI adjusted for activity

2021 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-182
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Lindner-Cendrowska ◽  
Peter Bröde
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activities ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Metabolic Rates ◽  
Universal Thermal Climate Index ◽  
Vigorous Exercise ◽  
Adjustment Procedure ◽  
Level Of Activity ◽  
Thermal Climate ◽  
Health Resorts ◽  
Bioclimatic Conditions

The objective of this study was to assess biothermal conditions in the selected Polish health resorts for specific forms of climatic therapy. We calculated Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) for ten-year period (2008- 2017) and then added adjustment terms, taking into account changes in metabolic rates during various physical activities from resting to vigorous exercise. The adjusted UTCI values increased with rising activity, implying that warmer parts of the year were unsuitable for intensive forms of climatotherapy. These results demonstrate that the UTCI adjustment procedure provides well-balanced assessments of bioclimatic conditions for the purpose of climatic treatment considering the level of activity

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document