Abstract
Abstract. The objective of this paper is to assess the bioclimatic conditions in Serbia during summer in order to identify biothermal heat hazard. Special emphasis is placed on the bioclimatic index UTCI (Universal Thermal Climate Index), whose purpose is to evaluate the degree of thermal stress that the human body is exposed to. For this research, mean daily and hourly (07:00 and 14:00 CET) meteorological data from three weather stations (Zlatibor, Novi Sad and Niš) have been collected for the period from 1998 to 2017. In order to identify patterns of biothermal heat stress conditions, the thresholds of the daily UTCI (UTCI ≥38 ∘C, referred to as very strong heat stress, VSHS) at 14:00 CET are compared with the thresholds of daily maximum air temperature (tmax≥35 ∘C, referred to as hot days, HDs), which are further termed as heat wave events (HWEs). The findings show that the UTCI heat stress category “very strong heat stress“ at 14:00 CET indicates heat waves. The most extreme heat wave events occurred in 2007, 2012, 2015 and 2017. Moreover, three HWEs at Niš that occurred in July 2007 lasted 3, 10 and 4 d. HWEs and very strong heat stress events (VSHSEs) recorded in July 2007 (lasted 10 d each), 2012 (lasted 9 and 12 d) and 2015 (lasted 7 and 10 d) were of the longest duration and are considered to be the indicators of biothermal heat hazard. The daily UTCI14 h heat stress becomes more extreme in terms of severity and heat wave duration up to very strong heat stress.
Highlights
Extreme weather events such as heat waves, floods, droughts and storms have shown an increased frequency in recent decades (Brown et al, 2008; Easterling et al, 1997; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 2012; Rahmstorf and Coumou, 2011; Seneviratne and Nicholls, 2012)
The results are presented in three sections: (i) Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) (UTCIavg, UTCI7 h, UTCI14 h), (ii) UTCI heat stress indices (SHS, VSHS and EHS) and thermal indices (HD and HN), and (iii) heat waves (HWEs and very strong heat stress events (VSHSEs))
The present research of the human bioclimatic evaluation of UTCI thermal stress in Serbia is considered important due to the identification of biothermal heat hazard and the study of the evolution of such indices regarding climate change. This evaluation aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the human heat stress associated with the UTCI and heat waves defined by UTCI very strong heat stress and maximum air temperature
Summary
Extreme weather events such as heat waves, floods, droughts and storms have shown an increased frequency in recent decades (Brown et al, 2008; Easterling et al, 1997; IPCC, 2012; Rahmstorf and Coumou, 2011; Seneviratne and Nicholls, 2012). In their study, Spinoni et al (2015) made a list of the most severe drought events that occurred in Europe from 1950 to 2012 They singled out the Balkans ( Serbia) as an area that is susceptible to extreme weather and drought (the longest drought was registered in 2007 and the most severe drought event in 2011). Heat waves as a hazard often have a negative effect, causing heat stress in the human body. They have both direct effects on human health, affecting the body’s physiological responses and functions, and indirect effects on human health, increasing challenges regarding food and water safety (Lee et al, 2019). Bioclimatic conditions provide a base for considering the effects of climatic conditions on humans and give special importance to the so-
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