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Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Agricultural Sciences / Revista Brasileira de Ciências Agrárias is the property of Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Drought is one of the most critical meteorological hazards that has a devastating effect on natural habitats, ecosystems, and many economic and social sectors. Due to these severe impacts of drought events, many studies have focused on drought monitoring, prediction, and risk analysis to aid drought preparedness plans and mitigation measures. This paper presents a new drought composite index (DCI) to measure the intensity and frequency of the hazard component of meteorological drought. The DCI considers multiple indicators, such as precipitation, temperature, evapotranspiration, wind speed, relative humidity, and sunshine duration. The DCI is validated through an application to the Brazilian semiarid context. Based on the expert's opinion, we define the weight of each indicator using the analytical hierarchy process. The results were compared with two other drought indices to provide an initial validation because the other indices are not exclusively meteorological indices. The DCI estimates for January 2019 show that the semiarid central region is the most critical. The findings also indicate that the drought intensity is growing in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: There are many factors that affect paper degradation in archives, but air temperature and humidity under inadequate storage conditions are among the most important ones. Such inadequate conditions will trigger biological, chemical and physical processes that may enhance the degradation of papers. On the other hand, users of libraries and archives, where documents are stored, require adequate indoor conditions for carrying out diverse activities. In this paper we analyze the performance of archives with regard to paper and document storage conditions, also given in terms of the Time Weighted Preservation Index (TWPI), against overall comfort conditions, according to ISO 7730 and to the Building Bioclimatic Chart. For that purpose, five different settings were chosen, corresponding to indoor and outdoor conditions of three Brazilian archives, located in diverse climatic regions (Curitiba, 25°25′S 49°16′W, Belo Horizonte, 19°56′S 43°56′W and Rio de Janeiro, 22°50′S 43°10′W). The monitoring period comprehended 12months, with a mid-term data collection. Results showed that there is a significant difference in storage conditions among different locations, even though there is a similarity in indoor thermal comfort conditions. A compromise solution should be sought between storage conditions and human thermal comfort parameters. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We evaluated the performance of the Thornthwaite (ThW) method using two gridded climate datasets to estimate monthly average daily potential evapotranspiration (PET). The PET estimated from two gridded series were compared to PET and to reference evapotranspiration (ETo) determined, respectively, through the ThW and Penman-Monteith model parameterized on Food and Agriculture Organization–Irrigation and Drainage paper No 56 (PM-FAO56) using data from weather stations. The PET by ThM was based on monthly air temperature series (1961–2010) from two gridded datasets (Global Historical Climatology Network-GHCN and University of Delaware-UDel) and 21 weather stations of the National Institute of Meteorology (INMET) located in Southeastern Brazil. The ETo PM-FAO56 used monthly climate series (1961–2010) on sunshine duration, air temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed from weather stations of the INMET. The PET estimated using UDel gridded series was better overall performance than the GHCN series. Differences in altitude, latitude, and longitude were the main geographic factors determining the performance of the PET estimates using gridded climate series. Depending on the factors, some locations require bias correction, especially locations more than 10 km away from the grid point. The gridded datasets are an alternative for locations without climatic series data or with low-quality non-continuous data series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the first results of the effect of an industrial closed-system thermal modification process on the physical properties of fast-growth teak wood (Tectona grandis L.f.). The wood (juvenile) came from thinning a 15–18-year-old plantation located in Mato Grosso state, Midwest Brazil, broken down into plainsawn battens measuring 25 × 70 × 1 070 mm (radial × tangential × longitudinal). The battens were from material close to the pith which was combined heartwood (≈75%) and sapwood. We sampled untreated and thermally modified battens, which were transformed into specimens for testing. The thermal modification was carried out at 160 °C in an industrial scale reactor, according to the parameters of the TanWood process, which is classified as a closed hygrothermal system. Twelve specimens by treatment (25 × 60 × 50 mm3 — radial × tangential × longitudinal) were conditioned in a climatic chamber set up at 35 °C and the relative humidity (RH) was raised stepwise (31%, 49%, 69% and 81%). Apparent density and equilibrium moisture content of the specimens were measured at every step. The latter was used as an index of wood hygroscopicity. For the statistical analysis, only the results of apparent density and moisture content at 35 °C and 69% RH were compared. At the end of the conditioning, the specimens were saturated in water, followed by oven-drying and then the total swelling (from saturated to oven-dried) was calculated. Thermally modified wood became less dense, less hygroscopic and more dimensionally stable than untreated wood. The apparent density and the equilibrium moisture content of wood were reduced by 20% and 18% respectively. With the continuous increase of RH from 31% to 81%, the thermally modified wood proportionally adsorbed less water than the untreated wood. The radial, tangential and volumetric total swelling were reduced by 25%, 5% and 15% respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper constructs probability density distributions of direct normal, diffuse horizontal, and global horizontal irradiance for 1-min clearness indexes kb, kd, and kt, respectively. Previous studies on the clearness index, conditioned to the optical air mass, are analyzed and distributions of these three indexes, using data from two solarimetric stations in Brazil, are presented. The pattern found in probability density distributions, in general, matches the patterns found in the literature. The 50th percentile (P50) of kb values from Sao Paulo city (a location with high levels of pollution) is 0.22, and from the countryside region of the state of Sao Paulo (a location with expected low levels of pollution), it is 0.55. Regarding kt values, P50 is 0.57 and 0.72 for these two regions, respectively. We conclude that different atmospheric conditions result in a different dependence relation between probability density distribution and air mass increases. These conditions include not only cloud formation, but also pollution levels and the influence of relative humidity. These specific results endorse the need for local radiation measurements to the characterization of few-minute average of transmittance indexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A mangrove is a transitional coastal ecosystem between marine and terrestrial environments that is characterized by salinity and constant tidal flooding. Mangroves contain plant communities that are adapted to several physical constraints, including the climate. The purpose of this study was to analyze the variations in climatic attributes (air temperature, relative air humidity, global solar radiation, wind, and rainfall) in the mangroves located in the municipality of Iguape, on the southern coast of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. In addition, it was determined whether the existing variation is related to the presence of the canopy environment. A microclimate tower was installed with two weather stations to obtain an analysis of the variation of the climatic attributes above and below the canopy. The results indicate that global solar radiation had an average transmissivity of 26.8%. The air temperature at 10 m was higher than that at the sensor at 2 m. The average rainfall interception for the mangrove environment was 19.6%. Both the maximum gust and average wind speed decreased by approximately 63.7% at 2 m. The mangrove canopy was found to be an important control on the variation of climatic attributes. On a microclimatic scale, the climate attributes had a direct influence on the spatial distribution of vegetation. Additionally, characteristics of the canopy are the main control for this variation, especially for the distribution of rainfall and the amount of solar radiation below the canopy, which influence the distribution of plant species in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Geográfica is the property of Acta Geografica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Scientiarum: Human & Social Sciences is the property of Universidade Estadual de Maringa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper describes a study of the leakage current activity on glass-type insulators of high-voltage transmission lines over a three-month period. Three pairs of sensor systems were installed, one on a 500-ky field tower and the other two on 230-ky and 500-ky substation towers, all in the northeast region of Brasil. The locations were chosen due to their particular environment characteristics and the previous knowledge of pollution severity in these locations. The correlation of the leakage current attributes with in situ humidity records, insulator positions on the tower, and seasonality are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Public open spaces (POS) can offer various resources to promote visitation and engagement in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). However, the influence of seasonal variations and specific meteorological conditions on this relationship remains unclear. Thus, this study aims to investigate the effect of seasonal variations and specific meteorological elements on different days of the week and times of day on POS use and POS-based MVPA in the Brazilian context. Methods: In 2018, repeated measurements carried out in Southern Brazil used a systematic observation to identify the presence of users in the POS and their engagement in MVPA. The meteorological elements (temperature, thermal sensation, and relative humidity), as well as seasonality (summer, autumn, winter, and spring), were aggregated into the observations. Results: A total of 19,712 systematic observations were conducted across nine POS. During these observations, a total of 59,354 users were identified. Out of theses, 39,153 (66.0%) were engaged in POS-based MVPA. The presence of users was found to be more frequent during the spring season (38.7%) and on weekends (ranging from 37.6 to 50.1% across seasons). Additionally, user presence was higher in the late afternoon (ranging from 36.4 to 58.2% across seasons) and at higher temperatures with lower relative humidity (p-value < 0.001). Regarding POS-based MVPA, it was more frequent during the winter season (36.4%) and on weekdays (ranging from 73.2 to 79.9% across seasons). Similarly, MVPA was higher in the late afternoon (ranging from 58.3 to 67.5% across seasons) and at lower temperatures and thermal sensations (p-value < 0.005). Conclusions: Higher presence of users in POS, as well as their visiting, to practice POS-based MVPA, depending on the seasons and specific meteorological elements. By creating infrastructure and conducive conditions, cities can encourage individuals to adopt more active and healthy behaviors. These findings emphasize the importance of designing urban spaces that promote physical activity and contribute to overall well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The air temperature anomaly was analysed in 16 consecutive winters from 2004 to 2019 in southern Brazil using reanalysis data and hourly atmospheric observations. In this study, 13 heat wave (HW) episodes were identified using the percentile methodology. All identified episodes are associated with the occurrence of a downslope windstorm known as Vento Norte (VNOR; Portuguese for 'North Wind'). The VNOR is characterized by a sharp increase in air temperature combined with constant, strong, gusty winds from the north and a drop in relative humidity. The average duration was about 5 days for HW and 18 h for VNOR being than in 59.5% of the HW hours, the VNOR windstorm was also detected. The main atmospheric variables were compared during the periods of winter, HW and the VNOR windstorm. The analysis showed that HW alters local weather and climate conditions, with the more pronounced features associated with the VNOR flow. A more detailed investigation comparing the atmospheric variables collected north and south of an abrupt change in terrain altitude (400 m) revealed that the main cause of the amplification of the atmospheric variable anomalies in the centre of the state of Rio Grande do Sul was the simultaneous occurrence of HW and VNOR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mozambique is a country located in the southwest of the African continent. The country has great climatic diversity. The tropical monsoon (Am), tropical savanna (Aw), hot semiarid (BSh), and humid subtropical (Cwa and Cfa) and subtropical highland (Cwb) climates stand out. The regions classified a subtropical have climatic potential for the rational exploitation low and medium chill requirement of peach trees. There are already technologies for the cultivation of peach trees in subtropical regions in Brazil. The objective of this study was to identify the zoning of suitable areas and provide bases for the establishment and expansion of peach cultivation in Mozambique. Meteorological data from 108 stations and the geotechnological tool ArcGIS 10.1 were used to spatialize temperature, rainfall, and humidity data and then reclassify them for the generation of maps using the Geostatistical Analyst extension. In parallel, maps of mean annual temperatures and climate classification were used. Regions in the subtropical areas of Mozambique with suitable temperature and rainfall are viable for peach plantations. The results showed the Northwest, Central and South regions is more suitable for the economic exploitation of peaches trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study discusses the choice of dehumidification systems for high-moisture indoor environments, such as indoor swimming pools, supported by an eco-energetic performance comparison. Initially, the causes of the high relative humidity and condensation in these spaces are reported, as well as the available dehumidification technologies. Two different solutions are described: desiccant wheel dehumidification and re-cooling. The energy demand required by a refrigeration system is lower than the desiccant wheel; however, the former system requires less maintenance and does not require refrigerant fluid. An eco-energetic comparison is performed between the two systems in two countries with different energy matrices (Brazil and USA). In Brazil, the desiccant wheel is the best choice for the past 10 years, with a predicted 351,520 kgCO2 of CO2 emissions, which is 38% lower than the refrigeration system. In the USA, the best option is the refrigeration system (1,463,350 kgCO2), a 12% more efficient option than desiccant wheels. This model can be considered for energy and CO2 emissions assessment, predicting which system has better energy efficiency and lower environmental impact, depending on the refrigerant type, location and environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates a summer heat wave (HW) associated with downslope winds (DWs) affecting the central region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil. The temporal evolution of both phenomena is analyzed in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) using a combination of micrometeorological and rawinsonde data. For spatial characterization, ERA-5 reanalysis data are used. The HW covered a large area in southern Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. The main features of the HW were locally enhanced in the central region of RS by the development of DWs. The establishment of DWs near the surface depends on the dynamics of the ABL and local topographic features. The results showed that DWs that occurred during the HW contributed to the extreme temperatures and were associated with strong northerly winds, low relative humidity, and a drop in the dew points. Together, these extreme events influenced the turbulent and mean flow patterns of the ABL. The increase in turbulent activity associated with the warming of the ABL favored enhanced growth of morning ABL, while at night the simultaneous effects of radiative and turbulence cooling inhibited the formation of a strong stable ABL. The analysis highlights the complex interplay of synoptic and local factors associated with DWs and HW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for meteorological gridded datasets has increased within the last few years to inform studies such those in climate, weather, and agriculture. These studies require those data to be readily usable in standard formats with continuous spatial and temporal coverage. Since 2016, Brazil has a daily gridded meteorological data set with spatial resolution of 0.25° × 0.25° from January 1, 1980 to December 31, 2013 which was well received by the community. The main objective of this work is to improve the Brazilian meteorological data set. We do this by increasing the resolution of the minimum and maximum temperature (Tmax and Tmin) gridded interpolations from 0.25° × 0.25° to 0.1° × 0.1° by incorporating data on topographic relief, and increasing the time period covered (January 1, 1961–July 31, 2020). Besides Tmax and Tmin, we also gridded precipitation (pr), solar radiation (Rs), wind speed (u2), and relative humidity (RH) using observed data from 11,473 rain gauges and 1,252 weather stations. By means of ranked cross‐validation statistics, we selected the best interpolation among inverse distance weighting and angular distance weighting methods. We determined that interpolations for Tmax and Tmin are improved by using the elevation of a query point, that accounts for topographic relief, and a temperature lapse rate. Even though this new version has ≈25 years more data relative to the previous one, statistics from cross‐validation were similar. To allow researchers to assess the performance of the interpolation relative to station data in the area, we provide two types of gridded controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is a very complex natural phenomenon that affects the water supply and consequently impacts agricultural and socioeconomic activities, causing social and political crises. The objective of this study is to spatiotemporally analyze meteorological and agricultural droughts based on multiple indices in the Upper Paraíba River basin for the 2001–2017 period. The agricultural droughts were analyzed using four drought indices (NDVI, LST, VSWI, and VHI) based on data from the MODIS sensor on the TERRA and AQUA satellites, while the meteorological droughts were characterized using the standardized precipitation index (SPI) at three different time scales based on TRMM rainfall data. The values of LST, NDVI, VHI, VSWI, and SPI revealed how much vegetation is influenced by rainfall variability in this semiarid region of Brazil. The estimated results of VSWI and VHI show the years with extremely wet and dry conditions from spatial and temporal perspectives. The relationship between estimated drought indices and observed relative humidity showed that VSWI (R² = 0.78) was best fitted when compared to VHI (R² = 0.46). Thus, it can be concluded that the VSWI index is better adapted because it presented more consistent results for the behavior of agricultural droughts when compared to the VHI. The results of the SPI analysis were used for the identification of the main drought events that affected the study basin. This combined technique of different drought indices easily produced an alternative method for comprehensive drought assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF) resin is commonly used in the production of wood-based panels. It can replace urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin particularly to improve wood panel properties under high humidity conditions. This paper presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) study of the production of MUF resin through a case study conducted in Brazil. The assessment of 1 kg of MUF resin included two main stages: raw material supply and MUF resin manufacturing. A detailed inventory of MUF resin was obtained from technical visits to a Brazilian producer (foreground system), as well as from literature reviews (mainly background systems). The potential environmental impact assessment phase was assessed by applying two methods and seven impact categories: CML (abiotic depletion, acidification, global warming, eutrophication and photochemical oxidation) and USEtox (ecotoxicity and human toxicity). The raw material supply stage was responsible for most of the impacts, except for the toxicological impact categories. Nearly all of the raw material supply hotspots are related to the production of melamine (9–61% of impacts) and urea (3–72% of impacts). The MUF manufacturing stage was significantly more important for ecotoxicity (84% of impacts) and human toxicity (72% of impacts) due to local formaldehyde emissions. Improvement scenarios were developed and the addition of up to 10% of melamine was suggested for the production of MUF resins. MUF resin was compared with UF resin and the results showed that MUF can replace UF resin because of its lower contribution to photochemical oxidation, ecotoxicity and human toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Sheep were originally brought to Brazil approximately 500 years ago from Europe and Northern Africa; they adapted quickly to their new environments and developed unique traits. The objective of this study was to correlate environmental variables with sheep production in Brazil to promote the development of this activity. Brazil has several distinct environments as shown in this paper. These variables included vegetation cover (NDVI), precipitation, temperature, altitude, relative humidity (RH), solar radiation and the temperature humidity index (THI). Correlation analyses were performed with environmental variables and production levels at national and regional level. A factor analysis was performed to characterize the covariance between variables. We formed groups (clusters) due to productivity levels and performed canonical discriminant analyses to determine which variables were associated with different levels of production. The municipalities with the highest levels of sheep production were selected to define the intervals of each environmental variable. A map was drafted in ArcGis 9.3 to illustrate the landscape features where the highest levels of production are located. The results showed that, nationally, production is influenced by a great diversity of environments, thus masking possible correlations. When the correlation analysis was carried out by region, significant correlations were observed. Cluster analysis identified two dominant, clearly separated producing regions (northeast and south). The canonical analysis indicated that the most important variables delineating the clusters were precipitation, THI, temperature and RH. The map showing the landscape features where the highest production levels are located indicated that the breeds in the northeast are reared on an area of approximately 900,000 km2, while those from the south are reared on an area of approximately 1,100 million km2. This study showed that it is important to consider the environmental characteristics of different regions of Brazil when proposing public policies related to sheep production. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The objective of this paper was to perform an analysis on thermal acceptability in naturally ventilated (NVB) and air-conditioned buildings (ACB) located in hot and humid climates in Brazil. Experiments were carried out in April and November 2005 with 1.301 questionnaires based on ISO 10551:1995(E). Indoor and outdoor climatic variables were monitored simultaneously. The results revealed that 53% of the occupants of NVB and 78% of ACB were thermally satisfied. However, some restrictions were observed with the applications of the following methodologies: ISO/FDIS 7730:2005(E); ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55:2004; Adaptive Temperature Limits (ATG) and prEN15251: 2005(E). Differences were observed between thermal sensation (TSV) and predicted mean vote (PMV) and between the subject''s percentages expressing thermal unacceptability of the environment and the PPD calculated according to ISO/FDIS 7730:2005(E). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In hot humid climates, natural ventilation is an essential passive strategy in order to maintain thermal comfort inside buildings and it can be also used as an energy-conserving design strategy to reduce building cooling loads by removing heat stored in the buildings thermal mass. In this context, many previous studies have focused on thermal comfort and air velocity ranges. However, whether this air movement is desirable or not remains an open area. This paper aims to identify air movement acceptability levels inside naturally ventilated buildings in Brazil. Minimal air velocity values corresponding to 80% and 90% (V80 and V90) air movement acceptability inside these buildings. Field experiments were performed during hot and cool seasons when 2075 questionnaires were filled for the subjects while simultaneous microclimatic observations were made with laboratory precision. Main results indicated that the minimal air velocity required were at least 0.4m/s for 26°C reaching 0.9m/s for operative temperatures up to 30°C. Subjects are not only preferring more air speed but also demanding air velocities closer or higher than 0.8m/s ASHRAE limit. This dispels the notion of draft in hot humid climates and reinforce the broader theory of alliesthesia and the physiological role of pleasure due to air movement increment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We investigate the climatic influence on COVID-19 transmission risks in 228 cities globally across three climatic zones. The results, based on the application of a Boosted Regression Tree algorithm method, show that average temperature and average relative humidity explain significant variations in COVID-19 transmission across temperate and subtropical regions, whereas in the tropical region, the average diurnal temperature range and temperature seasonality significantly predict the infection outbreak. The number of positive cases showed a decrease sharply above an average temperature of 10°C in the cities of France, Turkey, the US, the UK, and Germany. Among the tropical countries, COVID-19 in Indian cities is most affected by mean diurnal temperature, and those in Brazil by temperature seasonality. The findings have implications on public health interventions, and contribute to the ongoing scientific and policy discourse on the complex interplay of climatic factors determining the risks of COVID-19 transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Providing comfortable thermal conditions for users of open spaces is vitally important for improving the quality of urban life. Thermal comfort can be defined through environmental, individual, and subjective variables. The Olgyay bioclimatic chart is an outdoor thermal comfort analysis tool, connecting temperature with relative humidity. The application of this tool is still limited to hot humid climates only where minimal differences between indoor and outdoor temperatures exist. The novelty of this work is to propose adaptations to the Olgyay bioclimatic chart, taking into consideration different climatic classifications. In addition, urban plantation is examined for its influence on thermal comfort through the bioclimatic chart. The method adopted in this research consists of field measurements of the microclimatic variables in the examined places. In response, a new graphic model is proposed with a range of thermal comfort zone and analysis of the data obtained. The neighborhood of Humaitá in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil is applied as a case study to validate the proposed approach. Insights into this work reveal that the urban plantation is contributing to the reduction of air temperature and the increase of relative air humidity; however, this contribution is insufficient to reach the thermal comfort conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind energy is an important electricity source. Even though it is cleaner than other energy sources in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, gathering energy from the wind has impact on organisms that fly, including bats. Understanding whether and how bat activity patterns are affected by environmental variables may be useful when trying to mitigate these impacts, for example bat mortality from collisions with wind turbines. Northeastern Brazil concentrates one of the world's largest wind potentials and has thousands of wind turbines in operation. In spite of this scenario, there is a lack of basic information, such as the presence of bat species and their activity patterns in those wind farms. We used passive acoustic monitoring to assess species richness and species composition and obtain data on activity patterns of insectivorous bats in four wind farm complexes in northeastern Brazil. We also investigated the possible correlation between environmental variables (wind speed and direction, air temperature and humidity, and percentage of moon illumination) and bat activity. The acoustic monitoring carried out for 30 nights produced approximately 120,000 bat passes of 29 sonotypes and four families. Environmental variables may influence bat activity, but in a site-specific way, i.e., although the environmental conditions of wind-energy complexes were similar, there was not an activity pattern common to all. Considering such specificities, we strongly recommend long-term specific on-site monitoring in each wind complex, avoiding generalizations for the environmental licensing of wind energy in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All methods for estimating evapotranspiration (ETo) require accurate and complete meteorological datasets. However, the common lack of such datasets in Brazil, as well as the definition of the method that best represents the spatiotemporal pattern of ETo, are the main challenges to assess and mitigate the effects of climate variability (natural or due to anthropogenic climate change) in the Brazilian agricultural production systems. In this sense, this work aims to assess the spatiotemporal pattern of ETo, identify, and select among twenty-nine methods the one that presents the best performance in estimating ETo for different regions of Brazil using a high-resolution gridded weather dataset (GWD). In this study, performance is evaluated by comparing the ETo results obtained through the different methods to that estimated by the Penman–Monteith method. The weather variables used were near surface air temperature (maximum and minimum), relative humidity, wind speed at 2 m, global solar radiation, ETo, and sea level pressure in a daily basis from 1980 to 2017. Through principal component analysis (PCA), the behavior of ETo was mainly influenced by the global solar radiation, maximum air temperature, and relative humidity. For this reason, the performance of the methods varied across the Brazilian regions and seasons. The Turc and Abtew methods showed the best performance in estimating daily ETo, with lower RMSE (~ 0.5 mm day−1) and MAPE (~ 12%) and higher c-index values (~ 0.75), with slight advantage of Turc method, for all Brazilian regions and seasons. Also, the ETo estimation by Turc and Abtew using the GWD dataset showed a good agreement with Penman–Monteith method. Finally, the Hargreaves, Penman Original, and Stephens Stewart methods stood out for the Brazilian Northeast region (mean RMSE of 0.7 mm day−1, mean MAPE of 14%, mean c-index of 0.7), in areas that presents predominantly arid and semiarid climate conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of the red palm mite Raoiella indica Hirst, was recorded on açaí, Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Arecaceae), in Porto Seguro, Bahia State, northeastern Brazil. We evaluated the population dynamics of R. indica from September 2019 to February 2020. The population outbreak and most severe damage caused by R. indica was observed in February, a period of highest temperatures and low relative humidity. This is the first report of damage caused by the red palm mite on E. oleracea in Brazil. Management practices must be implemented to avoid intercropping açaí with other hosts of this mite e.g. coconut, banana and palm trees in order to minimize the occurrence and damage of R. indica on such agrosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study how the behavior and wing-beat frequency of hymenopteran flying insects depend on environmental conditions, such as temperature and relative humidity. We use flight data from seven bee species and two wasp species collected in Brazil in a completely non-invasive way under field conditions employing a low-cost optical sensor. With this data, we demonstrate that it is possible to accurately classify each insect species into two groups based on their flight frequency signal. The signals, however, are not the same under distinct environmental conditions. We statistically show that the bee and wasp wing-beat frequencies are significantly different, given distinct temperature and humidity ranges. This study's findings, along with our discussion of the species' flight activity, are crucial elements in developing intelligent methods for automatic detection, recognition, and monitoring of flying insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paullinia cupana var. sorbilis, known in Brazil as guarana plant, is an important plant and a major traditional crop in the State of Amazonas. It is a native Brazilian species of great economic and social importance, particularly in the Amazon region. Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum spp. is the main challenge for this crop. Therefore, the present study verified whether C. siamense, an endophytic fungus infected with a mycovirus, could protect the seedlings and reduce or eliminate the characteristic symptoms. Total proteins and enzymatic activities of pathogenesis-related proteins (PRPs), including peroxidase (POX), chitinase (CHI), and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), were quantified. Guarana seedlings of cultivar Maués were sprayed with a C. siamense conidia suspension (5.0 × 103 conidia/mL). After ten days, the seedlings were sprayed with a suspension of the phytopathogen's conidia (1.0 × 106 conidia/mL). One group of these seedlings received the fungicide indicated for this crop. The fungicide was applied twice with an interval of 15 days between applications. Negative control seedlings did not receive any treatment (except water and fertilization), and positive control seedlings were treated only with the phytopathogen. The experiment was conducted between December 2019 and February 2020 in a greenhouse. The treatments were applied at an average temperature of 25°C and 85% relative humidity. Leaflets were randomly collected from each treatment group at 0, 48, 72, and 96 hours after pathogen inoculation and analyzed for total protein and enzyme production (POX, PAL, and CHI). After 28 days, the percentage of leaf lesions on the seedlings was evaluated. C. siamense inoculation reduced lesions. There were differences in total proteins and PRPs at different timepoints after inoculation, except for CHI activity, among treatments. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first record of resistance induction in guarana plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Engineering Research is the property of Sultan Qaboos University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Bird vocal activity is affected by endogenous and exogenous factors. Owl surveys are mainly based on the detection of nocturnal calls, and therefore, the impact of exogenous factors on owls' vocal activity may have consequences in conservation planning and behavioural studies. However, our current knowledge about the impact of climatic factors and the moon phase on owl calling behaviour is very limited, especially in the Neotropics. We used autonomous recording units to evaluate the effect of air temperature, rainfall, relative air humidity, and percent of the moon illuminated on the vocal occurrence (active/inactive) of the Ferruginous pygmy-owl (Glaucidium brasilianum) over three consecutive moon cycles in the Brazilian Pantanal. Vocal activity was positively associated with the percent of the moon illuminated, with 75% of the nights on which the species was vocally active having a moon illumination percentage higher than 77%. The vocal activity of the species was negatively associated with the nocturnal air temperature, with more vocal activity observed on cooler nights. Relative air humidity and daily rainfall were not associated with the vocal activity of the Ferruginous pygmy-owl. Our study improves the knowledge about the impact of exogenous factors on the calling behaviour of Neotropical owls. We conclude that future surveys aiming to detect the Ferruginous pygmy-owl should be carried out on nights with a high percent of moon illumination (>75%) and nights with low average temperature (< 18 °C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several grafting methods have been developed, and bench grafting with stratification is the most widely used technique, except in Brazil, which is still in adaptation. The objective of this study was to evaluate for how long plant material can be stored before the grafting and the optimum temperature for stratification. Cultivar 'Paulsen 1103' was used as rootstock and 'Niagara Rosada' as scion cultivar. The storage period treatments were 0, 30, 60 and 90 days at the temperature of 3 °C and 95% of relative humidity. After the storage period, the branches were removed from the cold chamber, taken to grafting, and then placed at 19 °C and 24 °C for stratification. After 21 days of stratification, the vine grafts were planted in commercial substrate and left to grow for 160 days. The vine cuttings of cultivars Niagara and Paulsen 1103 can be stored in cold chamber at 3 °C for 90 days and, during this period, bench grafting can be performed at any time. However, the vines from cuttings stored in cold chamber for more than 30 days have better growth. It is recommended to stratify the vine grafts at 19 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assess the effect of increasing horizontal resolution on simulated precipitation over South America in a climate model. We use atmosphere-only simulations, performed with HadGEM3-GC31 at three horizontal resolutions: N96 (∼130 km; 1.88∘×1.25∘), N216 (∼60 km; 0.83∘×0.56∘), and N512 (∼25 km; 0.35∘×0.23∘). We show that all simulations have systematic biases in annual mean and seasonal mean precipitation over South America (e.g. too wet over the Amazon and too dry in the northeast). Increasing horizontal resolution improves simulated precipitation over the Andes and northeast Brazil. Over the Andes, improvements from horizontal resolution continue to ∼25 km, while over northeast Brazil, there are no improvements beyond ∼60 km resolution. These changes are primarily related to changes in atmospheric dynamics and moisture flux convergence. Over the Amazon Basin, precipitation variability increases at higher resolution. We show that some spatial and temporal features of daily South American precipitation are improved at high resolution, including the intensity spectra of rainfall. Spatial scales of daily precipitation features are also better simulated, suggesting that higher resolution may improve the representation of South American mesoscale convective systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triathlon is one of the most flourishing sports in the world. This study aimed to analyze the acute effects of physiological markers and subjective perception variables in amateur trained athletes. Participated in the present study 8 male endurance triathletes with race experience. The injury markers and oxidative stress parameters were investigated in the blood plasma and measured at baseline and post-race. Heat, comfort, and humidity perception, and Borg ratings of perceived exertion were measured during the baseline, transition area, and post-race. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used with significance set as p<0.05. The variables of injury and muscle fatigue presented a significant increase comparing the baseline and postrace data, CK (p= 0.005; d= 5.7), LDH (p= 0.004; d= 1.3) and lactate (p< 0.001; d= 7.2). It was observed a significant increase in CP (p= 0.021; d= 2.2) and a significant decrease in DPPH (p= 0.002; d= -1.4) in post-race, no significant changes in LP (p= 0.217; d= 0.6) and TT (p= 0.881; d= -0.1) oxidative stress markers was verified. A significant increase (Δ% = 30.95, p = 0.001; d = 6.8) was observed in urine temperature and color (range [1-7], p = 0.039). Even with the significant increase in fatigue, with a significant increase in the injury markers, oxidative stress markers suggested a good antioxidant defense. It was observed an increase in exertion and heat perception, as well as a reduction in heat comfort and skin wetness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Agricultura Irrigada - RBAI is the property of Revista Brasileira de Agricultura Irrigada - RBAI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

To test if the use of a peaked cap protects children against sun radiation, allowing increased exercise performance, nineteen healthy children (10.3 ± 0.8 years old, 146.2 ± 6.9 cm, 36.8 ± 5.5 kg, 1.2 ± 0.1 m2 and 44.1 ± 2.8 mL.kg-1.min-1) took part in 4 experimental situations: 2 initial familiarization runs and 2 self-paced 6km runs (4 × 1.5 km exercise bouts with 3min rest intervals) one of them wearing a peaked cap (CAP) and another situation without the cap (NOCAP). The CAP and NOCAP situations were randomized. Exercise was performed outdoors 3-7 days apart. Environmental variables were measured every 10min, and physiological variables were measured before and after each run and during the rest intervals. Running velocity did not differ between CAP and NOCAP situations. The mean head temperature was reduced by 1.1 °C in the CAP situation (p < .05). Average skin temperature, mean heart rate, rate of perceived exertion and wet bulb and globe temperature did not differ between CAP and NOCAP. The decrease in the mean head temperature was not sufficient to alter running velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to evaluate vaginal temperature as a thermoregulatory response of Nellore heifers under different microclimatic conditions. The study was conducted during one year in an experimental area located at 54°37′W, 20°27′S, and 530 m of altitude in Brazil. Twenty-four Nellore females were reared in integrated crop-livestock-forestry systems with different shading patterns. The randomized complete block experimental design was utilized with a sub subdivided plots scheme, with plot corresponding to the production systems, the subplot to the season of the year, and the sub subplot, the hours of the day. To characterize the microclimate, data regarding air and black globe temperatures, and air relative humidity were collected and from them, temperature-humidity index was calculated. Vaginal temperature was obtained by using a bottom-type temperature logger (i-button) attached to an adapted intravaginal device. The black-globe temperature explained the variation on vaginal temperature. Increases on vaginal temperature were only observed, on average, two hours after the increase of black-globe temperature. The microclimatic conditions found in the systems, resulting from the various tree densities, modify the vaginal temperature in different degrees, demonstrating that the shading effect is not always accompanied by improvements in thermal comfort. The system with intermediate density showed a better microclimatic condition and, consequently, a lower increase in vaginal temperature. The interaction between air temperature, humidity and solar radiation resulted in adverse environmental conditions, however, Nellore heifers showed good adaptation to the environment. In conclusion, vaginal temperature is a good indicator to evaluate the thermoregulatory response in Nellore heifers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The common idea that the sea breeze is a phenomenon that is always beneficial to the thermal from point of view is questioned in this study, since the sea breeze front (SBF) development is related with warmer days in the Sergipe region, located in the northeastern coast of Brazil. For this reason, the first climatology of the SBF and its potential implications on meteorological conditions were presented by using remote sensing (GOES-13 satellite image) and surface meteorological data. Results showed daily performance of the SBF: onset at 12:00 UTC and cessation at 19:00 UTC corresponding to a duration of 7 h, mean strength of 3.6 ms−1, and maximum inland penetration of 94 km from coast. In addition, we also observed SBF passage is related with an average increase in solar radiation (84 W m−2), temperature (1 °C), and a decrease in relative humidity (10%) and dew point temperature (1 °C). We hypothesize that, in certain circumstances, the SBF development is not beneficial for human thermal comfort in the Sergipe region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Limited evidence is available regarding the association between heat exposure and morbidity in Brazil and how the effect of heat exposure on health outcomes may change over time. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to quantify the geographic, demographic and temporal variations in the heat-hospitalization association in Brazil from 2000-2015. METHODS: Data on hospitalization and meteorological conditions were collected from 1,814 cities during the 2000-2015 hot seasons. Quasi-Poisson regression with constrained lag model was applied to examine city-specific estimates, which were then pooled at the regional and national levels using random-effect meta-analyses. Stratified analyses were performed by sex, 10 age groups, and 11 cause categories. Meta-regression was used to examine the temporal change in estimates of heat effect from 2000 to 2015. RESULTS: For every 5°C increase in daily mean temperature during the 2000-2015 hot seasons, the estimated risk of hospitalization over lag 0-7 d rose by 4.0% [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.7%, 4.3%] nationwide. Estimated 6.2% [95% empirical CI (eCI): 3.3%, 9.1%] of hospitalizations were attributable to heat exposure, equating to 132 cases (95% eCI: 69%, 192%) per 100,000 residents. The attributable rate was greatest in children <5 years and was highest for hospitalizations due to infectious and parasitic diseases. Women of reproductive age and those ≥60 years had higher heat burden than men. The attributable burden was greatest for cities in the central west and the inland of the northeast; lowest in the north and eastern coast. Over the 16-y period, the estimated heat effects declined insignificantly at the national level. CONCLUSIONS: In Brazil's hot seasons, 6% of hospitalizations were estimated to be attributed to heat exposure. As there was no evidence indicating that thermal adaptation had occurred at the national level, the burden of hospitalization associated with heat exposure in Brazil is likely to increase in the context of global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this research was to analyze the climate data for the host cities of the soccer World Cup held in Brazil in June and July 2014. A great deal of criticism was expressed about the Brazilian climate in the national and international press and media in the run-up to the competition, suggesting that the air temperature and relative air humidity would be the main adversaries of the soccer teams, especially those from Europe, during the competition. An analysis of the weather was done at the places and times of each of the 64 matches held. A human thermal comfort index was calculated (discomfort index (DI)) for each of the matches in order to discover the real climatic conditions in the host cities during the 2014 World Cup and their potential influence on the teams and human comfort in general. During the 2014 World Cup, only two matches were played at temperatures above 30 °C, representing a negligible percentage of the total number of matches. The air temperature for over half the matches (53%) was 20-25 °C. The results showed the air temperature and relative humidity data analyzed here both individually and in the form of an index indicate that the World Cup held in Brazil in 2014 did not put any of the players at risk due to extreme heat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effects of Lake Sobradinho, a large reservoir in Northeastern Brazil, on the local near-surface atmospheric and boundary layer conditions. For this purpose, simulations with the regional climate model COSMO-CLM are compared for two different scenarios: (1) with the lake being replaced by the average normal native vegetation cover and (2) with the lake as it exists today, for two different two-month periods reflecting average and very dry conditions, respectively. The performance of the simulation is evaluated against data from surface meteorological stations as well as satellite data in order to ensure the model's ability to capture atmospheric conditions in the vicinity of Lake Sobradinho. The obtained results demonstrate that the lake affects the near-surface air temperature of the surrounding area as well as its humidity and wind patterns. Specifically, Lake Sobradinho cools down the air during the day and warms it up during the night by up to several °C depending on the large-scale meteorological conditions. Moreover, the humidity is significantly increased as a result of the lake's presence and causes a lake breeze. The observed effects on humidity and air temperature also extend over areas relatively far away from the lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Similarity between heat and water vapor turbulent transport in the Atmospheric Surface Layer has been the basis of many engineering models to calculate surface fluxes, including the widely applied Bowen ratio equation, for a long time. Modernly, it is best understood within the context of Monin-Obkhov Similarity Theory (MOST). In this work we study similarity between temperature and humidity, the Bowen ratio, and turbulent mass and heat transfer coefficients over a tropical lake in Brazil (Furnas Lake). The analysis was partly based on the concept of 'Surface flux numbers' recently proposed to diagnose scalar similarity, and considered wind directions and flux footprints. A period of 50 days of 30-min. micrometeorological runs was used. Several cases of dissimilar temperature-humidity behavior were found in the data. Both footprint extent and an aggregate temperature-humidity Surface flux number turned out to be insufficient to diagnose these situations, but separate flux numbers for each scalar were able to diagnose their individual conformity to MOST. Overall, temperature displayed consistently larger relative variances and fluxes in comparison with humidity. The results highlight the need of careful analysis when measurements are made at sites close to land, when flux footprints may extend over there, indicating the possibility of advection effects. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Ceres is the property of Revista Ceres and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Foraging networks are a key element for ant colonies because they facilitate the flow of resources from the environment to the nest and they allow the sharing of information among individuals. Here we report the results of an 8-month survey, extending from November 2009 to June 2010, of the foraging networks of four mature colonies of Atta bisphaerica, a species of grass-cutting ant which is considered as a pest in Brazil. We found that the distribution of foraging effort was strongly influenced by the landscape features around the nests, in particular by the permanently wet parts of the pasture in which the nests were located. The foraging networks consisted of underground tunnels which opened on average at 21.5m from the nests and of above-ground physical trails that reached on average 4.70m in length. The use of the foraging networks was highly dynamic, with few sections of the networks used for long periods of time. Three different phases, which could be linked to the seasonal change in the local rainfall regime, could be identified in the construction and use of the foraging networks. The first phase corresponded to the beginning of the rainy season and was characterized by a low foraging activity, as well as a low excavation and physical trail construction effort. The second phase, which began in February and extended up to the end of the humid season at the end of March, was characterized by an intense excavation and trail construction effort, resulting in an expansion of the foraging networks. Finally, in the third phase, which corresponded to the beginning of the dry season, the excavation and trail construction effort leveled off or decreased while foraging activity kept increasing. Our hypothesis is that ants could benefit from the underground tunnels and physical trails built during the humid season to maintain their foraging activity at a high level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf wetness duration (LWD) is recognized as a very important conditioner of crops and forests diseases, but clearly, there is a considerable gap in literature on temporal models for prediction of LWD in broad regions from standard meteorological data. The objective of this study was to develop monthly LWD models based on the relationship between hours of relative humidity (RH) ≥ 90 % and average RH for Brazil and based on these models to characterize the temporal and spatial LWD variability across the country. Two different relative humidity databases, being one in an hourly basis (RH) and another in a monthly basis (RH), were used. To elaborate the LWD models, 58 automatic weather stations distributed across the country were selected. Monthly LWD maps for the entire country were prepared, and for that, the RH from the 358 conventional weather stations were interpolated using geostatistical techniques. RH and LWD showed sigmoidal relationship with determination coefficient above 0.84 and were highly significant ( p < 0.0001). In relation to the validation of the LWD monthly models, a very good performance for all months was obtained, with very high precision with r between 0.92 and 0.96. Regarding the errors, mean error showed a slight tendency of overestimation during February (0.29 h day), May (0.31 h day), July (0.14 h day), and August (0.34 h day), whereas for the other months, the tendency was of underestimation like January (−0.27 h day) and March (−0.25 h day). Even as a first approach, the results presented here represent a great advance in the climatology of LWD for Brazil and will allow the development of studies related to crop and forest diseases control plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statement of the Problem The effect of the intraoral environment during adhesive restorative procedures remains a concern, especially in the absence of rubber dam isolation. Objective To evaluate the temperature and relative humidity ( RH) at anterior and posterior intraoral sites and their effects on the dentin bond strength of two-step etch-and-rinse adhesive systems. Methods Sixty human molars were assigned to six groups according to the adhesive systems ( Adper Single Bond Plus and One Step Plus) and intraoral sites (incisor and molar sites). The room condition was used as a control group. Dentin fragments were individually placed in custom-made acetate trays and direct composite restorations were performed. The intraoral temperature and RH were recorded during adhesive procedures. Then, specimens were removed from the acetate trays and sectioned to obtain multiple beams for the microtensile bond strength test. In addition, the adhesive interface morphology was evaluated through scanning electron microscopy. Intraoral conditions were statistically analyzed by paired Students' t-tests and the bond strength data by two-way analysis of variance and Tukey test (α = 0.05). Results The posterior intraoral site showed a significant increase in the temperature and RH when compared with the anterior site. However, both intraoral sites revealed higher temperatures and RH than the room condition. In regards to the adhesive systems, the intraoral environment did not affect the bond strength, and the One Step Plus system showed the highest bond strength means. Conclusion Despite the fact that remarkable changes in the intraoral conditions were observed for both anterior and posterior sites, the intraoral environment was not able to compromise the immediate dentin bond strength. Clinical Significance Some conditions of intraoral temperature and relative humidity may not impair the dentin bond strength of two-step etch-and-rinse adhesive systems. Thus, an adequate relative isolation seems to be a good alternative under the specific clinical conditions in which rubber dam isolation is either impossible or very difficult to perform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The diversity of reproductive modes among amphibians constitutes a striking example of how differences in the biology of species provide important explanations for species distribution patterns on a broad scale. We hypothesize that sites with a higher humidity level will support more modes of reproduction than drier sites and will consequently exhibit a higher phylogenetic diversity. Furthermore, if there is a gradient in the tolerance of reproductive modes to desiccation, there will be a nested pattern in the composition of reproductive modes among sites. Location Twenty-seven forest sites in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Methods Through a path analysis approach, we evaluated the direct and indirect effects of the humidity level on the number of reproductive modes, as well as the relative importance of both variables on amphibian phylogenetic diversity. A nestedness analysis was used to quantify the extent to which the compositions of both species and reproductive modes in drier sites correspond to subsets of those in sites with higher annual precipitation. Results We found that the reproductive modes present in drier sites are non-random subsets of those present in sites with higher humidity levels. Because reproductive modes are phylogenetically conserved among amphibians, sites with a greater number of reproductive modes supported greater phylogenetic diversity. Sites with high precipitation throughout the year provided suitable environmental conditions for a larger number of reproductive modes, whereas sites with low precipitation and typical seasonal climates supported only those reproductive modes specialized to resist desiccation. Main conclusions Our results show that humidity-related variables are key environmental factors related to both the richness of reproductive modes and phylogenetic diversity. Our results support the hypothesis that the higher phylogenetic diversity found in moister sites reflects differences in the tolerance to desiccation among different reproductive modes. Given that reproductive modes are associated with susceptibility to desiccation, their incorporation into explanatory models may trigger a significant advance in the understanding of the mechanisms regulating the species richness and composition of amphibian communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge of the climatic conditions of a region is crucial for its agricultural development. It is also extremely important for understanding the fact that certain cultures have to develop under prevailing temperature and humidity conditions and assist in the adoption of a suitable irrigation technique, as well as its management and operationalization. The Köppen system of climate classification is widely used for the identification of homogeneous climate zones as it considers only rainfall and temperature as the meteorological elements for classification. For this study, we used climatic databases of rainfall and temperature in a raster format, with a spatial resolution of 30″ of arc (an approximate area of 0.86 km pixel), from 1961 to 1990. Through geoprocessing techniques, we obtained a map of climatic classification for the state of Minas Gerais. We found that the state has the following three major climatic groups: A, B and C, which correspond to tropical rainy, dry and warm temperate climates, respectively. The climate classes obtained were Aw, Am, BSh, Cwa and Cwb, with Aw, Cwa and Cwb classes occupying 99.89% of the territorial area of the state. The validation of the results showed a satisfactory agreement, with 93.75% reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)