Biometeorology Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

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Measurements of the net radiation balance of two forested sites on the opposite slopes of a valley in south-western Germany, made over 3 years, are presented in this study. Radiation sensors were mounted horizontally on two measurement... more

Measurements of the net radiation balance of two forested sites on the opposite slopes of a valley in south-western Germany, made over 3 years, are presented in this study. Radiation sensors were mounted horizontally on two measurement towers above two beech stands. The direct part of the measured short-wave incoming radiation was adjusted according to the slope's angle to convert horizontally measured radiation data into surfaceparallel radiation fluxes. During periods when contemporaneous measurements of slope-parallel and horizontal radiation fluxes were available, the calculation of surfaceparallel radiation fluxes from the horizontally recorded net radiation components were compared with measured values. The net radiative fluxes parallel to the slopes were calculated for a period of 36 months and analysed. Results show that the different aspects of both sites cause significant differences of the net radiation balance. In June, when the elevation of the sun is highest, incoming solar radiation K# received on the NE-slope was 9% lower than K# received on the SW-slope. During the winter months, the differences were much greater and incoming solar radiation to the NE-slope was 50% of that to the SWslope. Due to the differing solar irradiance, net radiation fluxes were significantly higher on the SW-slope than on the NE-slope. For long-wave radiation only small differences between both slopes could be found. Since radiative fluxes determine the energy balance and hence the microclimate and water balance of a forest stand, these differences in the net radiation balance between the slopes are important for the vegetation.

A weekly periodicity in. the occurrence of headache was found in 53 patients with migraine and in 20 with tension headache during an observation period Of four weeks. In the migraine group the frequency was highest on Thursday and on... more

A weekly periodicity in. the occurrence of headache was found in 53 patients with migraine and in 20 with tension headache during an observation period Of four weeks. In the migraine group the frequency was highest on Thursday and on Saturday and lowest on Sunday-Monday, and in patients with tension headache it was lowest on Sunday-Tuesday and highest on Friday. During the observation period several climatic factors were recorded. After correction for the weekly periodicity a highly significant correlation was found in the migraine group between headache frequency, on the one hand, and atmospheric pressure and outdoor temperature recorded 1-3 days later, on the other. PATIENTS AND METHODS PATIENTS.-The investigation was carried out in Uppsala during a 4-week period in September-October 1976. Seventy-three patients with headache participated. They had

In order to use crop simulation models to predict crop yield, unobserved daily weather, an important input for crop models, must be forecast in some sense. Due to the chaotic nature of weather and the non-linear response of crop... more

In order to use crop simulation models to predict crop yield, unobserved daily weather, an important input for crop models, must be forecast in some sense. Due to the chaotic nature of weather and the non-linear response of crop simulation models to weather input, this forecast weather cannot simply be a single weather series (e.g. average historical weather for the upcoming growing season), but must be an ensemble of weather series, incorporating site-specific climatic variability. To capture weather uncertainty, we used the LARS-WG stochastic weather generator to produce a probabilistic ensemble of weather series by mixing observed weather from the beginning of a season with stochastically generated (synthetic) weather for the remainder of the growing season. This ensemble was used with the crop simulation model Sirius to generate distributions of crop characteristics. Progressing through the growing season, as the proportion of synthetic weather in these ensembles decreased, the distribution means converged towards the true values, allowing us to make predictions with a high level of confidence before crop maturity. In this fashion, we analysed six sites with diverse climates in Europe and New Zealand, comparing lead-times for predicting different crop characteristics at various geographic locations. We demonstrated that that there is a large difference between lead-times amongst different crop characteristics at a single location, and that there is a large variation in lead-times for predicting selected crop characteristics between locations. Variation in climates places a quantifiable limit on our ability to make crop predictions using crop simulation models.

Using radioactive iodine, the effect of 1 month's yogic exercises has been investigated on the thyroid function of subjects resident at sea level (SL) specially after their exposure to high altitude (HA). The results have been compared... more

Using radioactive iodine, the effect of 1 month's yogic exercises has been investigated on the thyroid function of subjects resident at sea level (SL) specially after their exposure to high altitude (HA). The results have been compared with a group of SL subjects who underwent physical training (PT) exercises for the same duration. Ten healthy male volunteers in the age range of 20-30 years were used as test subjects in this study with each serving as his own control. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups of 5 each. One group practised hatha yogic exercises, while the other group performed the regular PT exercises. The thyroidal accumulation and release of radioactive iodine have been measured in each of the subjects of both groups before and after 1 month of their respective exercises at SL. One month of yogic exercises at SL has been observed to cause a significant reduction in the trans-thyroidal availability of radioiodine. The thyroid radioactivity in this group of subjects was always below normal levels with the exception of two peaks of radioactive iodine uptake, when the levels of radioactivity in the thyroid were similar to the control values of pre-yogic exercises. The release of radiolabel at 24-48 h was significantly increased after yogic exercises. In contrast, the subjects performing PT exercises for the same duration at SL showed significant thyroid uptake of radioactive iodine at 24 h. Subsequently their 131I uptake continued to rise slowly until 72 h without any demonstrable thyroidal release of radiolabel. This indicated that increased thyroid activity was induced by conventional PT exercise. Exposure of SL residents to HA irrespective of their exercise regime altered the thyroidal handling of radioiodine. Thyroidal concentrations of freshly S. B. Rawal (1~) • administered radioiodine at early and late sampling intervals were very high in both of the groups, especially the yogics, after their return to SL from HA. Possible mechanisms of the observed changes have been discussed.

1Departamento de Arquitetura, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Fone: (043) 371-4535, Fax: (043) 371-4082, CP 6001, Londrina-Paraná, Brazil. 2Departamento de Construção Civil, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Fone: (043) 371-4455,... more

1Departamento de Arquitetura, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Fone: (043) 371-4535, Fax: (043) 371-4082, CP 6001, Londrina-Paraná, Brazil. 2Departamento de Construção Civil, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Fone: (043) 371-4455, Fax:(043) 371-4082, CP ...

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas whose atmospheric abundance has grown 2.5-fold over three centuries, due in large part to agricultural expansion. The farming of ruminant livestock, which generate and emit methane during digestion... more

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas whose atmospheric abundance has grown 2.5-fold over three centuries, due in large part to agricultural expansion. The farming of ruminant livestock, which generate and emit methane during digestion ('enteric fermentation'), is a leading contributor to this growth. This paper overviews the measurement or estimation of enteric methane emissions at a range of spatial scales. Measurement of individual animal emissions focuses particularly on grazing livestock for which the SF 6 tracer technique is uniquely appropriate. Gaining insight into factors that influence methane production requires that feed intake and feed properties be determined, enabling the methane emitted to be expressed per unit of intake. The latter expression is commonly encapsulated in the 'methane conversion factor', Y m , an entity that enables small-scale methane emission estimates to be extrapolated to national and global enteric methane inventories. The principles of this extrapolation and sources of uncertainty are discussed, along with the significance of this global source within the global methane cycle. Micrometeorological and similar measurement techniques over intermediate spatial scales are also surveyed.

This study analyzes the effect of weather variables, such as solar radiation, indoor and outdoor air temperature, relative humidity and time spent outdoor, on the behavior of 2-year-old children and their affects across different seasons:... more

This study analyzes the effect of weather variables, such as solar radiation, indoor and outdoor air temperature, relative humidity and time spent outdoor, on the behavior of 2-year-old children and their affects across different seasons: winter, spring and summer. Participants were a group of 61 children (33 males and 28 females) attending four day-care centers in Florence (Central Italy). Mean age of children at the beginning of the study was 24.1 months (SD03.6). We used multilevel linear analyses to account for the hierarchical structure of our data. The study analyzed the following behavioral variables: Activity Level, Attentional Focusing, Frustration, and Aggression. Results showed a different impact of some weather variables on children's behavior across seasons, indicating that the weather variable that affects children's behavior is usually the one that shows extreme values during the studied seasons, such as air temperature and relative humidity in winter and summer. Studying children and their reactions to weather conditions could have potentially wide-reaching implications for parenting and teaching practices, as well as for researchers studying social relationships development.

We divided the canopy of a 50-year-old secondary Fagus crenata stand into an array of small three dimensional (3D) rectangular cells (termed voxels, 0.25 m × 0.25 m × 0.20 m in height), and determined the leaf area density (LAD) of all... more

We divided the canopy of a 50-year-old secondary Fagus crenata stand into an array of small three dimensional (3D) rectangular cells (termed voxels, 0.25 m × 0.25 m × 0.20 m in height), and determined the leaf area density (LAD) of all voxels using the vertical point quadrat method. The estimated LAD values showed good agreement, at both voxel and stand scales, with measured values obtained by destructive sampling and litter trapping, respectively. The 3D distribution of LAD was then imported into a ray-tracing program based on a turbid medium analogy to simulate photosynthetic photon flux density at leaf surface (PPFD leaf ) within a voxel at 30-min intervals. To include finite leaf size and non-random leaf dispersion within a voxel in the light calculation, the angular dependency of the shoot silhouette to projection area ratio (SPAR), with the foliage volume the same as the voxel, was used as the light extinction coefficient in the analogy. In addition, the frequency distribution of PPFD leaf within a voxel was simulated at each interval for all leafy voxels in the canopy, by integrating a Monte-Carlo simulation of the voxel-shading fraction of a solar disc in the light calculations. The light simulation provided reasonable estimates of both the mean PPFD leaf and the frequency distribution of PPFD leaf in a voxel for evaluating canopy photosynthesis (P canopy ), when comparing them to the measured values. Ignoring the within-voxel variation in PPFD leaf caused a 21.8% overestimation of P canopy during the summer period (July to September). The results demonstrate the potential importance of a detailed description of light heterogeneity in P canopy calculations.

Climate, climate change and tourism all interact. Part of the public discussion about climate change focusses on the tourism sector, with direct and indirect impacts being of equally high relevance. Climate and tourism are closely linked.... more

Climate, climate change and tourism all interact. Part of the public discussion about climate change focusses on the tourism sector, with direct and indirect impacts being of equally high relevance. Climate and tourism are closely linked. Thus, climate is a very decisive factor in choices both of destination and of type of journey (active holidays, wellness, and city tours) in the tourism sector. However, whether choices about destinations or types of trip will alter with climate change is difficult to predict. Future climates can be simulated and projected, and the tendencies of climate parameters can be estimated using global and regional climate models. In this paper, the focus is on climate change in the mountainous regions of southwest Germanythe Black Forest. The Black Forest is one of the low mountain ranges where both winter and summer tourism are vulnerable to climate change due to its southern location; the strongest climatic changes are expected in areas covering the south and southwest of Germany. Moreover, as the choice of destination is highly dependent on good weather, a climatic assessment for tourism is essential. Thus, the aim of this study was to estimate climatic changes in mountainous regions during summer, especially for tourism and recreation. The assessment method was based on human-biometeorology as well as tourism-climatologic approaches. Regional climate simulations based on the regional climate model REMO were used for tourism-related climatic analyses. Emission scenarios A1B and B1 were considered for the time period 2021 to 2050, compared to the 30-year base period of 1971-2000, particularly for the warm period of the year, defined here as the months of March-November. In this study, we quantified the frequency, but not the means, of climate parameters. The study results show that global and regional warming is reflected in an increase in annual mean air temperature, especially in autumn. Changes in the spring show a slight negative trend, which is in line with the trend of a decrease in physiologically equivalent temperature as well as in thermal comfort conditions. Due to the rising air temperature, heat stress as well as sultry conditions are projected to become more frequent, affecting human health and recreation, especially at lower lying altitudes. The tops of the mountains and higher elevated areas still have the advantage of offering comfortable climatic conditions.

This paper analyses the relationship between extreme temperatures and mortality among persons aged 45-64 years. Daily mortality in Madrid was analysed by sex and cause, from January 1986 to December 1997. Quantitative analyses were... more

This paper analyses the relationship between extreme temperatures and mortality among persons aged 45-64 years. Daily mortality in Madrid was analysed by sex and cause, from January 1986 to December 1997. Quantitative analyses were performed using generalised additive models, with other covariables, such as influenza, air pollution and seasonality, included as controls. Our results showed that impact on mortality was limited for temperatures ranging from the 5th to the 95th percentiles, and increased sharply thereafter. During the summer period, the effect of heat was detected solely among males in the target age group, with an attributable risk (AR) of 13.3% for circulatory causes. Similarly, NO 2 concentrations registered the main statistically significant associations in females, with an AR of 15% when circulatory causes were considered. During winter, the impact of cold was exclusively observed among females having an AR of 7.7%. The magnitude of the AR indicates that the impact of extreme temperature is by no means negligible.

Office workers' preferences for air movement have been extracted from a database of indoor environmental quality surveys performed in over 200 buildings. Dissatisfaction with the amount of air motion is very common, with too little air... more

Office workers' preferences for air movement have been extracted from a database of indoor environmental quality surveys performed in over 200 buildings. Dissatisfaction with the amount of air motion is very common, with too little air movement cited far more commonly than too much air movement.

To examine the effects of age-related differences in thermoregulatory function on the clothing microclimate temperature (Tm) and T m fluctuations while maintaining thermal comfort in daily life, 5 boys (group B, 10-11 years), 5 young men... more

To examine the effects of age-related differences in thermoregulatory function on the clothing microclimate temperature (Tm) and T m fluctuations while maintaining thermal comfort in daily life, 5 boys (group B, 10-11 years), 5 young men (group Y, 20-21 years) and 5 older men (group O, 60-65 years) volunteered to take part in this study. The subjects were asked to maintain thermal comfort as closely as possible in their daily lives. T m (temperatures between the skin surface and the innermost garment) at four sites (chest, back, upper arm, and thigh), skin temperature on the chest (rchest) and ambient temperature (Ta) were measured over a period of 8-12 h from morning to evening on one day in each of the seasons, spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Records of ability to maintain thermal comfort and of adjustment of their clothes were kept by each subject. T a during periods of thermal comfort did not differ among the groups in any of the seasons. In group Y, T m was significantly lower at the thigh than at the other sites in spring, autumn, and winter (P<0.05) and fluctuations (CV) of T m were significantly larger at the thigh than at other sites in autumn and winter (P<0.05). Similar tendencies were observed for T m and CV of T m in group B. However, T m and CV of T m in group O did not differ by site except for the autumn T m. Group O had a smaller CV at the thigh in winter (P<0.05), compared to groups B and Y, suggesting a smaller regional difference in T m fluctuation in group O. Group O adjusted their clothes even on the lower limbs (together with upper body) in order to maintain thermal comfort in accordance with changes in T a, while groups B and Y did so only on their upper bodies. These results sugest that compared to boys and young men, lower thermoregulatory function in older men may affect T m and CV of T m as a result of clothing on lower limbs being adjusted differently in order to maintain thermal comfort. Key words Thermal comfort • Clothing microclimate temperature • Skin temperature • Boys • Older men 00000 00~00 © el. © tt~ 0 V

Climate change is already altering the magnitude and/or frequency of extreme events which will in turn affect plant fitness more than any change in the average. Although the fingerprint of anthropogenic warming in recent phenological... more

Climate change is already altering the magnitude and/or frequency of extreme events which will in turn affect plant fitness more than any change in the average. Although the fingerprint of anthropogenic warming in recent phenological records is well understood, the impacts of extreme events have been largely neglected. Thus, the temperature response of European phenological records to warm and cold spells was studied using the COST725 database. We restricted our analysis to the period 1951-2004 due to better spatial coverage. Warm and cold spells were identified using monthly mean ENSEMBLES temperature data on a 0.5°grid for Europe. Their phenological impact was assessed as anomalies from maps displaying mean onsets for 1930-1939. Our results clearly exhibit continental cold spells predominating in the period 1951-1988, especially during the growing season, whereas the period from 1989 onwards was mainly characterised by warm spells in all seasons. The impacts of these warm/cold spells on the onset of phenological seasons differed strongly depending on species, phase and timing. "False" phases such as the sowing of winter cereals hardly reacted to summer warm/cold spells; only the sowing of summer cereals mirrored spring temperature warm/cold spells. The heading dates of winter cereals did not reveal any consistent results probably due to fewer warm/cold spells identified in the relevant late spring months. Apple flowering and the harvest of winter cereals were the best indicators of warm/ cold spells in early spring and summer, also being spatially coherent with the patterns of warm/cold spells.

We compared below-canopy and open-site climatic conditions for 14 different forest sites in Switzerland and analysed the forest influence on local summer and winter climate according to the forest type (coniferous, mixed, deciduous), soil... more

We compared below-canopy and open-site climatic conditions for 14 different forest sites in Switzerland and analysed the forest influence on local summer and winter climate according to the forest type (coniferous, mixed, deciduous), soil type, slope orientation, basal area and tree height. We compared below-canopy and open-field data for minimum, maximum and daily mean temperature, relative humidity, maximum and daily mean photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and wind speed from 1998 to 2007. We found clear differences between below-canopy and open-field temperatures, humidity, wind speed and PAR and could relate them to the specific site conditions and forest type. The forest influence on PAR and maximum temperature is clearly determined by the forest type, whereas the influence on minimum temperature is affected by both forest type and slope orientation and impact on humidity depends on the soil type. The wind speed is most impacted by topography and slope orientation.

Although over a hundred thermal indices can be used for assessing thermal health hazards, many ignore the human heat budget, physiology and clothing. The Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) addresses these shortcomings by using an... more

Although over a hundred thermal indices can be used for assessing thermal health hazards, many ignore the human heat budget, physiology and clothing. The Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) addresses these shortcomings by using an advanced thermo-physiological model. This paper assesses the potential of using the UTCI for forecasting thermal health hazards. Traditionally, such hazard forecasting has had two further limitations: it has been narrowly focused on a particular region or nation and has relied on the use of single 'deterministic' forecasts. Here, the UTCI is computed on a global scale, which is essential for international health-hazard warnings and disaster preparedness, and it is provided as a probabilistic forecast. It is shown that probabilistic UTCI forecasts are superior in skill to deterministic forecasts and that despite global variations, the UTCI forecast is skilful for lead times up to 10 days. The paper also demonstrates the utility of probabilistic UTCI forecasts on the example of the 2010 heat wave in Russia.

Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) balneotherapy is a kind of remedy with a wide spectrum of applications which have been used since the Middle Ages. However, its potential use as an adjuvant therapeutic option in patients with cardiovascular disease... more

Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) balneotherapy is a kind of remedy with a wide spectrum of applications which have been used since the Middle Ages. However, its potential use as an adjuvant therapeutic option in patients with cardiovascular disease is not yet fully clarified. We performed a thorough review of MEDLINE Database, EMBASE, ISI WEB of Knowledge, COCHRANE database and sites funded by balneotherapy centers across Europe in order to recognize relevant studies and aggregate evidence supporting the use of CO 2 baths in various cardiovascular diseases. The three main effects of CO 2 hydrotherapy during whole body or partial immersion, including decline in core temperature, an increase in cutaneous blood flow, and an elevation of the score on thermal sensation, are analyzed on a pathophysiology basis. Additionally, the indications and contra-indications of the method are presented in an evidence-based way, while the need for new methodologically sufficient studies examining the use of CO 2 baths in other cardiovascular substrates is discussed.

Reliable estimation of the surface energy balance from local to regional scales is crucial for many applications including weather forecasting, hydrologic modeling, irrigation scheduling, water resource management, and climate change... more

Reliable estimation of the surface energy balance from local to regional scales is crucial for many applications including weather forecasting, hydrologic modeling, irrigation scheduling, water resource management, and climate change research. Numerous models have been developed using remote sensing, which permits spatially distributed mapping of the surface energy balance over large areas. This study compares flux maps over a relatively simple agricultural landscape in central Iowa, comprised of soybean and corn fields, generated with three different remote sensing-based surface energy balance models: the Two-Source Energy Balance (TSEB) model, Mapping EvapoTranspiration at high Resolution using Internalized Calibration (METRIC), and the Trapezoid Interpolation Model (TIM). The three models have different levels of complexity and input requirements, but all have operational capabilities. METRIC and TIM make use of the remotely sensed surface temperature-vegetation cover relation to define key model variables linked to wet and dry hydrologic extremes, while TSEB uses these remotely sensed inputs to define component soil and canopy temperatures, aerodynamic resistances, and fluxes. The models were run using Landsat imagery collected during the Soil Moisture Atmosphere Coupling Experiment (SMACEX) in 2002 and model results were compared with observations from a network of flux towers deployed within the study area. While TSEB and METRIC yielded similar and reasonable agreement with measured heat fluxes, with root-mean-square errors (RMSE) of $50-75 W/m 2 , errors for TIM exceeded 100 W/m 2 . Despite the good agreement between TSEB and METRIC at discrete locations sampled by the flux towers, a spatial intercomparison of gridded model output (i.e., comparing output on a pixel-by-pixel basis) revealed significant discrepancies in modeled turbulent heat flux patterns that were largely correlated with vegetation density. Generally, the largest discrepancies, primarily a bias in H, between these two models occurred in areas with partial vegetation cover and a leaf area index (LAI) < 2.0. Adjustment of the minimum LE assumed for the hot/dry hydrologic extreme condition in METRIC reduced the bias in H between METRIC and TSEB, but caused a significant increase in bias in LE between the models. Spatial intercomparison of modeled flux patterns over a variety of landscapes will be required to better assess uncertainties in remote sensing surface energy balance models, and to work toward an improved hybrid modeling system.

Phenology shows sensitive responses to seasonal changes in atmospheric conditions. Forest understory phenology, in particular, is a crucial component of the forest ecosystem that interacts with meteorological factors, and ecosystem... more

Phenology shows sensitive responses to seasonal changes in atmospheric conditions. Forest understory phenology, in particular, is a crucial component of the forest ecosystem that interacts with meteorological factors, and ecosystem functions such as carbon exchange and nutrient cycling. Quantifying understory phenology is challenging due to the multiplicity of species and heterogeneous spatial distribution. The use of digital photography for assessing forest understory phenology was systematically tested in this study within a temperate forest during spring 2007. Five phenology metrics (phenometrics) were extracted from digital photos using three band algebra and two greenness percentage (image binarization) methods. Phenometrics were compared with a comprehensive suite of concurrent meteorological variables. Results show that greenness percentage cover approaches were relatively robust in capturing forest understory green-up. Derived spring phenology of understory plants responded to accumulated air temperature as anticipated, and with dayto-day changes strongly affected by estimated moisture availability. This study suggests that visible-light photo-graphic assessment is useful for efficient forest understory phenology monitoring and allows more comprehensive data collection in support of ecosystem/land surface models.

Heat waves are considered to be increasing in frequency and intensity whereas they comprise a significant weather-related cause of deaths in several countries. Two heat waves occurred in Greece in summer 2007. These severe heat waves are... more

Heat waves are considered to be increasing in frequency and intensity whereas they comprise a significant weather-related cause of deaths in several countries. Two heat waves occurred in Greece in summer 2007. These severe heat waves are assessed by analyzing the prevailing synoptic conditions, evaluating human thermal discomfort, through the Heat Load Index (HL), as well as investigating its interrelation of air pollutant concentrations, and the daily air quality stress index (AQSI), in the greater region of Athens (Attica), Greece. Furthermore, the relation of HL values and the number of heatstroke and heat exhaustion events recorded in public hospitals operating within the Greek National Health System is examined. Data included radiosonde measurements from the Athens airport station (LGAT), NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data in order to obtain the position of the Subtropical Jet Stream (STJ), GDAS meteorological data for back-trajectory calculation, 10-min meteorological data from 10 Hydro-Meteorological stations and mean hourly values of nitric dioxide (NO 2), sulphur dioxide (SO 2) and ozone (O 3) concentrations, measured at 7 different sites, for the last 10-day period of June and July 2007. Spearman's rank correlation test was used to observe any possible correlation between HL values and air pollutant concentrations, and AQSI values. The results demonstrated different synoptic characteristics for the heat waves of June and July. In the heat wave of June, higher ambient temperatures were recorded and greater HL values were calculated. Extreme discomfort conditions were identified in both heat waves during both daytime and night-time hours. The air pollution analysis showed poor air quality conditions for the heat wave of July, while a significant correlation was found between HL values and average hourly concentrations of O 3 , NO 2 and SO 2. The number of heataffected patients reported during the June heat wave was larger.

Mammals have two kinds of sweat glands, apocrine and eccrine, which provide for thermal cooling. In this paper we describe the distribution and characteristics of these glands in selected mammals, especially primates, and reject the... more

Mammals have two kinds of sweat glands, apocrine and eccrine, which provide for thermal cooling. In this paper we describe the distribution and characteristics of these glands in selected mammals, especially primates, and reject the suggested development of the eccrine gland from the apocrine gland during the Tertiary geological period. The evidence strongly suggests that the two glands, depending on the presence or absence of fur, have equal and similar functions among mammals; apocrine glands are not primitive. However, there is a unique and remarkable thermal eccrine system in humans; we suggest that this system evolved in concert with bipedalism and a smooth hairless skin.

This paper is the first to integrate both field and theoretical approaches to demonstrate that fertility benefits can be a direct benefit to females mating on the classical lek. Field data collected for male sharp-tailed grouse... more

This paper is the first to integrate both field and theoretical approaches to demonstrate that fertility benefits can be a direct benefit to females mating on the classical lek. Field data collected for male sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus), a classical lekking species, revealed potential fertility benefits for selective females. Adult males and individuals occupying centrally located territories on the lek were found to have significantly larger testes than juveniles and peripheral individuals. Further, using empirical data from previously published studies of classical lekking grouse species, time-series analysis was employed to illustrate that female mating patterns, seasonal and daily, were non-random. We are the first to show that these patterns coincide with times when male fertility is at its peak.

Adults have been increasingly motivated to compete in recreational endurance sports events. Amateurs may lack a complete understanding of recommended strategies for handling heat and humidity, making heatrelated illnesses increasingly... more

Adults have been increasingly motivated to compete in recreational endurance sports events. Amateurs may lack a complete understanding of recommended strategies for handling heat and humidity, making heatrelated illnesses increasingly possible. This is compounded by global climate change and increasing average surface and air temperatures, especially in urban areas of industrialized nations in Europe and North America that have hosted most events to date. We conducted an on-line, secure survey at the 2nd Annual ING Georgia Marathon and Half-Marathon in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2008. We included previously validated questions on participant socio-demographics, training locations, and knowledge and awareness of heat-related illnesses. Participants were aware of heat illnesses, and of heat stroke as a serious form of heat stress. However, the majority, across age and gender, did not understand the potential severity of heat stroke. Furthermore, 1-in-5 participants did not understand the concept of heat stress as a form of heat-related illness, and how heat stress may result from buildup of musclegenerated heat in the body. Adult recreational endurance athletes are another susceptible, vulnerable population subgroup for applied research and public health educational interventions, especially in urban areas of industrialized nations in Europe and North America.

and sharing with colleagues.

In summer 2007, in the city of Athens, Greece, extremely high air temperatures were recorded, inducing heat discomfort conditions in the urban environment. Four biometeorological indices were calculated in order to evaluate human thermal... more

In summer 2007, in the city of Athens, Greece, extremely high air temperatures were recorded, inducing heat discomfort conditions in the urban environment. Four biometeorological indices were calculated in order to evaluate human thermal sensation and thermal comfort: Actual Sensation Vote (ASV), Thermal Sensation-Ginovi method (TS), Discomfort Index (DI) and Heat Load Index (HL). Data included measurements of ambient temperature, temperature of the surrounding ground surface, relative humidity, air pressure, wind velocity and solar radiation obtained from National Observatory of Athens (NOA) station. During this period the daily number of patients probably affected by heat in emergency department units of cardiac clinics of four public general hospitals in Athens was recorded. The results revealed high values of DI and HL indices, demonstrating severe heat stress conditions during the last ten day period of June and July, while the ASV tends to classify too many cases into the comfort zone compared to TS, DI and HL. The statistical analysis revealed a negative relationship between the number of heat affected patients and the estimated indices values.

The main characteristics of the heat accumulation period and the possible existence of different types of biological response to the environment in different populations of olive through the Mediterranean region have been evaluated.... more

The main characteristics of the heat accumulation period and the possible existence of different types of biological response to the environment in different populations of olive through the Mediterranean region have been evaluated. Chilling curves to determine the start date of the heat accumulation period were constructed and evaluated. The results allow us to conclude that the northern olive populations have the greatest heat requirements for the development of their floral buds, and they need a period of time longer than olives in others areas to completely satisfy their biothermic requirements. The olive trees located in the warmest winter areas have a faster transition from endogenous to exogenous inhibition once the peak of chilling is met, and they show more rapid floral development. The lower heat requirements are due to better adaptation to warmer regions. Both the threshold temperature and the peak of flowering date are closely related to latitude. Different types of biological responses of olives to the environment were found. The adaptive capacity shown by the olive tree should be considered as a useful tool with which to study the effects of global climatic change on agroecosystems.

Climate data has a crucial role for planning and mitigation activities in the tourism sectors. Observation data of between 1960-2017 and projection data of between 2018-2099 with RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios have been used for Gazipaşa,... more

Climate data has a crucial role for planning and mitigation activities in the tourism sectors. Observation data of between 1960-2017 and projection data of between 2018-2099 with RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios have been used for Gazipaşa, Alanya, Antalya, Manavgat, Kemer, Korkuteli, Elmalı, Finike, Demre and Kaş stations. Two stations, Korkuteli and Elmalı are mountainous locations where elevations are more than 1000m. The other stations can be assessed as coastal areas. This study will show different thermal comfort between coastal and mountainous locations. The Physiologically Equivalent Temperatures (PET and mPET) have been calculated by using RayMan software. Determining of the trends of these tourism related indices are expected to provide important information to academy, tourists, tour operators and sector-related decision makers in Antalya. The principles of mPET and differences between original PET are introduced and discussed in this study. Additionally, a comparison of mPET and PET models has been done in Antalya condition. The R² of winter, spring, summer and autumn have been found 1.00, 0.99, 1.00, 0.98 respectively. This shows a well co-relationship between PET and mPET in Antalya. At the same activity level, mPET values were found higher than PET in Antalya in cold seasons and lower in summer. These results show that mPET demonstrate more comfort than PET. There are increasing trends in PET and mPET comfort indices in the case of the both scenarios. However, according to the RCP8.5 scenario, the increase after 2050 is much higher than RCP4.5. The increasing tendency in indices has an effect that increases comfort in winter and spring, while it has a decreasing effect in summer and autumn. According to the RCP8.5 scenario in the winter season, it has been calculated that comfortable years may occur in Manavgat, Finike, Demre and Kemer after 2050.

Different methods have been compared for the estimation of solar heat load on man. The comparison comprised several methods based on the calculation of absorbed solar radiation and one method for calculation of mean radiant temperature... more

Different methods have been compared for the estimation of solar heat load on man. The comparison comprised several methods based on the calculation of absorbed solar radiation and one method for calculation of mean radiant temperature (;V/r/(. Regression analysis was carried out for predicted values and values calculated for a vertical cylinder, assumed as an analog model of a standing man. Regression of mean skin temperature. measured in 10 subjects exposed to solar radiation under a variety of climatic conditions. on predicted radiant heat load was also analysed. Mean skin temperature correlated best with Mrt, accounting for more than 50% of the variance. The results indicated that three methods provide a realistic estimation of the radiation heat load, whereas some methods show deviations of several hundred per cent.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between simulated solar radiation and thermal comfort. Three studies investigated the effects of (1) the intensity of direct simulated solar radiation, (2) spectral content of... more

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between simulated solar radiation and thermal comfort. Three studies investigated the effects of (1) the intensity of direct simulated solar radiation, (2) spectral content of simulated solar radiation and (3) glazing type on human thermal sensation responses. Eight male subjects were exposed in each of the three studies. In Study 1, subjects were exposed to four levels of simulated solar radiation: 0, 200, 400 and 600 Wm −2 . In Study 2, subjects were exposed to simulated solar radiation with four different spectral contents, each with a total intensity of 400 Wm −2 on the subject. In Study 3, subjects were exposed through glass to radiation caused by 1,000 Wm −2 of simulated solar radiation on the exterior surface of four different glazing types. The environment was otherwise thermally neutral where there was no direct radiation, predicted mean vote (PMV)=0±0.5, [International Standards Organisation (ISO) standard 7730]. Ratings of thermal sensation, comfort, stickiness and preference and measures of mean skin temperature (t sk ) were taken. Increase in the total intensity of simulated solar radiation rather than the specific wavelength of the radiation is the critical factor affecting thermal comfort. Thermal sensation votes showed that there was a sensation scale increase of 1 scale unit for each increase of direct radiation of around 200 Wm −2 . The specific spectral content of the radiation has no direct effect on thermal sensation. The results contribute to models for determining the effects of solar radiation on thermal comfort in vehicles, buildings and outdoors.

The study was aimed at describing the temperature humidity index (THI) dynamics over the Mediterranean basin for the period 1951-2007. The THI combines temperature and humidity into a single value, and may help to predict the effects of... more

The study was aimed at describing the temperature humidity index (THI) dynamics over the Mediterranean basin for the period 1951-2007. The THI combines temperature and humidity into a single value, and may help to predict the effects of environmental warmth in farm animals. In particular, on the basis of THI values, numerous studies have been performed to establish thresholds for heat stress in dairy cows. The THI was calculated by using monthly mean values of temperature and humidity obtained from the National Center for Environmental Prediction/ National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis project. The analysis demonstrated a high degree of heterogeneity of THI patterns over the Mediterranean basin, a strong north-south gradient, and an overall warming during the study period, which was particularly marked during summer seasons. Results indicated that several areas of the basin present summer THI values which were unfavorable to cow welfare and productivity, and that risk of heat stress for cows is generally greater in the countries of the south coast of the basin. Furthermore, THI data from the summer 2003 revealed that severe positive anomalies may impact areas normally characterized by a favorable climate for animal production. In conclusion, THI dynamics should be taken into careful consideration by farmers and policy makers operating in Mediterranean countries when planning investments in the sector of animal production.

Divergence in the acceptability to people in different regions of naturally ventilated thermal environments raises a concern over the extent to which the ASHRAE Standard 55 may be applied as a universal criterion of thermal comfort. In... more

Divergence in the acceptability to people in different regions of naturally ventilated thermal environments raises a concern over the extent to which the ASHRAE Standard 55 may be applied as a universal criterion of thermal comfort. In this study, the ASHRAE 55 adaptive model of thermal comfort was investigated for its applicability to a hot and humid climate through a long-term field survey performed in central Taiwan among local students attending 14 elementary and high schools during September to January. Adaptive behaviors, thermal neutrality, and thermal comfort zones are explored. A probit analysis of thermal acceptability responses from students was performed in place of the conventional linear regression of thermal sensation votes against operative temperature to investigate the limits of comfort zones for 90% and 80% acceptability; the corresponding comfort zones were found to occur at 20.1-28.4°C and 17.6-30.0°C, respectively. In comparison with the yearly comfort zones recommended by the adaptive model for naturally ventilated spaces in the ASHRAE Standard 55, those observed in this study differ in the lower limit for 80% acceptability, with the observed level being 1.7°C lower than the ASHRAE-recommended value. These findings can be generalized to the population of school children, thus providing information that can supplement ASHRAE Standard 55 in evaluating the thermal performance of naturally ventilated school buildings, particularly in hot-humid areas such as Taiwan.

This paper presents a new approach, in applying the Pierce two-node model, to predict local skin temperatures of individual body parts with good accuracy. In this study, local skin temperature measurements at 24 sites on the bodies of 11... more

This paper presents a new approach, in applying the Pierce two-node model, to predict local skin temperatures of individual body parts with good accuracy. In this study, local skin temperature measurements at 24 sites on the bodies of 11 human subjects were carried out in a controlled environment under three different indoor conditions (i.e. neutral, warm and cold). The neutral condition measurements were used to adjust the local skin set-points in the model for each body part. Additional modifications to the calculation algorithm were introduced corresponding to different body parts. The local core set-points were then calculated, using a line search method, as the input values that allow the model to predict the skin temperatures with maximum deviation of ±0.1°C for the neutral condition. The model predictability was verified for the other two indoor conditions, and the results show that the modified model predicts local skin temperatures with average deviation of ±0.3°C.

This paper reports on modelling to predict airborne olive pollen season severity, expressed as a pollen index (PI), in Córdoba province (southern Spain) several weeks prior to the pollen season start. Using a 29-year database , a... more

This paper reports on modelling to predict airborne olive pollen season severity, expressed as a pollen index (PI), in Córdoba province (southern Spain) several weeks prior to the pollen season start. Using a 29-year database , a multivariate regression model based on five indices-the index-based model-was built to enhance the efficacy of prediction models. Four of the indices used were biometeorological indices: thermal index, pre-flowering hydric index, dormancy hydric index and summer index; the fifth was an autoregressive cyclicity index based on pollen data from previous years. The extreme weather events characteristic of the Mediterranean climate were also taken into account by applying different adjustment criteria. The results obtained with this model were compared with those yielded by a traditional meteorologicalbased model built using multivariate regression analysis of simple meteorological-related variables. The performance of the models (confidence intervals, significance levels and standard errors) was compared, and they were also validated using the bootstrap method. The index-based model built on biometeorological and cyclicity indices was found to perform better for olive pollen forecasting purposes than the traditional meteorological-based model.

As recomendações bioclimáticas para projetos arquitetônicos têm sido objeto de estudo por diversos autores, através de proposições de cartas bioclimáticas, desde a década de 50. No presente artigo, efetuam-se conceituações acerca do tema... more

As recomendações bioclimáticas para projetos arquitetônicos têm sido objeto de estudo por diversos autores, através de proposições de cartas bioclimáticas, desde a década de 50. No presente artigo, efetuam-se conceituações acerca do tema e uma breve revisão da literatura, incluindo pesquisas nacionais; e aplicando-as a um exame de caso para o clima de Maringá-PR; através da utilização do programa ANALISYSBIO 3.0 e de um banco de dados informatizado com 52.640 dados de elementos climatológicos no formato de TRY -Test Reference Year, com o objetivo de definir o bioclima correto da localidade, visando futuras aplicações da proposta de normalização do COBRACON/ABNT acerca do desempenho de edifícios.

Flowering phenology of tree rhododendron (Rhododendron arboreum Sm.) was monitored in situ along elevation gradients in two distinct ecological settings. Observations were carried out in Gaoligong Nature Reserve (GNR) in China and in the... more

Flowering phenology of tree rhododendron (Rhododendron arboreum Sm.) was monitored in situ along elevation gradients in two distinct ecological settings. Observations were carried out in Gaoligong Nature Reserve (GNR) in China and in the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area (KCA) in Nepal. Using the crown density method, flowering events of the selected species were recorded. Flowering duration and synchrony were determined within each site and along the elevation gradient in each study area. Our observations showed high synchrony throughout the elevation gradient, especially for peak flowering. Mean 15-day soil temperature, soil parameters (soil moisture, nitrogen, organic matter and pH), age of the observed trees, and site characteristics (litter cover, canopy cover, inclination) were related to mean initial and peak flowering dates using partial least squares regression (PLS). Results differed between the two sites, but winter temperature was the most important variable affecting the regression model for both initial flowering and peak flowering at both sites. After temperature, soil moisture was the most important variable for explaining initial flowering dates. The distribution of tree rhododendron indicates that it is able to grow in a wide range of habitats with different environmental conditions. The recent trend of rising winter-spring temperature and the detected bloom-advancing effect of high temperatures during this period suggest that tree rhododendron might expand its distributional range in response to global warming.

The present paper describes a physical model that estimates the globe and the natural wet bulb temperatures from the main parameters generally recorded at meteorological weather stations, in order to predict the wet bulb globe temperature... more

The present paper describes a physical model that estimates the globe and the natural wet bulb temperatures from the main parameters generally recorded at meteorological weather stations, in order to predict the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) heat stress index for outdoor environments. The model is supported by a thermal analysis of the globe and the natural wet bulb temperature sensors. The results of simultaneous measurements of the WBGT and climatological parameters (solar radiation, wind velocity, humidity, etc.) are presented and used to validate the model. The final comparison between calculated and measured values shows a good agreement with the experimental data, with a maximum absolute deviation of 2.8% for the globe temperature and 2.6% for the natural wet bulb temperature and the WBGT index. The model is applied to the design reference year for Coimbra, Portugal, in order to illustrate its preventative capabilities from a practical point of view. The results clearly show that during the summer there is a critical daily period (1200-1600 hours, local standard time) during which people working outdoors should not be allowed to perform their normal activities.

Current thermal comfort standards and the models underpinning them purport to be equally applicable across all types of building, ventilation, occupancy pattern and climate zone. A recent research project sponsored by the American Society... more

Current thermal comfort standards and the models underpinning them purport to be equally applicable across all types of building, ventilation, occupancy pattern and climate zone. A recent research project sponsored by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE, RP-884) critically evaluated these assumptions by statistically analysing a large database of research results in building comfort studies from all over the world (n=22,346). The results reported in this paper indicated a clear dependence of indoor comfort temperatures on outdoor air temperatures (instead of outdoor effective temperature ET* used in RP-884), especially in buildings that were free-running or naturally ventilated. These findings encourage significant revisions of ASHRAE’s comfort standard in terms of climatically relevant prescriptions. The paper highlights the potential for reduced cooling energy requirements by designing for natural or hybrid ventilation in many moderate climate zones of the world.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of daily atmospheric weather conditions on daily leisure activity engagement, with a focus on physically active leisure. The methods capitalize on time diary data that were collected in... more

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of daily atmospheric weather conditions on daily leisure activity engagement, with a focus on physically active leisure. The methods capitalize on time diary data that were collected in Halifax, Nova Scotia to calculate objective measures of leisure activity engagement. Daily meteorological data from Environment Canada and daily sunrise and sunset times from the National Research Council of Canada are used to develop objective measures of the natural atmospheric environment. The time diary data were merged with the meteorological data in order to quantify the statistical association between daily weather conditions and the type, participation rate, frequency, and duration of leisure activity engagement. The results indicate that inclement and uncomfortable weather conditions, especially relating to thermal comfort and mechanical comfort, pose barriers to physically active leisure engagement, while promoting sedentary and home-based leisure activities. Overall, daily weather conditions exhibit modest, but significant, effects on leisure activity engagement; the strongest associations being for outdoor active sports and outdoor active leisure time budgets. In conclusion, weather conditions influence the type, participation rate, frequency, and duration of leisure activity engagement, which is an important consideration for health-promotion programming.

El 11 de marzo de 2020, la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) declaró pandemia global el brote de la enfermedad COVID-19, producida por el nuevo coronavirus SARS CoV-2. En este artículo se efectúa una revisión de las contribuciones... more

El 11 de marzo de 2020, la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) declaró pandemia global el brote de la enfermedad COVID-19, producida por el nuevo coronavirus SARS CoV-2. En este artículo se efectúa una revisión de las contribuciones científicas publicadas hasta la fecha que relacionan las condiciones atmosféricas con la distribución del SARS CoV-2. La mayor parte de ellas concluyen que existe cierta influencia del tiempo atmosférico y/o el clima en la distribución y el progreso de la COVID-19. En concreto, un ambiente fresco y seco, en el contexto de un clima mesotérmico, parece el más idóneo para la expansión del SARS CoV-2. Sin embargo, un número significativo de estudios revisados adolece de diseños de investigación inadecuados, lo que hace muy difícil aislar de forma fehaciente el efecto genuino de las condiciones atmosféricas en la propagación de la enfermedad de otros efectos, incluidos los posibles artefactos derivados de la prevalencia observada, la dependencia espacial y temporal de los datos y la propia geografía humana: conectividad geográfica, movilidad, sistema sanitario, etc. Se concluye que sólo existen indicios, no evidencia, de que las condiciones atmosféricas pueden llegar a explicar una fracción muy limitada de la dinámica espaciotemporal del SARS CoV-2.

The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the agricultural sector account for about 25.5% of total global anthropogenic emission. While CO 2 receives the most attention as a factor relative to global warming, CH 4 , N 2 O and... more

The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the agricultural sector account for about 25.5% of total global anthropogenic emission. While CO 2 receives the most attention as a factor relative to global warming, CH 4 , N 2 O and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) also cause significant radiative forcing. With the relative global warming potential of 25 compared with CO 2 , CH 4 is one of the most important GHGs. This article reviews the prediction models, estimation methodology and strategies for reducing enteric CH 4 emissions. Emission of CH 4 in ruminants differs among developed and developing countries, depending on factors

The general principles of the mechanisms of heat transfer are well known, but knowledge of the transition between evaporative and non-evaporative heat loss by Holstein cows in field conditions must be improved, especially for low-latitude... more

The general principles of the mechanisms of heat transfer are well known, but knowledge of the transition between evaporative and non-evaporative heat loss by Holstein cows in field conditions must be improved, especially for low-latitude environments. With this aim 15 Holstein cows managed in open pasture were observed in a tropical region. The latent heat loss from the body surface of the animals was measured by means of a ventilated capsule, while convective heat transfer was estimated by the theory of convection from a horizontal cylinder and by the long-wave radiation exchange based on the Stefan–Boltzmann law. When the air temperature was between 10 and 36°C the sensible heat transfer varied from 160 to –30 W m−2, while the latent heat loss by cutaneous evaporation increased from 30 to 350 W m−2. Heat loss by cutaneous evaporation accounted for 20–30% of the total heat loss when air temperatures ranged from 10 to 20°C. At air temperatures >30°C cutaneous evaporation becomes the main avenue of heat loss, accounting for approximately 85% of the total heat loss, while the rest is lost by respiratory evaporation.

Possible relationships between weather and telephone calls to police' complaining of domestic violence, were investigated for Brisbane during 1992. Having accounted for the effect of the day of the week, significant associations were... more

Possible relationships between weather and telephone calls to police' complaining of domestic violence, were investigated for Brisbane during 1992. Having accounted for the effect of the day of the week, significant associations were observed between calls and maximum air temperature, during all seasons. Prediction equations have been established for different days of the week. At the weekly level, the temperature association was enhanced by barometric pressure, yielding a regression which explained nearly 50% of the overall variability. It is suggested that the inputs into these regressions can be adequately forecasted, and that appropriate procedures may be developed for their practical application.

Plant phenology can be used for biomonitoring climate change. The flowering of certain temperate zone plant species occurs in response to accumulated heat. Networks of observers presently provide data on the timing of the growth of native... more

Plant phenology can be used for biomonitoring climate change. The flowering of certain temperate zone plant species occurs in response to accumulated heat. Networks of observers presently provide data on the timing of the growth of native and crop plants to Agro-meteorological Departments in Europe and the United States. In Alberta, a phenological survey which began in 1987 records flowering times for 15 native plants, with about 200 volunteers contributing observations annually. Six years of data have been summarized and correlated with temperature measurements. The Alberta phenological data can provide a key to sound decision-making in two ways: by providing proxy data on key variables to which vegetation responds, and by providing a model for transforming simple weather data into biologically meaningful zones.

Correlations between outdoor thermal indices and the calculated or measured mean radiant temperature T mrt are in general of high importance because of the combined effect on human energy balance in outdoor spaces. The most accurate way... more

Correlations between outdoor thermal indices and the calculated or measured mean radiant temperature T mrt are in general of high importance because of the combined effect on human energy balance in outdoor spaces. The most accurate way to determine T mrt is by means of integral radiation measurements, i.e. measuring the short-and long-wave radiation from six directions using pyranometers and pyrgeometers, an expensive and not always an easily available procedure. Some studies use globe thermometers combined with air temperature and wind speed sensors. An alternative way to determine T mrt is based on output from the RayMan model from measured data of incoming global radiation and morphological features of the monitoring site in particular sky view factor (SVF) data. The purpose of this paper is to compare different methods to assess the mean radiant temperature T mrt in terms of differences to a reference condition (T mrt calculated from field measurements) and to resulting outdoor comfort levels expressed as PET and UTCI values. The T mrt obtained from field measurements is a combination of air temperature, wind speed and globe temperature data according to the forced ventilation formula of ISO 7726 for data collected in Glasgow, UK. Four different methods were used in the RayMan model for T mrt calculations: input data consisting exclusively of data measured at urban sites; urban data excluding solar radiation, estimated SVF data and solar radiation data measured at a rural site; urban data excluding solar radiation with SVF data for each site; urban data excluding solar radiation and including solar radiation at the rural site taking no account of SVF information. Results show that all methods overestimate T mrt when compared to ISO calculations. Correlations were found to be significant for the first method and lower for the other three. Results in terms of comfort (PET, UTCI) suggest that reasonable estimates could be made based on global radiation data measured at the urban site or as a surrogate of missing SR data or globe temperature data recorded at the urban area on global radiation data measured at a rural location.

An experiment was conducted to elucidate the influence of four constant ambient temperatures (20 ~ 25 ~ 30 ~ and 35 ~ C) on the performance and physiological reactions of male commercial broiler chicks from 3 to 7 weeks of age. A 12 h... more

An experiment was conducted to elucidate the influence of four constant ambient temperatures (20 ~ 25 ~ 30 ~ and 35 ~ C) on the performance and physiological reactions of male commercial broiler chicks from 3 to 7 weeks of age. A 12 h light-dark cycle was operated, while relative humidity and air circulation were not controlled. Exposure of broiler chickens to the 20 ~ , 25 ~ , 30 ~ and 35~ treatments showed highly significant (P < 0.0001) depression in growth rate, food intake and efficiency of food utilization, and a significant increase in water consumption for the 30 ~ and 35 ~ C groups_ Mortality was, however, not affected by the temperature treatments. Changes in physiological status, such as increased rectal temperatures, decreased concentration of red blood cells, haemoglobin, haematocrit, and total plasma protein were observed in birds housed in the higher temperature (30 ~ and 35 ~ C) environments_ Moreover, in these broiler chickens, there was an increased blood glucose concentration and a decreased thyroid gland weight. These results indicate that continuous exposure of broiler chickens to high ambient temperatures markedly affects their performance and physiological response.