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This paper deals with the analysis of the temperatures in several locations in Spain during the last 50 years. We focus on the degree of persistence of the series, measured through a fractional differencing parameter. This is crucial to properly estimate the parameters of the time trend coefficients in order to determine the degree of warming in the area. The results indicate that all series are fractionally integrated with orders of integration ranging between 0 and 0.5. Moreover, the time trend coefficients are all positive though they are statistically insignificant, which is in contrast with the results based on nonfractional integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, the olive grove has been one of the most emblematic ecosystems in Mediterranean countries. Currently, in Andalusia, Spain, the land under olive grove cultivation exceeds 1.5 million hectares, approximately 17% of the regional surface. Its exploitation has traditionally been based on the use of the available land and heterogeneous plantations, with different species adapted to southern Mediterranean climatic conditions, and to the management of the traditional olive cultivation culture. The objective of this work is to characterize the mechanical behavior of the atmospheric surface boundary layer (SBL) (under neutral stability) interacting with different olive grove configurations. Experimental tests were carried out in the Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel (BLWT) of the Andalusian Institute for Earth System Research (IISTA), University of Granada. Three representative configurations of olive groves under neutral atmospheric conditions were tested. The wind flow time series were recorded at several distances and heights downwind the olive plantation models with a cross hot wire anemometry system. Herein, this paper shows the airflow streamwise, including the mean flow and the turbulent characteristics. The spatial variability of these two mechanical magnitudes depends on, among others, the size, the agro-forest length, the layout of the tree rows, the porosity, the tree height, the crown shape and the surface vegetation cover. The aerodynamic diameter and Reynolds number for each agro-forest management unit are proposed as representative variables of the system response, as these could be related to olive grove management. The plantation, in turn, conforms to a windbreak, which affects the microclimate and benefits the elements of the ecosystem. Detailed knowledge of these variables and the interaction between the ecosystem and the atmosphere is relevant to optimize the resources management, land use and sustainability of the overall crop. Thus, this paper presents preliminary work to relate atmospheric variables to environmental variables, some of which could be humidity, erosion, evapotranspiration or pollen dispersion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A severe hailstorm that occurred in Spain on 30 August 2022, caused material and human damage, including one fatality due to giant hailstones up to 12 cm in diameter. By applying a pseudo‐global warming approach, here we evaluate how a simultaneous marine heatwave (and anthropogenic climate change) affected a unique environment conductive to such giant hailstones. The main results show that the supercell development was influenced by an unprecedented amount of convective available energy, with significant contributions from thermodynamic factors. Numerical simulations where the marine heatwave is not present show a notable reduction in the hail‐favorable environments, related mainly to modifications in thermodynamic environment. Our simulations also indicate that the environment in a preindustrial‐like climate would be less favorable for convective hazards and thus the hailstorm event would likely not have been as severe as the observed one, being possible to perform a novel attribution of such kind. Plain Language Summary: In August 2022, northeastern Spain faced a damaging hailstorm with hailstones up to 12 cm, causing significant harm and one fatality. This study examined how hail‐favorable environments were modified by a marine heatwave and human‐induced climate change. Numerical simulations show that the storm's intensity was influenced by abundant atmospheric energy and moisture from the warm sea, partly influenced by human‐induced warming. When the warm sea factor was excluded from the simulations, hailstones were smaller. These findings emphasize the role of human‐induced climate change and warm sea surface temperature events in intensifying extreme and high‐impact weather events like hailstorms. Key Points: Unprecedented hailstones in Spain (up to 12 cm) caused widespread damage and one fatalityA record‐breaking marine heatwave enhanced the strong hail‐favorable environmentNovel demonstration of an extreme hailstorm event attribution to anthropogenic warming [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Please cite this paper as: Dadvand P, Basagana X, Figueras F, Sunyer J, Nieuwenhuijsen M. Climate and group B streptococci colonisation during pregnancy:present implications and future concerns. BJOG 2011;118:1396-1400. The available evidence on the impact of climate on human bacterial infections is very limited. We studied the impact of climatic factors on maternal group B streptococci (GBS) colonisation during pregnancy in Barcelona, Spain, in the period 2001-2005. Averages of daily temperature, relative humidity, and heat index (perceived temperature) over weeks 32-36 of gestation, measured by the closest of three meteorological monitors to the maternal place of residence were assigned to each subject. Logistic regression models were developed to extract adjusted odds ratios for continuous and categorical (quartiles) exposures. We detected increased risks of GBS colonisation in higher ambient temperatures and humidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Some researchers have demonstrated that passive moisture transfer between indoor air and hygroscopic structures has the potential to moderate variations of indoor air relative humidity and, thus, to improve comfort and PAQ [Simonson CJ, Salonvaara M, Ojalen T. The effect of structures on indoor humidity-possibility to improve comfort and perceived air quality. Indoor Air 2002; 12: 243–51; Simonson CJ, Salonvaara M, Ojalen T. Improving indoor climate and comfort with wooden structures. Espoo 2001. Technical Research Centre of Finland, VTT Publications 431.200p+app 91p]. The main objective of this study is to show the internal wall coating effect on indoor air conditions and, as a consequence of this, in comfort conditions and PAQ. In a previous paper [Orosa JA, Baaliña A. Passive climate control in Spanish office buildings for long periods of time. Building and Environment 2008], we analysed the influence of permeable and impermeable materials on indoor air conditions, during the unoccupied period, in 25 office buildings in different seasons. Results obtained lead us to conclude that real coverings such as permeable, semi-permeable and impermeable types, present different behavioural patterns in indoor air conditions. Furthermore, we concluded that an absorbent structure will moderate relative humidity indoors. In this paper, we study this indoor relative humidity effect on local thermal discomfort, due to decreased respiratory cooling, and indoor ambience acceptability for the early hours of morning applying PD and Acc models [Toftum J, Jorgensen AS, Fanger PO. Upper limits for indoor air humidity to avoid uncomfortably humid skin. Energy and buildings 1998; 28: 1–13; Toftum J, Jorgensen AS, Fanger PO. Upper limits of air humidity for preventing warm respiratory discomfort. Energy and Buildings 1998; 28: 15–23] such as that proposed by Simonson et al. [The effect of structures on indoor humidity-possibility to improve comfort and perceived air quality. Indoor Air 2002; 12: 243–251]. Results showed that hygroscopic structures have the potential to improve local thermal comfort and especially PAQ in the first hours of occupation and that relative influence of humidity on acceptability was higher than on thermal sensation. These conclusions would, with a more intelligent design, give energy saving and improve comfort and PAQ. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Barbanza Peninsula (Galicia, NW Spain) is located on the west coast of Galicia. It is a narrow tongue of terrain with an area of 416 km2 and a high altitudinal gradient, with the top having a maximum height of more than 600 m at a distance of less than 5 Km from the sea. As a result of this, there is a significant rainfall gradient (from 900 to more than 3300 mm per year). In the peninsula, there are valuable historical buildings built with granite rock that show variable decay patterns. In this work, we have considered 14 of them, located in several parts of the peninsula, and we have studied their deterioration patterns. Some of them are close to the sea, with sea salt being a possible cause of decay, while for those located far from the sea, the high humidity and rainfall can be the most important cause of decay. A macroscopic study was carried out to determine the deterioration patterns. We have also analyzed the possible role of salts in the decay by using X-ray fluorescence as a screening technique to assess the presence of salts and the possible correlation of salts with the distance to the sea and using scanning electron microscopy to directly identify salts in some of the buildings. The most frequently reported decay is due to lichen growth (biological colonization). Depending on the proximity to the coast, the study area was divided into two zones: zone 1, closer to the sea (<1 km), with an important influence of sea salts and wind, and zone 2, further from the sea, with higher altitudes (center of the peninsula) and important rainfall, humidity, and therefore, biological colonization of stone surfaces. Crusts (to a lesser degree, because it is a mainly rural area) are more frequent in zone 1, but the state of conservation of stone in zone 1 is better than that in zone 2, possibly due to the concentration of urban centers in this zone and more interventions for cleaning stone surfaces. Finally, although we did not observe clear patterns in the appearance of salts in the buildings in agreement with the distance to the sea, we observed different patterns of salts in two of the buildings, one in each zone, which clearly show that, to some extent, salts are involved in decay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statistical downscaling (SD) of climate change projections is a key piece for impact and adaptation studies due to its low computational expense compared to dynamical downscaling, which allows exploration of uncertainties through the generation of large ensembles. SD has been extensively evaluated and applied in the extratropics, but few examples exist in tropical regions. In this study, several state-of-the-art methods belonging to different families have been evaluated for maximum/minimum daily temperature and daily accumulated precipitation (both from the ERA5 at 0.258) in two regions with very different climates: Spain (midlatitudes) and Central America (tropics). Some key assumptions of SD have been tested: the strength of the predictor–predictand links, the skill of different approaches, and the extrapolation capability of each method. It has been found that relevant predictors are different in both regions, as is the behavior of statistical methods. For temperature, most methods perform significantly better in Spain than in Central America, where transfer function (TF) methods present important extrapolation problems, probably due to the low variability of the training sample (present climate). In both regions, model output statistics (MOS) methods have achieved the best results for temperature. In Central America, TF methods have achieved better results than MOS methods in the evaluation in the present climate, but they do not preserve trends in the future. For precipitation, MOS methods and the extreme gradient boost machine learning method have achieved the best results in both regions. In addition, it has been found that, although the use of humidity indices as predictors improves results for the downscaling of precipitation, future trends given by statistical methods are very sensitive to the use of one or another index. Three indices have been compared: relative humidity, specific humidity, and dewpoint depression. The use of the specific humidity has been found to lead to trends given by the downscaled projections that deviate seriously from those given by raw global climate models in both regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multifractal relationship between reference evapotranspiration (ET0), computed by the Penmann-Monteith equation (PM), relative humidity ( R H ) and mean surface temperature ( T m e a n ) was studied in the middle zone of the Guadalquivir River Valley (south Spain) in a previous study. This work extends that study to the average wind speed ( U 2 ) and solar radiation ( S R ), focusing on more recent years. All agro-meteorological variables were analyzed by multifractal detrended cross-correlation analysis (MFCCA) and multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MFDFA). The outcomes revealed persistent long-term autocorrelations, with T m e a n and R H having the highest persistence ( H > 0.75 ). More precise results of multifractal properties than in the previous study were obtained for E T 0 , T m e a n , and R H due to the elimination of trends in the signals. Only medium and large fluctuations in E T 0 showed multifractal cross-correlations with its controlling factors, except for U 2 . Moreover, joint scaling exponents differed from individual exponents. These phenomena contrast with what has been observed in previous cross-correlation studies, revealing that some differences exist in the dynamics of multifractality among the analyzed variables. On the other hand, the T m e a n – E T 0 relation showed that extreme events in E T 0 are mainly ruled by high temperature fluctuations, which match conclusions drawn in the previous study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to identify the combined role of environmental pollutants and atmospheric variables at short term on the rate of incidence (TIC) and on the hospital admission rate (TIHC) due to COVID-19 disease in Spain. This study used information from 41 of the 52 provinces of Spain (from Feb. 1, 2021 to May 31, 2021). Using TIC and TIHC as dependent variables, and average daily concentrations of PM10 and NO2 as independent variables. Meteorological variables included maximum daily temperature (Tmax) and average daily absolute humidity (HA). Generalized linear models (GLM) with Poisson link were carried out for each provinces The GLM model controlled for trend, seasonalities, and the autoregressive character of the series. Days with lags were established. The relative risk (RR) was calculated by increases of 10 μg/m3 in PM10 and NO2 and by 1 °C in the case of Tmax and 1 g/m3 in the case of HA. Later, a linear regression was carried out that included the social determinants of health. Statistically significant associations were found between PM10, NO2, and the rate of COVID-19 incidence. NO2 was the variable that showed greater association, both for TIC as well as for TIHC in the majority of provinces. Temperature and HA do not seem to have played an important role. The geographic distribution of RR in the studied provinces was very much heterogeneous. Some of the health determinants considered, including income per capita, presence of airports, average number of diesel cars per inhabitant, average number of nursing personnel, and homes under 30 m2 could explain the differential geographic behavior. As findings indicates, environmental factors only could modulate the incidence and severity of COVID-19. Moreover, the social determinants and public health measures could explain some patterns of geographically distribution founded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the clay mineralogy (using XRD, SEM and TEM methods) of the lacustrine “Calizas de Torrente de Cinca” unit that represents the Oligocene-Miocene transition in the central part of the Ebro Basin (NE Spain). Phyllosilicates are mainly detrital although Mg-smectites could have been generated in the lake. Although a temperate, relatively humid climate dominated the source area during the Oligocene-Miocene transition (Chattian-Aquitanian), as deduced by detrital phyllosilicates assemblage, mineralogical vertical trends along with sedimentological studies indicate some changes. Relatively warmer and more humid conditions during the late Chattian, that favoured increasing chemical weathering, were replaced during the early Aquitanian by drier conditions coinciding with the Mi-1 glaciation effects; this change is coeval with a transition from deeper to shallower lacustrine facies. Phyllosilicate association analysis has also permitted an improvement in the palaeogeographical sketch and infers that the Pyrenees are the main source area for the lacustrine system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Energy supply concepts for zero energy residential building (ZERB) in Shanghai (humid) and Madrid (dry) are discussed in this paper. Simulation is employed as the main research method. Two typical housing models are designed according to the real occupancy condition, the life schedule, the thermostats settings, etc., for the two cities. An energy analysis considering the annual balance of input from the grid and output from renewable power systems is made. Indoor comfortable comparisons between the two models are presented to show optimal design strategies for HVAC under different weather conditions. Also performed is the analysis on the primary energy payback time and the CO2 equivalent saving in order to evaluate the performance of novel energy systems to verify the feasibility. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The objective of this study was to identify which air pollutants, atmospheric variables and health determinants could influence COVID-19 mortality in Spain. This study used information from 41 of the 52 provinces in Spain (from Feb. 1, to May 31, 2021). Generalized Linear Models (GLM) with Poisson link were carried out for the provinces, using the Rate of Mortality due to COVID-19 (CM) per 1,000,000 inhabitants as dependent variables, and average daily concentrations of PM10 and NO2 as independent variables. Meteorological variables included maximum daily temperature (Tmax) and average daily absolute humidity (HA). The GLM model controlled for trend, seasonalities and the autoregressive character of the series. Days with lags were established. The relative risk (RR) was calculated by increases of 10 g/m3 in PM10 and NO2 and by 1 ℃ in the case of Tmax and 1 g/m3 in the case of HA. Later, a linear regression was carried out that included the social determinants of health. Results: Statistically significant associations were found between PM10, NO2 and the CM. These associations had a positive value. In the case of temperature and humidity, the associations had a negative value. PM10 being the variable that showed greater association, with the CM followed of NO2 in the majority of provinces. Anyone of the health determinants considered, could explain the differential geographic behavior. Conclusions: The role of PM10 is worth highlighting, as the chemical air pollutant for which there was a greater number of provinces in which it was associated with CM. The role of the meteorological variables—temperature and HA—was much less compared to that of the air pollutants. None of the social determinants we proposed could explain the heterogeneous geographical distribution identified in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of a thinning treatment on soil respiration (Rs) were analysed in two dryland forest types with a Mediterranean climate in east Spain: a dry subhumid holm oak forest (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota) in La Hunde; a semiarid postfire regenerated Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) forest in Sierra Calderona. Two twin plots were established at each site: one was thinned and the other was the control. Rs, soil humidity and temperature were measured regularly in the field at nine points per plot distributed into three blocks along the slope for 3 years at HU and for 2 years at CA after forest treatment. Soil heterotrophic activity was measured in laboratory on soil samples obtained bimonthly from December 2012 to June 2013 at the HU site. Seasonal Rs distribution gave low values in winter, began to increase in spring before lowering as soil dried in summer. This scenario indicates that with a semiarid climate, soil respiration is controlled by both soil humidity and soil temperature. Throughout the study period, the mean Rs value in the HU C plot was 13% higher than at HU T, and was 26% higher at CA C than the corresponding CA T plot value, being the differences significantly higher in control plots during active growing periods. Soil microclimatic variables explain the biggest proportion of variability for Rs: soil temperature explained 24.1% of total variability for Rs in the dry subhumid forest; soil humidity accounted for 24.6% of total variability for Rs in the semiarid forest. As Mediterranean climates are characterised by wide interannual variability, Rs showed considerable variability over the years, which can mask the effect caused by thinning treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the process of deterioration of the white marble used in the Alhambra of Granada, and its consequences. Variations in mineralogical composition, microscopic topology, hardness, compressive strength, propagation of ultrasonic waves, absorption and diffusion of water and properties related to the pore structure were studied. The relationships between these factors, the visible deterioration and possible mechanisms are discussed. A preliminary evaluation of some protective treatments was carried out. The results can also be applied to white Macael marble used in other monuments in an environment with wide fluctuations in temperature and relative humidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slate is a natural stone widely used for building, for which is subjected to regulations and standards in order to be commercialized. As far as the influence of water is considered, only detailed studies are compulsory when the water absorption is higher than 0.60%. However, the mechanical behavior of this layered material depends on water content, which is function of the relative humidity of the environment, and not considered in existing standards. In order to investigate its influence on foliation tensile strength, an experimental study was performed, which consists on carrying out Brazilian tests in slate samples with known water content, applied and controlled by using vapor equilibrium technique. This technique allows controlling the relative humidity of the environment surrounding the material and that of the air on its pores. Relative humidities between 55% and 92% were applied during the tests and defined considering climate data from the north of Spain. Despite the maximum water content tested in the slates was low (0.10%) in comparison with its saturation content (0.57%), the experimental results show a decreasing of the foliation tensile strength that reaches up to three times less with an increment of the environmental relative humidity of 37%. The results achieved can be important in order to quantify the layering weakness due to a natural alteration factor such as the environmental relative humidity. Moreover, the procedure employed is proposed as a convenient method for adequating each variety of slate stone to different climates according to its vulnerability to water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continued availability of products at any store is the major issue in order to provide good customer service. If the store is a drugstore this matter reaches a greater importance, as out of stock of a drug when there is high demand causes problems and tensions in the healthcare system. There are numerous studies of the impact this issue has on patients. The lack of any drug in a pharmacy in certain seasons is very common, especially when some external factors proliferate favoring the occurrence of certain diseases. This study focuses on a particular drug consumed in the city of Jaen, southern Andalucia, Spain. Our goal is to determine in advance the Salbutamol demand. Advanced data mining techniques have been used with spatial variables. These last have a key role to generate an effective model. In this research we have used the attributes that are associated with Salbutamol demand and it has been generated a very accurate prediction model of 5.78% of mean absolute error. This is a very encouraging data considering that the consumption of this drug in Jaen varies 500% from one period to another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of renal colic (RC) in a northwestern area of Spain and its relationship with seasonal and meteorological characteristics. Materials and Methods: We examined 700,257 cases that presented at the emergency room (ER) between 2005 and 2013. We reviewed data such as age, gender, arrival at ER, tests performed and destination after ER. Monthly data regarding temperature, humidity and hours of daylight were taken into account. The Student t-test, the Mann-Whitney test and the Chi-square test were used for the statistical analysis. RC visits were correlated with meteorological characteristics using the Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: A total of 9,330 cases were diagnosed as RC episodes (1.41% of total cases presented). The age range was 14-100 years and mean age was 47 years. Prevalence in men was higher (55.6%) than in women (44.4%). After the seasonal decomposition analysis by month, a significant increase in RC incidence was observed in the months of June, July, August and December (107-114%). There is a statistically significant correlation between mean monthly temperature and RC visit rate (R 0.33, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The incidence of RC in our region is slightly higher than the one described in the literature. A significant increase in RCs is observed in the summer months, as well as a significant correlation between incidence and temperature. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed the evolution of surface relative humidity (RH) and specific humidity (q) in Spain, based on complete records available from the State Meteorological Agency of Spain. The surface RH records used span the period 1920-2011, but because of spatial and temporal constraints in the dataset we used a subset of the data, covering the period 1961-2011. The subset contained 50 monthly series of RH, which were created through a process of quality control, reconstruction and homogenization. The data shows that there was a large decrease in RH over mainland Spain from 1961 to 2011, which was greatest in spring and summer. In contrast, there was no overall change in the specific humidity in this period, except in spring, when an increase was observed. The decrease in RH affected the entire country, but the changes in specific humidity were less homogeneous. For specific humidity there was a general increase in the northern and eastern parts of Spain, whereas negative trends dominated in the central and southern areas, mainly during the summer months. The results suggest that an increase in the water holding capacity of the atmosphere as a consequence of warming during recent decades has not been accompanied by an increase in the surface water vapor content, probably because the supply of water vapor from the main terrestrial and oceanic areas has been constrained. We discuss the implications of these findings for evapotranspiration processes, precipitation and water management in Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary socioeconomic activities in the System of Platja de Palma (SPdP), located in the southwestern coast of Mallorca, Spain, are beach-based holidays and, therefore, are very closely linked to climate. The social, economic and environmental adaptation that this region must make in the mid- and long-term period has to take into account the changes in the tourist potential when the climate changes. A second-generation climate index for tourism (CIT) has been adopted to measure tourism potential under the present and possible future climatic conditions. CIT is a theoretically based and empirically derived index that allows assessing the sun, sea and sand (3S) weather resource. Daily observed series of 2 m maximum temperature, precipitation, 2 m relative humidity, cloud cover and 10 m wind speed have been used to derive the present climate potential for tourism. For future projections, daily averaged meteorological variables have been obtained from a set of regional climate models (RCMs) within the European ENSEMBLES project. The adoption of a multimodel ensemble strategy allows quantifying the uncertainties arising from model errors and boundary conditions. To use CIT values based on RCM data properly at local scales, a quantile-quantile adjustment has been applied. Results show a significant increase in the annual frequency of days with acceptable conditions together with a slightly increment for the ideal climate perceptions at the expense of decreasing unacceptable categories. For the summery peak season, ideal conditions are projected to decrease from mid-century favouring acceptable categories. However, an almost general increase for both classes is anticipated in spring and autumn throughout the century. That is, higher frequencies of optimal climate perceptions for carrying out 3S outdoors activities are expected to shift from the peak to shoulder seasons. Therefore, climate change would result in a major impact for the current seasonally adjusted service sector in SPdP. With this information at hand, policy makers and the team of experts planning its socioeconomic future can respond more effectively to the demanding challenge of local adaptation to climate change by implementing adaptation and mitigation strategies to the tourist sector. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We herein describe the recovery of a series of data on temperature, humidity, precipitation, evaporation, wind, and local weather conditions from documentary sources obtained from the Jesuit observatory of A Guarda (Galicia, Spain) for the period 1881-1896. The data were digitized and made available in accessible electronic formats. Comparisons were made with present-day meteorological data obtained from two nearby stations. We further believe that the discovery of some new complementary documentary sources made during the present research could be a basis for future data recovery efforts. Among these new results, early ozone data from the period are of outstanding importance to meteorologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Projections of climate change effects for the System of Platja de Palma (SPdP) are derived using a novel statistical technique. Socioeconomic activities developed in this settlement are very closely linked to its climate. Any planning for socioeconomic opportunities in the mid- and long term must take into account the possible effects of climate change. To this aim, daily observed series of minimum and maximum temperatures, precipitation, relative humidity, cloud cover, and wind speed have been analyzed. For the climate projections, daily data generated by an ensemble of regional climate models (RCMs) have been used. To properly use RCM data at local scale, a quantile-quantile adjustment has been applied to the simulated regional projections. The method is based on detecting changes in the cumulative distribution functions between the recent past and successive time slices of the simulated climate and applying these, after calibration, to the recent past (observed) series. Results show an overall improvement in reproducing the present climate baseline when using calibrated series instead of raw RCM outputs, although the correction does not result in such clear improvement when dealing with very extreme rainfalls. Next, the corrected series are analyzed to quantify the climate change signal. An increase of the annual means for temperatures together with a decrease for the remaining variables is projected throughout the twenty-first century. Increases in weak and intense daily rainfalls and in high extremes for daily maximum temperature can also be expected. With this information at hand, the experts planning the future of SPdP can respond more effectively to the problem of local adaptation to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Iberian Peninsula presents the highest number of wildfires in Europe. In the NW of Spain in particular, wildfires are the natural risk with the greatest economic impact in this region. Wildfires caused by lightning are closely related to the triggering of convective phenomena. The prediction of thunderstorms is a very complex task because these weather events have a local character and are highly dependent on mesoscale atmospheric conditions. The development of convective storms is directly linked to the existence of a synoptic environment favoring convection. The aim of this study is to classify the atmospheric patterns that provide favorable environments for the occurrence of wild- fires caused by lightning in the region of Castile and Leon, Spain. The database used for the study contains 376 wild- fire days from the period 1987-2006. NCEP data reanalysis has been used. The atmospheric fields used to characterise each day were: geopotential heights and temperatures at 500 hPa and 850 hPa, relative humidity and the horizontal wind at 850 hPa. A Principal Component Analysis in T-mode followed by a Cluster Analysis resulted in a classification of wildfire days into five clusters. The characteristics of these clusters were analysed and described, focusing particularly on the study of those wildfire days in which more than one wildfire was detected. In these cases the main feature observed was the intensification of the disturbance typical of the cluster to which the wildfire belongs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of the present study was to provide a detailed analysis of olive pollen transport dynamics in the province of Córdoba (south-western Spain) by applying back-trajectory analysis. Pollen data from 2006 and 2007 were analysed at four monitoring sites: Córdoba city in the centre of the province, Baena and Priego de Córdoba located in the south, and El Cabril reserve (Hornachuelos Natural Park) in the north. Particular attention was paid to nine episodes of high pollen counts. Synoptic surface maps were used, and kinematic back-trajectories (3D) were computed using the hybrid single particle Lagrangian integrated trajectory model (HYSPLIT) at 500 m above ground level, run with a time-step of 6 h over a period of 36 h. Findings were analysed in conjunction with daily and bi-hourly airborne pollen data, field phenological data and hourly surface meteorological data recorded at nearby stations: temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, wind direction and wind speed. The results identified two pollen source areas over the Córdoba province, the largest one located in the south, affecting Baena, Priego de Córdoba and Córdoba city, and one smaller located in the west, which determines mainly the pollen cycle over the north of the province, El Cabril. In addition, two air mass circulations were found, one coming from the south and crossing the main olive pollen sources very close to the surface and being frequently associated with higher pollen counts, and the other coming from the west and, in the episodes investigated, influencing mainly the north of the province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  Temporal variation of airborne bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) spores concentration in Salamanca during 10 years from January 1998 to December 2007 were studied by using a Burkard spore trap, and correlations with some meteorological parameters were analyzed. The number of spores that were counted was very low, due probably to the distance between the spore trap and the main bracken populations which were located 70 km away from the city. Long-range transport caused by winds coming from the Second Quadrant (IIQ) is supposed to be responsible for the appearance of bracken spores in Salamanca. The season period from August to late October shows the most intense spore dispersal process, with an early morning distribution along the day. Years 2002 and 2007 with a low quantity of airborne spores were also characterized by low mean temperatures, always under 18°C from May to June. Daily spore concentration shows positive correlation with temperature and sun hours but negative with IVQ winds and with relative humidity. No correlation between daily spore concentration and rainfall was found. Also, a positive correlation between number of spores and IIQ winds was observed during the main spore season (MSS) and prepeak period (PRE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Source-receptor water vapor content areas are analyzed for a particular case of deep mesoscale convective system (MCS) developed over the Mediterranean margin of Spain in October 1982. The aim of this work is to study simultaneously the atmospheric instability conditions and water vapour fluxes which finally resulted in very severe precipitation rates, reaching up to 600 mm in a single day. Humidity amounts and transport are quantified along the trajectories computed from a lagrangian particle simulation model (FLEXPART6.2). To evaluate the precipitation probability, the water vapor content and both thermodynamic and dynamic atmospheric instability components were assessed. The October 1982 Iberian MCS occurred as a consequence of a deep cutoff low detected between 500 and 200 hPa levels. The dynamical instability was measured through potential vorticity anomalies and Q vector divergence, which presented their maximum and minimum centers respectively over south-eastern Iberia. Synoptic and dynamic instability conditions were obtained from the ERA-40 reanalysis dataset. It is observed that during this severe weather episode, the specific humidity increased along the lowest and easternmost trajectories, which are mainly spread over the Mediterranean Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents the analysis of weekly 7Be activity concentrations in the air measured in Bilbao (northern Spain) by collecting aerosols in filters over a ten years period (2009–2018). 7Be level is in the 0.35–7.3 mBq/m3 range, with a mean of 3.20 ± 1.12 mBq/m3. The trend, cycle, seasonal and monthly variability are evaluated using time series analysis techniques. The results indicate the impact of sunspots (24th solar cycle) on interannual 7Be activity concentrations, and a significant seasonal and monthly variation, with maximum concentrations occurring in spring-summer and minimum in the winter. The correlation of different 7Be ranges with local meteorological parameters, such as precipitation, temperature, relative humidity, and pressure, is also addressed, with precipitation having the greatest impact on 7Be activity values. The analysis of synoptic airflows, by calculating the back-trajectory clusters, and local winds at surface level reveals the important influence of the arrival of slow northwest Atlantic flows and the development of breezes on reaching high 7Be activity concentrations in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]