Principles of the New Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) and its Application to Bioclimatic Research in European Scale

During the last century about 100 indices were developed to assess influences of the atmosphere on human being. However, most of them have not close relationships with physiological reactions in man. In 1999 International Society of Biometeorology established special study group do develop new Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). Since 2005 these efforts have been reinforced by the COST Action 730 (Cooperation in Science and Technical Development). In February 2009 the Action was terminated and UTCI was developed. The new UTCI index represents air temperature of the reference condition with the same physiological response as the actual condition. The index base on Fiala model that is one of the most advanced multi-node thermophysiological models and include the capability to predict both whole body thermal effects (hypothermia and hyperthermia; heat and cold discomfort), and local effects (facial, hands and feet cooling and frostbite). The model consists of two interacting systems: the controlling active system; and the controlled passive system. The assessment scale of UTCI bases on the intensity of objective physiological reactions to environmental heat stress in wide range of weather and climates. The index can be applicable in various research, for example in weather forecasts, bioclimatological assessments, bioclimatic mapping in all scales (from micro to macro), urban design, engineering of outdoor spaces, consultancy for where to live, outdoor recreation and climatotherapy, epidemiology and climate impact research. The paper presents thermophysiological principles of UTCI as well as some examples of its application to assess bioclimatic differentiation of Europe.

ASSESSMENT OF ESTIMATION METHODS AND FIELD PROCEDURES FOR INERTIAL NETWORKS

Inertial field procedures and postmission adjustment methods were compared and tested in the Gimli test network in southern Manitoba. This network has excellent GPS-derived ground control and a dense network of inertial traverses that make the testing of different alternatives possible. It has also been selected as one of the two test networks of the Special Study Group 1.77 of the International Association of Geodesy on the “Utilization of Inertial Techniques for Geodesy” and this paper is a contribution to the work of this group. Of the methods compared, adjustment of filtered data gives the best results. Adjustment of smoothed traverses suffers from the effects of sytematic errors introduced to the data by the smoothing process. Neither of the field procedures tested was found to be superior to the others. However, considerable savings in measurement time and costs could be achieved by using single runs along the peripheral traverses instead of the usual double runs. Cost savings of up to 20 percent are possible with only a marginal effect on the accuracy.

Establishment of scale and orientation for satellite Doppler positions

The scale of satellite Doppler results and the orientation of the coordinate system in which the results are obtained, relative to more conventional coordinate systems, need to be known for many applications. Sources of this information are comparisons with external standards. Comparisons indicate that Doppler positions obtained by the National Geodetic Survey of the National Ocean Survey (with the use of its standard program and the precise ephemeris) require a longitude rotation of 0.8 ± 0.05" eastward and a decrease in scale of 0.4 ± 0.1 parts/ 10 6 to be compatible with results of other space systems. This rotation is compatible with results obtained by comparisons of astro-Doppler and gravimetric deflexions. To apply these results to those of other investigators, by using other reduction programs and techniques, will require intercomparison of programs with the use of standard data sets such as those used by Special Study Group 2.44 of the International Association of Geodesy.

F.A.A. Experience Gained in the Use of Digital Computation

The application of automatic data processing techniques to air traffic control has been espoused by both operational and research and development groups dealing in air traffic control throughout the world. As far back as 1947, in the U.S.A., the Special Study Group, SC-31 of the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics suggested that a high degree of automation be applied—including rigid control of all flights and their times of arrival.