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Abstract: The increasing complexity and impacts of fire seasons in the United States have prompted efforts to improve early warning systems for wildland fire management. Outlooks of potential fire activity at lead‐times of several weeks can help in wildland fire resource allocation as well as complement short‐term meteorological forecasts for ongoing fire events. Here, we describe an experimental system for developing downscaled ensemble‐based subseasonal forecasts for the contiguous US using NCEP's operational Climate Forecast System version 2 model. These forecasts are used to calculate forecasted fire danger indices from the United States (US) National Fire Danger Rating System in addition to forecasts of evaporative demand. We further illustrate the skill of subseasonal forecasts on weekly timescales using hindcasts from 2011 to 2021. Results show that while forecast skill degrades with time, statistically significant week 3 correlative skill was found for 76% and 30% of the contiguous US for Energy Release Component and evaporative demand, respectively. These results highlight the potential value of experimental subseasonal forecasts in complementing existing information streams in weekly‐to‐monthly fire business decision making for suppression‐based decisions and geographic reallocation of resources during the fire season, as well for proactive fire management actions outside of the core fire season.

Significance: A paper recently published in AIDS and Behavior on 20 February 2024, authored by Trickey et al.1, argues that drought potentially increases HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) transmission in sub-Saharan Africa. They established a positive correlation between drought, poverty, sexual behaviour, and HIV contraction. The study's methodology is problematic, and does not consider key confounding factors, utilises data which is subject to biases, and utilises inappropriate means to define drought. We do not dispute the possibility that links exist between these variables, but assert that the data and methods used in this study are insufficient to support such a claim. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research is to analyze the biometeorological conditions, based on the Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) thermal index, during cold spells (CSs) in south-east Poland and west Ukraine during the years 1966–2021. The research shows a high variability of the occurrence of CSs in the study period and a clear increase in the frequency and total duration of CSs in the east of the study area. The number of CSs in the analyzed years varies from 6 cases in the west (in Katowice) to 34 in the east of the study area (in Shepetivka). The total duration of CSs varied from 26 days (in Raciborz and Katowice) to 166 days (in Rivne). At the majority of stations, CSs occurred most frequently in the first two decades (1966/1967–1975/1976, 1976/1977–1985/986) and in the last full decade (2006/2007–2015/2016). The average PET values at 12:00 UTC during CSs decreased eastwards throughout the study domain and were generally lower than −20.0 °C in the west of Ukraine, while in south-east Poland varied between −18.1 and −20.0 °C. At 40% of stations across the study domain, the lowest average PET values were recorded during a cold spell in January 1987, with PET values varying from −28.0 °C in Chernivtsi to −12.7 °C in Yaremche. The longest or one of the longest spells in most stations (in 77% of stations across the study domain) was the cold spell of 2012 and characterized by mean PET values ranging from −25.4 °C in Rivne to −19.5 °C in Zakopane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study objective was to characterise biometeorological conditions during the long May weekend (1–3 May) in Poland in the period 1966–2020 and determine baric conditions causing their variability. The conducted research employed data such as air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and total cloudiness. The aforementioned data were collected at 12:00 UTC. In the first year of the conducted study, the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) was calculated for the period of 1–3 May in the years 1966–2020. Next, circulation conditions were analysed in the designated groups based on daily sea level atmospheric pressure values and isobaric surface height of 500 hPa. This study evidenced the occurrence of variable biometeorological conditions during the long May weekend in Poland. The lowest index values were recorded at the coast of the Baltic Sea and in Northeast Poland, and the highest in the southern and western regions. On the analysed days of May in the years 1966–2020, days classified as days with no thermal stress were recorded the most frequently, followed by days with cold stress, and days with warm stress that occurred sporadically. People planning tourist activity on the analysed days should be prepared for diverse biometeorological conditions, from those causing cold stress to those causing heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The increasing complexity and impacts of fire seasons in the United States have prompted efforts to improve early warning systems for wildland fire management. Outlooks of potential fire activity at lead‐times of several weeks can help in wildland fire resource allocation as well as complement short‐term meteorological forecasts for ongoing fire events. Here, we describe an experimental system for developing downscaled ensemble‐based subseasonal forecasts for the contiguous US using NCEP's operational Climate Forecast System version 2 model. These forecasts are used to calculate forecasted fire danger indices from the United States (US) National Fire Danger Rating System in addition to forecasts of evaporative demand. We further illustrate the skill of subseasonal forecasts on weekly timescales using hindcasts from 2011 to 2021. Results show that while forecast skill degrades with time, statistically significant week 3 correlative skill was found for 76% and 30% of the contiguous US for Energy Release Component and evaporative demand, respectively. These results highlight the potential value of experimental subseasonal forecasts in complementing existing information streams in weekly‐to‐monthly fire business decision making for suppression‐based decisions and geographic reallocation of resources during the fire season, as well for proactive fire management actions outside of the core fire season.

This study aimed to assess the influence of the high biodiversity silvopastoral system (SPSnu) on the microclimate, pasture production, and pasture chemical composition. Microclimate variables and pasture production and chemical composition were measured in pared paddocks under SPSnu and treeless pasture (TLP) in a commercial farm during four seasons in Southern Brazil. SPSnu measurements were subdivided into two areas: around the nuclei (AN) and area inter-nuclei (IN). In the TLP paddocks, we plotted fictitious nuclei with the same areas and distributions of SPSnu, however without trees. For the microclimate measurements, these areas were noted when shaded or unshaded by the nuclei trees. In each season, the microclimate variables air temperature (AT, °C), relative humidity (RH, %), illuminance (Ilu, lux), wind speed (WS, m/s), and soil surface temperature (SST, °C) were measured. In addition, botanical composition (%), pasture production (kg/DM/ ha), and pasture chemical composition were evaluated. The SPSnu provided the lowest values of microclimate variables in all seasons (p < 0.05), except for the relative humidity. Winter had the highest thermal amplitude in the systems. The highest difference between SPSnu and TLP for AT (4.3 °C) and SST (5.2 °C) was measured during the hot seasons (spring and summer). In contrast, during cold seasons (autumn and winter) it observed highest thermal amplitude between SPSnu and TLP. Overall, the highest annual pasture production was observed in the SPSnu (p < 0.05). During the summer, the SPSnu areas showed the highest values of crude protein and dry matter (p < 0.05). During the winter, the TLP showed the lowest values (p < 0.05) of pasture production and dry matter. It was observed that SPSnu improved the microclimate at the pasture level, influencing pasture production and pasture chemical composition. The enhanced microclimate can partially mitigate some of the effects of climate change on pastoral agroecosystems, creating conditions for ecological rehabilitation of ecosystem processes and services. These conditions could be amplified to a biome level through a payment for ecosystem services program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long- and short-term biometeorological conditions in the Republic of Serbia were analyzed using official meteorological data from numerous weather stations located across the country. Selected biometeorological indices HUMIDEX, Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET), and Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) are calculated based on air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and cloudiness data from the meteorological stations on annual and summer level as well as during selected heat wave periods during 2000–2020. Application of different biometeorological indices provides similar but somewhat different results. For example, average annual HUMIDEX and UTCI values indicate no thermal stress and no discomfort at all stations, while PET indicates the occurrence of slight to moderate cold stress at all stations. Average summer PET and UTCI indicate the occurrence of slight to moderate heat stress throughout the country, while HUMIDEX indicates no discomfort. Trends of biometeorological indices on annual and summer level show a general increase throughout the country. Furthermore, heat wave analysis indicated that the most populated cities of Serbia are under dangerous and extreme heat stress during these extreme temperature events, which can influence human health and well-being. The obtained biometeorological information can be used for the preparation of climate adaptation strategies that consider the human biometeorological conditions, with a special focus on developing climate-sensitive and comfortable cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The annual burden of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) is enormous, and environmental factors may have a vital role in respiratory infections. This study aimed to investigate the potential effects of the atmospheric environment on SARI. A time-series analysis was performed on the relationship between atmospheric environment and 136,989 SARI cases by distributed lag non-linear model. Wind speed, PM10, PM2.5, O3, and CO exhibited differential effects at a range of lag times or exposure ranges. Air pressure, temperature, and diurnal temperature range showed risk effects in the full range. The lag effect of high pollution was stronger, appeared earlier, and lasted longer than that of low pollution. Most environmental factors had a certain non-linear lag relationship with SARI. Low wind speed and high air pollution may be increasing risk factors for SARI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides an assessment of the bioclimatic conditions of the warm and cold periods for 2010-2020 for the territory of West Kazakhstan on the basis of a comprehensive accounting of meteorological parameters. For this assessment, four bioclimatic indices were calculated, such as effective temperature, equivalent-effective temperature, normal equivalent-effective temperature, the Bodman severity index, on the basis of which the level of comfortness of climatic conditions for the population living in the studied territory was evaluated. The calculations used the initial data of daily temperature, relative humidity and wind speed for the main five stations in West Kazakhstan. The importance of this work is to determine the dependence of human health on climatic factors and to study with the help of the found bioclimatic indicators how favorable the climatic conditions of the territory of West Kazakhstan are for human life and recreation. The analysis of the obtained results revealed that in the cold half of the year a moderately severe type of weather conditions prevails, and in the warm period of the year the climate of the studied territory is considered comfortably warm. In general, the climate of West Kazakhstan can be considered comfortable for living, health and work of the population in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Heat stress (HS) is a complex phenomenon that triggers multiple animal response mechanisms that negatively impact livestock welfare and production. Thermal comfort is therefore an important subject for limiting performance loss and other adverse effects of heat stress on animal physiology in different production systems; furthermore, it is becoming increasingly important in light of recent climate change scenarios. The purpose of this study was to point out different areas of Pernambuco state that are likely to be best suited to different sheep breeds. The study identified two dairy breeds (East Friesian and Lacaune) that have good potential to be farmed in specific areas of Pernambuco state. The thermal comfort indices presented in Pernambuco were favorable for the main meat-producing breeds. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has pointed out the high vulnerability of developing countries to climate change, which is expected to impact food and income security. Sheep farming is one of the main animal productions among the families located in the most vulnerable regions of the semiarid region of Pernambuco state, a Brazilian territory known for its high temperatures, low relative humidity, and high net solar radiation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify different regions of Pernambuco that may be more suitable for different breeds of sheep, based on non-parametric statistics and kriging maps of the temperature and humidity index (THI). THI values were determined based on mean annual temperature and wind speed extracted from the TerraClimate remote sensing database. Pernambuco state presented THI values ranging from 66 to 79, with the hair breeds having a high potential for exploitation in almost all territories, including the main meat-producing breeds. The East Friesian breed, a high milk producer, would be well suited to the Agreste mesoregion, a territory that, like the Pajeú and Moxotó microregions, also proved favorable for the introduction of three wool breeds (Suffolk, Poll Dorset, and Texel) known as major meat producers. The kriging maps of the THI values successfully allowed the identification of strategic development regions of Pernambuco state with high potential for sheep breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Does the silvopastoral system (SPS) promote a satisfactory thermal environment for dairy cows to perform their natural behaviors and perform a suitable thermoregulatory function? To answer this, peer-reviewed articles, written in English and evaluating the effects of silvopastoral systems on thermal environment, dairy cows' behavior, and physiology were used in this systematic review; additionally, a bibliometric approach was performed. Web of Science and Google Scholar were used to compile the literature. The resulting articles (1448) underwent a 4-step appraisal process and resulted in 19 articles that fitted our inclusion criteria. Microclimate variables and thermal comfort indicators were the most researched topics (discussed in 89% of studies); 47% of studies addressed cattle behavior and 36% physiological responses. Our review highlights different benefits of silvopastoral systems for grazing dairy cows. For example, the SPS provides a more comfortable thermal environment than treeless pasture, which increases feeding behaviors; furthermore, dairy cows in SPS show lower drinking events, surface temperature, and respiratory rate than cows raised in treeless pasture. However, for nine of the variables related to cows' behavior (e.g., resting, rumination) and physiology responses (e.g., internal temperature), the results of the studies were unclear. Furthermore, behaviors associated with lying down (e.g., idling and rumination) and milk production in SPS were explored only in six and two studies, respectively. These findings provide consistent evidence that the silvopastoral systems are beneficial to thermal comfort of dairy cows; nonetheless, the effect on cows' behavioral and physiological responses is still scarce and unclear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Studies on the effect of thermal stress on lactating cows have increased considerably in recent years. Feedlot systems for dairy cows have become popular around the world. This article aims to develop a scientometric analysis to evaluate studies on thermal stress in lactating cows housed in a free-stall, tie-stall, and compost-bedded pack barn system. A total of 604 studies from the Web of Science database was considered for this study. The data obtained from the Web of Science was exported to Citespace software. The most used keywords by the researchers were "heat stress", "dairy cow" and "cattle". The most relevant countries, authors, institutions, and networks of co-occurrences for our research were highlighted. This article provides a comprehensive review of thermal stress in lactating cows housed in confinement in the last 22 years and contributes to future research in this area. Due to climate change, heat stress is a growing problem for the dairy industry. Based on this, annual economic losses in the dairy sector are verified mainly on a large scale. Despite several publications on thermal stress in lactating dairy cows in confinement systems, there need to be published reviews addressing this issue systematically. Our objective was to scientometrically analyze the effects of heat stress in dairy cows managed in a confinement system. Based on PRISMA guidelines, research articles were identified, screened, and summarized based on inclusion criteria for heat stress in a confinement system. Data was obtained from the Web of Science. A total of 604 scientific articles published between 2000 and April 2022 were considered. Data was then analyzed using Microsoft Excel and CiteSpace. The results pointed to a significant increase in studies on heat stress in lactating cows housed in confinement systems. The main research areas were Agriculture, Dairy Animal Science and Veterinary Sciences. The USA showed the highest concentration of studies (31.12%), followed by China (14.90%). Emerging themes included heat stress and behavior. The most influential journals were the Journal of Dairy Science and the Journal of Animal Science. The top authors were L. H. Baumgard and R. J. Collier. The leading institutions were the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, followed by the State University System of Florida and the University of Florida. The study maps the significant research domains on heat stress of lactating cows in confinement systems, discusses implications and explanations and highlights emerging trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on enhancing heat-health strategies through interdisciplinary collaborations between thermal physiologists and biometeorologists. Topics include advocating for international research efforts to align global climate data with human physiological responses, emphasizing the variability of heat waves worldwide.

The objective was to assess the physiological and behavioral variables of pasture-raised Holstein heifers on the basis of their coat color. Eight heifers were used, four with black coat, and four with white coat. In the morning and afternoon periods, their physiological variables were measured, namely respiratory rate (RR, mov min. -1), rectal temperature (TR, ºC), and coat surface temperature (TS, ºC). The behavior analysis considered the site (sun or shade), position (standing or lying down), and activities (idleness, rumination, grazing, and others). The data of the physiological variables were assessed through analysis of variance, and significance, through Tukey’s test at 5%, while behavioral data were assessed using the Chi-squared test (SAS Software). There was a difference for all of the heifers’ physiological variables as a function of coat color (p < 0.0001) and period (p < 0.0001), with black ones showing greater results than white ones as to all physiological variables in the afternoon period (p < 0.0001). Grazing behavior is reduced during the hottest hours of the day. We conclude that solar radiation changes the physiological variables and grazing behavior of pasture-raised Holstein heifers.

The objective was to assess the physiological and behavioral variables of pasture-raised Holstein heifers on the basis of their coat color. Eight heifers were used, four with black coat, and four with white coat. In the morning and afternoon periods, their physiological variables were measured, namely respiratory rate (RR, mov min. -1), rectal temperature (TR, °C), and coat surface temperature (Ts, °C). The behavior analysis considered the site (sun or shade), position (standing or lying down), and activities (idleness, rumination, grazing, and others). The data of the physiological variables were assessed through analysis of variance, and significance, through Tukey's test at 5%, while behavioral data were assessed using the Chi-squared test (SAS Software). There was a difference for all of the heifers' physiological variables as a function of coat color (p < 0.0001) and period (p < 0.0001), with black ones showing greater results than white ones as to all physiological variables in the afternoon period (p < 0.0001). Grazing behavior is reduced during the hottest hours of the day. We conclude that solar radiation changes the physiological variables and grazing behavior of pasture-raised Holstein heifers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present climatology and trends of the UTCI obtained from the ERA5 reanalysis between 1941 and 2018 for the Czech Republic. Long-term average of the UTCI exposes regions with approximately similar stress levels given by weather on humans, and it also forms the basis for the first bioclimatological mapping of the Czech Republic. Furthermore, positive long-term trends of UTCI indicate gradually increasing thermal stress on humans in all seasons but winter, in which, on the contrary, the cold stress decreases. Nevertheless, inhomogeneities in our results are expected because of flattened orography due to the coarse resolution of ERA5.

Utilizing an extension of Pearson’s correlation in the case of random vectors, we improve the empirical dynamic modeling causal analysis of non-linear systems. To prove the effectiveness of the use of such an extension we analyze two real-world examples, the paramecium-didinium protozoan system and the influence of environmental variables on mosquito abundance in northern Greece. In both examples it is shown that the causal analysis based on the extended metric outperforms the usual method of measuring the correlation between observed and predicted values of a single vector component.

The study objective was to characterise biometeorological conditions during the long May weekend (1–3 May) in Poland in the period 1966–2020 and determine baric conditions causing their variability. The conducted research employed data such as air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and total cloudiness. The aforementioned data were collected at 12:00 UTC. In the first year of the conducted study, the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) was calculated for the period of 1–3 May in the years 1966–2020. Next, circulation conditions were analysed in the designated groups based on daily sea level atmospheric pressure values and isobaric surface height of 500 hPa. This study evidenced the occurrence of variable biometeorological conditions during the long May weekend in Poland. The lowest index values were recorded at the coast of the Baltic Sea and in Northeast Poland, and the highest in the southern and western regions. On the analysed days of May in the years 1966–2020, days classified as days with no thermal stress were recorded the most frequently, followed by days with cold stress, and days with warm stress that occurred sporadically. People planning tourist activity on the analysed days should be prepared for diverse biometeorological conditions, from those causing cold stress to those causing heat stress.

The aim of our study was to connect the possible complications of early pregnancy (miscarriage and symptomatic ectopic pregnancy) up to the 12th week of gestation with biometeorological conditions while assuming a greater number of incidents with an unfavorable biometeorological forecast. We performed a retrospective observational study using medical data of a single medical center of Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Sveti Duh University Hospital and meteorological data from the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrometeorological Service in Zagreb. We tracked the number of visits to the gynecology and obstetrics emergency unit on a daily basis during 2017. Days with five or more visits were selected and underwent further analysis, during which the number of miscarriages and symptomatic ectopic pregnancies was noted. The information from the biometeorological forecast was then extracted and added to the database. Our results did not show a statistically significant difference between the groups determined by biometeorological forecast in the number of spontaneous abortions or ectopic pregnancy. Also, statistically significant results did not follow the expected trend of the increasing number of complications related to worse biometeorological forecast, or vice versa, a decreased number of complications with better forecast. Our single-center retrospective analysis of emergency unit visits related to weather conditions did not show a connection between the complications of early pregnancy and biometeorological conditions. However, different results could emerge in future studies. Considering the large and high-quality database collected for this study, efforts in researching the connection between other gynecologic pathologies and weather conditions will be feasible.

Abstract Background The results of various studies that have so far evaluated the influence of meteorological conditions on seizures are often divergent. No studies have been performed so far that evaluate the possible correlation between the occurrence of seizure-related events, surface and upper level atmospheric conditions and biometeorological forecasts. The aim of this study is to investigate those interactions. Methods Records of “Sveti Duh” University hospital, Zagreb, Croatia between January 2016 and May 2020 were analysed in order to determine number of patients per day who were assessed through Emergency room because of a recent epileptic seizure. The dates were assessed for surface and upper level atmospheric conditions and biometeorological forecasts. Analyses of these factors were performed for two consecutive days preceding that day, the day of seizure, as well as for the following day. Data was analysed using chi-squared test, Mann-Whitney U-test or Kruskal-Wallis test (with Conover’s test for post-hoc analyses), depending on variable type. Additionaly, logistic regression was used to study effects of variables on seizure occurrence. Statistical significance was set to p

The silvopasture system is an integrated system which has been widespread in tropical and sub-tropical climates. However, there is a lack of detailed studies regarding agroecological silvopasture systems. This study assessed whether the different levels of shading in an agroecological silvopastoral system influences the microclimate and botanical composition of polyphytic pasture. We used eight paddocks composed of a silvopastoral system in a subtropical climate, with different tree species arranged in simple lines with polyphytic pasture. In each paddock, we established three levels of visual shading (under the canopy, intermediate and full sun). The following microclimatic variables were recorded monthly during the daytime: illuminance, air temperature, air relative humidity, wind speed, and surface soil temperature. The samples of forages were separated into grasses, legumes and spontaneous, then fractionated into leaves, stems, and senescent material. We observed lower values of illuminance and surface soil temperature under the canopy, with differences between full sun and under the canopy at noon. Regarding the forage, the percentage of legumes was higher in full sun, and spontaneous species and leaves had high proportions under the canopy. Based on the results, the agroecological silvopastoral system changed the microclimatic characteristics and altered the plant composition of polyphytic pasture.

Effective planning animal transport is essential to safeguard animal welfare and reduce production losses. Environmental conditions, specifically extreme temperatures in combination with ranges of relative humidity are highlighted as one of the main risk factors for production losses during transport (e.g., fatalities). The majority of research evaluating both welfare and production impacts of pig transport have been primarily undertaken in Europe and North America, which cover a relatively limited range of distinct climates (e.g., temperate, sub-arctic, etc.). As a result, research on pig transport in semi-arid conditions is lacking. In this study, we evaluated the effects of both distance (short, 30 km; and long, 170 km) and transport daily periods (morning, (05:00-11:00); afternoon (12:00-17:00); and night, (23:00-04:00)) on the preslaughter losses and heat stress of pigs in commercial transport in a semiarid region. Across 19 journeys of standard slaughter-weight pig loads (124.0 ± 2.8 kg), 684 focal animals (36 per journey) were evaluated. For each journey, the load's thermal profile (THIadj and enthalpy) and physiological responses of individual pigs were recorded. On arrival at designated slaughterhouses, the percentage pig of non-ambulatory non-injured (NANI), non-ambulatory injured (NAI), death on arrival (DOA), and total losses were recorded. Short journeys in the afternoon were shown to be more detrimental to the thermal comfort of pigs, with higher rectal temperatures recorded. The highest percentage of total losses and DOA occurred in afternoon journeys, irrespective of distance, followed by the morning, with the lowest losses observed in pigs transported at night. Additionally, total losses and DOA were further exacerbated by journey distance, with higher rates observed in short journeys. Higher percentage averages of NANI and NAI were observed in shorter journeys, but daily periods effects were only observed for NANI. These results further demonstrate the welfare and production loss risks associated with journey distance and time of day (representing varying environmental conditions) during road transport of pigs, whilst providing novel data in semiarid conditions. Careful and effective planning for pig transportation is essential to minimize heat stress and production losses. Consideration of the thermal environment on the day of travel, as well as providing flexibility to adjust travel times (e.g., early morning or evening), should help to mitigate risks of heat stress and production losses during pig transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Route choice and travel performance of fly-forage migrants are partly driven by large-scale habitat availability, but it remains unclear to what extent wind support through large-scale wind regimes moulds their migratory behaviour. We aimed to determine to what extent a trans-equatorial fly-forage migrant engages in adaptive drift through distinct wind regimes and biomes across Africa. The Inter-tropical Front (ITF) marks a strong and seasonally shifting climatic boundary at the thermal equator, and we assessed whether migratory detours were associated with this climatic feature. Furthermore, we sought to disentangle the influence of wind and biome on daily, regional and seasonal travel performance. Methods We GPS-tracked 19 adult Eleonora’s falcons Falco eleonorae from the westernmost population on the Canary Islands across 39 autumn and 36 spring migrations to and from Madagascar. Tracks were annotated with wind data to assess the falcons’ orientation behaviour and the wind support they achieved in each season and distinct biomes. We further tested whether falcon routes across the Sahel were correlated with the ITF position, and how realized wind support and biome affect daily travel times, distances and speeds. Results Changes in orientation behaviour across Africa’s biomes were associated with changes in prevailing wind fields. Falcons realized higher wind support along their detours than was available along the shortest possible route by drifting through adverse autumn wind fields, but compromised wind support while detouring through supportive spring wind fields. Movements across the Sahel-Sudan zone were strongly associated to the ITF position in autumn, but were more individually variable in spring. Realized wind support was an important driver of daily travel speeds and distances, in conjunction with regional wind-independent variation in daily travel time budgets. Conclusions Although daily travel time budgets of falcons vary independently from wind, their daily travel performance is strongly affected by orientation-dependent wind support. Falcons thereby tend to drift to minimize or avoid headwinds through opposing wind fields and over ecological barriers, while compensating through weak or supportive wind fields and over hospitable biomes. The ITF may offer a climatic leading line to fly-forage migrants in terms of both flight and foraging conditions.

The first decade of the twenty-first century saw remarkable technological advancements for use in biometeorology. These emerging technologies have allowed for the collection of new data and have further emphasized the need for specific and/or changing systems for efficient data management, data processing, and advanced representations of new data through digital information management systems. This short communication provides an overview of new hardware and software technologies that support biometeorologists in representing and understanding the influence of atmospheric processes on living organisms.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has pointed out the high vulnerability of developing countries to climate change, which is expected to impact food and income security. Sheep farming is one of the main animal productions among the families located in the most vulnerable regions of the semiarid region of Pernambuco state, a Brazilian territory known for its high temperatures, low relative humidity, and high net solar radiation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify different regions of Pernambuco that may be more suitable for different breeds of sheep, based on non-parametric statistics and kriging maps of the temperature and humidity index (THI). THI values were determined based on mean annual temperature and wind speed extracted from the TerraClimate remote sensing database. Pernambuco state presented THI values ranging from 66 to 79, with the hair breeds having a high potential for exploitation in almost all territories, including the main meat-producing breeds. The East Friesian breed, a high milk producer, would be well suited to the Agreste mesoregion, a territory that, like the Pajeú and Moxotó microregions, also proved favorable for the introduction of three wool breeds (Suffolk, Poll Dorset, and Texel) known as major meat producers. The kriging maps of the THI values successfully allowed the identification of strategic development regions of Pernambuco state with high potential for sheep breeding.

An unprecedented study was carried out in a mangrove ecosystem in the northeastern coast of the Brazilian Amazon to understand the behavior of climatic elements in a year with the occurrence of El Niño (2015), associated with the seasonal function source/sink of CO2 by the ecosystem. Global radiation (Rg), net radiation (Rn), temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, horizontal wind speed and direction, as well as turbulent flows of sensible heat (H), latent heat (LE), and carbon (f_CO2) were recorded using eddy covariance, a system for studying turbulent flows of heat and gases in the atmosphere. We observed a drastic reduction in rainfall volumes, which accounts for 63.7% of the expected total according to the region's climatology. Regarding f_ CO2, the highest values of photosynthesis, autotrophic, and heterotrophic respiration of the ecosystem occurred in the wet season due to precipitation, ideal photosynthetically active radiation, lower soil salinity, and higher NDVI of the ecosystem. In the 2nd semester of the year, we observed that the decrease in cloudiness, causing a higher radiation supply in the forest canopy, accompanied by a reduction in precipitation and an increase in the value of H and soil salinity, favored the increase of foliar abscission by the dominant genus Rhizophora and Avicennia, thus influencing the reduction of magnitudes of carbon source/sink functions in the ecosystem during this season, even on high tide days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vulnerability of animal production to Thermal Humidity Index (THI) has hardly been documented in India and hence one study on climate and weather on the conception rate of cattle was conducted at Pantnagar, Uttarakhand. In the study, meteorological data (2000 to 2010) were collected from agrometeorological Observatory, Pantnagar and were used to compute six different types of Thermal Humidity Index by giving different weightage to dry bulb temperature and humidity. The relationship between Thermal Humidity Index and overall conception rate of animal was established to select the most appropriate THI for practical application.

ABSTRACT The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of cooling systems by negative pressure versus directed ducts on the performance of lactating sows and their litter. The experiment was conducted in a tropical climatic region in Brazil. Ninety-four lactating sows during 26.2±1.7 days of lactation were included with their 1,236 piglets. Sows were distributed using a completely randomized block design into two treatments: a negative pressure cooling (NPC) system and a directed duct cooling (DDC) system. We adopted sow parity as blocking criterion. During the experimental period, environmental temperatures inside the farrowing rooms were 22.9±1.5 and 25.4±2.5 °C, respectively, using the NPC and DDC systems. Sow daily feed intake, litter weight at weaning, piglet weight at weaning, litter daily weight gain, piglet daily gain, and daily milk production per sow were greater in the NPC system than in the DDC system. The type of cooling system did not affect piglet weight after standardization, mortality, number of piglets weaned per sow, and estrus return. The use of an NPC system can reduce the effects of higher environmental temperatures better than the DDC system. The NPC system allowed for greater feed intake, piglet and litter weight gain, weight of piglets and litter at weaning, and milk production compared with the DDC system.

Background: The results of various studies that have so far evaluated the influence of meteorological conditions on seizures are often divergent. No studies have been performed so far that evaluate the possible correlation between the occurrence of seizure-related events, surface and upper level atmospheric conditions and biometeorological forecasts. The aim of this study is to investigate those interactions.Methods: Records of "Sveti Duh" University hospital, Zagreb, Croatia between January 2016 and May 2020 were analysed in order to determine number of patients per day who were assessed through Emergency room because of a recent epileptic seizure. The dates were assessed for surface and upper level atmospheric conditions and biometeorological forecasts. Analyses of these factors were performed for two consecutive days preceding that day, the day of seizure, as well as for the following day. Data was analysed using chi-squared test, Mann-Whitney U-test or Kruskal-Wallis test (with Conover's test for post-hoc analyses), depending on variable type. Additionaly, logistic regression was used to study effects of variables on seizure occurrence. Statistical significance was set to p < 0.05.Results: Results showed significant difference between the numbers of patients with seizure depending on upper level type on the following day. We also observed fewer daily patients with seizures when the synoptic situation on the following day was high pressure field then when it was low pressure or non-gradient pressure field (observed just during the colder part of the year), which was supported in our regression analyses. A greater frequency of seizures was observed if the biometerological prognosis was deemed unfavourable on the following day. Furthermore, our results showed significantly larger proportion of days with seizure patients in warmer, than in colder days of the year.Conclusions: All of the analyzed weather-related parameters seem to be associated with daily numbers of seizures on the previous day. The reason behind this phenomenon is uncertain; however, the results indicate that weather patterns have a certain influence on patients with epilepsy, but are not yet fully understood or adequately appreciated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The silvopasture system is an integrated system which has been widespread in tropical and sub-tropical climates. However, there is a lack of detailed studies regarding agroecological silvopasture systems. This study assessed whether the different levels of shading in an agroecological silvopastoral system influences the microclimate and botanical composition of polyphytic pasture. We used eight paddocks composed of a silvopastoral system in a subtropical climate, with different tree species arranged in simple lines with polyphytic pasture. In each paddock, we established three levels of visual shading (under the canopy, intermediate and full sun). The following microclimatic variables were recorded monthly during the daytime: illuminance, air temperature, air relative humidity, wind speed, and surface soil temperature. The samples of forages were separated into grasses, legumes and spontaneous, then fractionated into leaves, stems, and senescent material. We observed lower values of illuminance and surface soil temperature under the canopy, with differences between full sun and under the canopy at noon. Regarding the forage, the percentage of legumes was higher in full sun, and spontaneous species and leaves had high proportions under the canopy. Based on the results, the agroecological silvopastoral system changed the microclimatic characteristics and altered the plant composition of polyphytic pasture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to evaluate human thermal comfort in different green area settings in the city of Florence by using the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). Field measurements of air temperature, solar radiation, relative humidity, wind speed and black globe thermometer were collected during hot summer days in various parts of Cascine Park, the biggest urban park in Florence (Italy). UTCI was evaluated over different surfaces (asphalt, gravel and grass) completely exposed to the sun or shaded by a large lime tree (Tilia × europaea). The results showed strong differences in UTCI values depending on the exposure to tree shade, while no significant difference was found among ground-cover materials when all surfaces were equally exposed to solar radiation. Future studies are needed to investigate the microclimatic effects of different tree species on UTCI.

Due to climate change, heat stress is a growing problem for the dairy industry. Based on this, annual economic losses in the dairy sector are verified mainly on a large scale. Despite several publications on thermal stress in lactating dairy cows in confinement systems, there need to be published reviews addressing this issue systematically. Our objective was to scientometrically analyze the effects of heat stress in dairy cows managed in a confinement system. Based on PRISMA guidelines, research articles were identified, screened, and summarized based on inclusion criteria for heat stress in a confinement system. Data was obtained from the Web of Science. A total of 604 scientific articles published between 2000 and April 2022 were considered. Data was then analyzed using Microsoft Excel and CiteSpace. The results pointed to a significant increase in studies on heat stress in lactating cows housed in confinement systems. The main research areas were Agriculture, Dairy Animal Science and Veterinary Sciences. The USA showed the highest concentration of studies (31.12%), followed by China (14.90%). Emerging themes included heat stress and behavior. The most influential journals were the Journal of Dairy Science and the Journal of Animal Science. The top authors were L. H. Baumgard and R. J. Collier. The leading institutions were the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, followed by the State University System of Florida and the University of Florida. The study maps the significant research domains on heat stress of lactating cows in confinement systems, discusses implications and explanations and highlights emerging trends.

A total solar eclipse occurred over North America on 21 August 2017 and was a much-publicized astronomical event whose observance depended upon favorable weather. The eclipse also was a biometeorological event because people needed to both protect their both eyes and skin from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. Although much attention was devoted in the media to the visual experience of the eclipse and to eye protection, skin protection received almost no emphasis. Thus, the authors surveyed 1014 university students in Athens, Georgia shortly after the eclipse event about their skin protective behaviors. Overall, people observed the eclipse outside for approximately one hour. The time spent outside differed significantly according to peoples’ self-reported skin response to the sun. The respondents also indicated that that they observed the eclipse for significantly longer periods of time than would be needed for them to receive a sunburn. Other than wearing sunglasses and using eclipse glasses, the most frequent skin protective measures were to seek shade and to wear short-sleeve shirts. Wearing additional clothing, hats, or any type of sunscreen were comparatively infrequent. We discussed the need for safeguarding the skin because every sunburn event at younger ages can increase the likelihood of skin cancers.

This work analyses the temporal and spatial characteristics of bioclimatic conditions in the Lower Silesia region. The daily time values (12UTC) of meteorological variables in the period 1966–2017 from seven synoptic stations of the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW) (Jelenia Góra, Kłodzko, Legnica, Leszno, Wrocław, Opole, Śnieżka) were used as the basic data to assess the thermal stress index UTCI (Universal Thermal Climate Index). The UTCI can be interpreted by ten different thermal classes, representing the bulk of these bioclimatic conditions. Stochastic autoregressive moving-average modelling (ARMA) was used for the statistical analysis and modelling of the UTCI as well as separately for all meteorological components. This made it possible to test differences in predicting UTCI as a full index or reconstructing it from single meteorological variables. The results show an annual and seasonal variability of UTCI for the Lower Silesia region. Strong significant spatial correlations in UTCI were also found in all stations of the region. "No thermal stress" is the most commonly occurring thermal class in this region (about 38%). Thermal conditions related to cold stress classes occurred more frequently (all cold classes at about 47%) than those of heat stress classes (all heat classes at about 15%). Over the available 52-year period, the occurrence of "extreme heat stress" conditions was not detected. Autoregressive analysis, although successful in predicting UTCI, was nonetheless unsuccessful in reconstructing the wind speed, which showed a persistent temporal correlation possibly due to its vectorial origin. We conclude thereby that reconstructing UTCI using linear autoregressive methods is more suitable when working directly on the UTCI as a whole rather than reconstructing it from single variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data are the fundamental building blocks to conduct scientific studies that seek to understand natural phenomena in space and time. The notion of data processing is ubiquitous and nearly operates in any project that requires gaining insight from the data. The increasing availability of information sources, data formats and download services offered to the users, makes it difficult to reuse or exploit the potential of those new resources in multiple scientific fields. In this paper, we present a spatial extract-transform-load (spatial-ETL) approach for downloading atmospheric datasets in order to produce new biometeorological indices and expose them publicly for reuse in research studies. The technologies and processes involved in our work are clearly defined in a context where the GDAL library and the Python programming language are key elements for the development and implementation of the geoprocessing tools. Since the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is the source of information, the ETL process is executed each time this service publishes an updated atmospheric prediction model, thus obtaining different forecasts for spatial and temporal analyses. As a result, we present a web application intended for downloading these newly created datasets after processing, and visualising interactive web maps with the outcomes resulting from a number of geoprocessing tasks. We also elaborate on all functions and technologies used for the design of those processes, with emphasis on the optimisation of the resources as implemented in cloud services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to analyze the association of changes in pre-dialysis systolic and diastolic blood pressure with air temperature in a municipality in the Brazilian Pantanal, a tropical climate area. Longitudinal panel study, with analysis of mixed effects models of 133 hemodialysis patients in the city of Cáceres-Mato Grosso in 2014. Air temperature showed an inverse association with pre-dialysis systolic and diastolic blood pressure. With each increase of 1 °C in the mean air temperature, the pre-dialysis systolic blood pressure decreases -0.730mmHg (p ≤ 0.000) and the pre-dialysis diastolic blood pressure decreases -0.280mmHg (p ≤ 0.000). The estimated effect was greater for systolic blood pressure, but both pre-dialysis blood pressure measures are reduced with an increase in lag (up to two days), even when adjusted for relative air humidity. Air temperature is determinant for changes in pre-dialysis systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hemodialysis patients. The temperature effect was greater for systolic blood pressure than for diastolic blood pressure.

ABSTRACT: This study evaluated: (1) the vulnerability of broiler houses with different cooling systems, and (2) the spatial distribution of environmental variables during hot days. Four potentially vulnerable commercial broiler houses in southern Brazil were selected according to the following parameters: absence or presence of different cooling systems, broilers older than 28 days, and outside air dry-bulb temperature over 30°C. Broiler house vulnerability was classified according to the cooling and mechanical ventilation system: cellulose pad cooling (CPC), sprinkling (SPK), fogging (FOG), and mechanical ventilation without evaporative cooling system (VTL). The air dry-bulb temperature (Tdb, °C) and relative humidity (RH, %) were recorded every 10 min. For each broiler house, we evaluated: (1) relative cooling efficiency (RCE) and (2) inside spatial distribution of microclimate variables using a geostatistical technique. The CPC and SPK did not differ (P

Background: Route choice and travel performance of fly-forage migrants are partly driven by large-scale habitat availability, but it remains unclear to what extent wind support through large-scale wind regimes moulds their migratory behaviour. We aimed to determine to what extent a trans-equatorial fly-forage migrant engages in adaptive drift through distinct wind regimes and biomes across Africa. The Inter-tropical Front (ITF) marks a strong and seasonally shifting climatic boundary at the thermal equator, and we assessed whether migratory detours were associated with this climatic feature. Furthermore, we sought to disentangle the influence of wind and biome on daily, regional and seasonal travel performance. Methods: We GPS-tracked 19 adult Eleonora's falcons Falco eleonorae from the westernmost population on the Canary Islands across 39 autumn and 36 spring migrations to and from Madagascar. Tracks were annotated with wind data to assess the falcons' orientation behaviour and the wind support they achieved in each season and distinct biomes. We further tested whether falcon routes across the Sahel were correlated with the ITF position, and how realized wind support and biome affect daily travel times, distances and speeds. Results: Changes in orientation behaviour across Africa's biomes were associated with changes in prevailing wind fields. Falcons realized higher wind support along their detours than was available along the shortest possible route by drifting through adverse autumn wind fields, but compromised wind support while detouring through supportive spring wind fields. Movements across the Sahel-Sudan zone were strongly associated to the ITF position in autumn, but were more individually variable in spring. Realized wind support was an important driver of daily travel speeds and distances, in conjunction with regional wind-independent variation in daily travel time budgets. Conclusions: Although daily travel time budgets of falcons vary independently from wind, their daily travel performance is strongly affected by orientation-dependent wind support. Falcons thereby tend to drift to minimize or avoid headwinds through opposing wind fields and over ecological barriers, while compensating through weak or supportive wind fields and over hospitable biomes. The ITF may offer a climatic leading line to fly-forage migrants in terms of both flight and foraging conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to assess the influence of atmospheric conditions and particulate matter (PM) on the seasonally varying incidence of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) in the capital of Poland—Warsaw, we analysed time series of ILI reported for the about 1.75 million residents in total and for different age groups in 288 approximately weekly periods, covering 6 years 2013–2018. Using Poisson regression, we predicted ILI by the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) as biometeorological indicator, and by PM2.5 and PM10, respectively, as air quality measures accounting for lagged effects spanning up to 3 weeks. Excess ILI incidence after adjusting for seasonal and annual trends was calculated by fitting generalized additive models. ILI morbidity increased with rising PM concentrations, for both PM2.5 and PM10, and with cooler atmospheric conditions as indicated by decreasing UTCI. While the PM effect focused on the actual reporting period, the atmospheric influence exhibited a more evenly distributed lagged effect pattern over the considered 3-week period. Though ILI incidence adjusted for population size significantly declined with age, age did not significantly modify the effect sizes of both PM and UTCI. These findings contribute to better understanding environmental conditionings of influenza seasonality in a temperate climate. This will be beneficial to forecasting future dynamics of ILI and to planning clinical and public health resources under climate change scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensing and measuring meteorological and physiological parameters of humans, animals, and plants are necessary to understand the complex interactions that occur between atmospheric processes and the health of the living organisms. Advanced sensing technologies have provided both meteorological and biological data across increasingly vast spatial, spectral, temporal, and thematic scales. Information and communication technologies have reduced barriers to data dissemination, enabling the circulation of information across different jurisdictions and disciplines. Due to the advancement and rapid dissemination of these technologies, a review of the opportunities for sensing the health effects of weather and climate change is necessary. This paper provides such an overview by focusing on existing and emerging technologies and their opportunities and challenges for studying the health effects of weather and climate change on humans, animals, and plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Redcedar suitability shows a distinct east-to-west gradient driven by climate aridity. • Suitable habitat will shift eastward by 49 km - 103 km throughout the 21st century. • More redcedar removal resources should be allocated to the eastern regions. Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana , redcedar) is a major woody species encroaching upon the native grasslands and forests of the southern Great Plains (SGP), representing a significant threat to regional ecosystem services. Future climate change is anticipated to influence redcedar habitat suitability, changing the probability of further encroachment and reshaping its spatial distribution. In this study, we trained seven Species Distribution Models (SDMs) with redcedar records from the USDA Forest Inventory Analysis database and used the ensemble of these SDMs to simulate redcedar distribution probability under current and future climate conditions in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Results reveal a distinct east-to-west gradient of decreasing distribution probability in the study domain, primarily driven by climate aridity. Throughout the 21st century, the optimal range of aridity for redcedar habitat is projected to shift eastwards by 0.7° (≈ 58 km) under the RCP45 climate scenario and 1.3° (≈ 108 km) under the RCP85. Accordingly, the suitable habitat will shift eastward by 0.6° (≈ 49 km) in the RCP45 and by 1.2° (≈ 103 km) in the RCP85. The proportion of unsuitable habitat will increase from 40.2 % of the study domain during 2000 – 2019 to 48 % in the RCP45 and 54.2 % in the RCP85 during 2080 – 2099. Additionally, highly suitable land areas will decrease from 10.4 % of the study domain during 2000 – 2019 to 1.3 % in the RCP45 and 0 % in the RCP85 by the end of this century. This study suggests a low likelihood of further redcedar encroachment in the west of the SGP states under future climates, while anticipating continued expansion in the east, gradually replacing the existing oak forests and rangelands. The findings provide valuable insights for prioritizing WPE management resources and contribute to our understanding of future changes in the SGP vegetation composition and their impacts on ecosystem dynamics. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the biometeorological impact of thermal and humidity conditions on the human body in the Hornsund area in the southern Spitsbergen, Svalbard. This was determined based on diurnal air temperature range, the day-to-day variation in average diurnal air temperature and the average diurnal relative humidity. The temporal variability of thermal and humidity biometeorological stimuli in Hornsund was examined for the period 01.11.1978–31.12.2017. A lessening of biometeorological impact was found in the southern Spitsbergen region, including a statistically significant negative trend in strongly- and severely-felt stimuli (according to diurnal air temperature range), and in significant and severe stimuli (according to day-to-day variation in average diurnal air temperature). A non-significant positive trend was observed in the number of days of relative humidity with humid and very humid air. To analyse the spatial variability of the stimuli around the Hornsund fjord, data were used from seven year-round measuring stations for the period 01.07.2014–31.06.2015. The most unfavourable conditions were found on the Hans Glacier, on the summit of Fugleberget and inside the fjord. The paper presents the role of atmospheric circulation on thermal and humidity stimuli. In the Hornsund region, the highest probability of unfavourable sensible temperatures for humans occurring during the year was mostly in winter and early spring. This was related to the advection of air masses from the north-east sector, regardless of baric regime type. It was found that very humid air (> 85%) flowed over Hornsund for practically the entire year from the S–SW as part of both cyclonic and anti-cyclonic systems.

Abstract This work is taken up to evaluate the relationship between the thermal comfort of spectators and athletes and the prevailing meteorological conditions during Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Empirical and physiological thermal comfort indices are calculated from data collected from an automatic weather station installed near the Olympic Stadium and interviews with the spectators. The study period was marked by a gradual rise in air temperature and by the occurrence of two significant weather events associated with wind gusts, which caused disturbances in some areas of the competitions. ET and NET were below the air temperature, indicating that both humidity and wind contributed to the reduction of the human-biometeorological indices. Majority of the interviewed persons reported comfortable sensation and weather conditions. These perceptions corroborate results of the thermal comfort indices calculated for these resting spectators. The comfort indices calculated for the athletes with high level of physical activity showed that PET estimated hotter thermal sensation those for the individuals at rest, indicating that the physical type of a person may strongly influence the thermal sensation and comfort during intense physical activity. Increasing trend observed in all the indices of human thermal comfort during the period of study shows consistency among them.

The atmosphere is host to a complex electric environment, ranging from a global electric circuit generating fluctuating atmospheric electric fields to local lightning strikes and ions. While research on interactions of organisms with their electrical environment is deeply rooted in the aquatic environment, it has hitherto been confined to interactions with local electrical phenomena and organismal perception of electric fields. However, there is emerging evidence of coupling between large- and small-scale atmospheric electrical phenomena and various biological processes in terrestrial environments that even appear to be tied to continental waters. Here, we synthesize our current understanding of this connectivity, discussing how atmospheric electricity can affect various levels of biological organization across multiple ecosystems. We identify opportunities for research, highlighting its complexity and interdisciplinary nature and draw attention to both conceptual and technical challenges lying ahead of our future understanding of the relationship between atmospheric electricity and the organization and functioning of biological systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]