Ambient Vapor Pressure Research Articles

The poorly-explored stomatal response to temperature at constant evaporative demand.

Changes in leaf temperature are known to drive stomatal responses, because the leaf-to-air water vapour gradient (Δw) increases with temperature if ambient vapour pressure is held constant, and stomata respond to changes in Δw. However, the direct response of stomata to temperature (DRST; the response when Δw is held constant by adjusting ambient humidity) has been examined far less extensively. Though the meagre available data suggest the response is usually positive, results differ widely and defy broad generalisation. As a result, little is known about the DRST. This review discusses the current state of knowledge about the DRST, including numerous hypothesised biophysical mechanisms, potential implications of the response for plant adaptation, and possible impacts of the DRST on plant-atmosphere carbon and water exchange in a changing climate.

Comparing Machine Learning Algorithms for Estimating the Maize Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI) Using UAV-Acquired Remotely Sensed Data in Smallholder Croplands

Monitoring and mapping crop water stress and variability at a farm scale for cereals such as maize, one of the most common crops in developing countries with 200 million people around the world, is an important objective within precision agriculture. In this regard, unmanned aerial vehicle-obtained multispectral and thermal imagery has been adopted to estimate the crop water stress proxy (i.e., Crop Water Stress Index) in conjunction with algorithm machine learning techniques, namely, partial least squares (PLS), support vector machines (SVM), and random forest (RF), on a typical smallholder farm in southern Africa. This study addresses this objective by determining the change between foliar and ambient temperature (Tc-Ta) and vapor pressure deficit to determine the non-water stressed baseline for computing the maize Crop Water Stress Index. The findings revealed a significant relationship between vapor pressure deficit and Tc-Ta (R2 = 0.84) during the vegetative stage between 10:00 and 14:00 (South Africa Standard Time). Also, the findings revealed that the best model for predicting the Crop Water Stress Index was obtained using the random forest algorithm (R2 = 0.85, RMSE = 0.05, MAE = 0.04) using NDRE, MTCI, CCCI, GNDVI, TIR, Cl_Red Edge, MTVI2, Red, Blue, and Cl_Green as optimal variables, in order of importance. The results indicated that NIR, Red, Red Edge derivatives, and thermal band were some of the optimal predictor variables for the Crop Water Stress Index. Finally, using unmanned aerial vehicle data to predict maize crop water stress index on a southern African smallholder farm has shown encouraging results when evaluating its usefulness regarding the use of machine learning techniques. This underscores the urgent need for such technology to improve crop monitoring and water stress assessment, providing valuable insights for sustainable agricultural practices in food-insecure regions.

Photosynthetic responses of large old Zelkova serrata (Thunb.) Makino trees to different growth environments

Large old trees, which provide ecosystem services and serve as a historical and cultural heritage, are exposed to various environmental threats, such as habitat fragmentation and climate change, necessitating diagnosis of tangible and intangible stresses and their effects on tree growth for effective management. This study investigated the photosynthetic characteristics of 25 large old Zelkova serrata (Thunb.) Makino trees in Chungcheong Province, Korea, and identified the physical environmental factors affecting their physiological responses. Maximum assimilation rate (Amax) was the highest in July (summer), transpiration rate (E) and stomatal conductance (gs) increased from May (spring) to September (fall), and water use efficiency (WUE) was the highest in May (spring) and decreased until September (fall). Amax decreased as tree height increased. Ambient CO2 and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) were negatively correlated with photosynthetic parameters throughout the growth season and in July (summer) and September (fall), respectively. Physical environmental factors exhibited complex effect on physiological activities, which increased with wide growth space and decreased with deep soil covering and high impervious ground surface ratio. Physiological responses differed with surface types within the growth space, with bare land showing higher mean Amax, E, and gs than areas with mulching material or concrete. This study quantitatively determined the physiological activities of large old Z. serrata and proposes appropriate management measures for ensuring their healthy growth in abiotic stress environment.

A Spatial Assessment of Current and Future Foliar Hg Uptake Fluxes Across European Forests

AbstractAtmospheric mercury (Hg) is deposited to land surfaces mainly through vegetation uptake. Foliage stomatal gas exchange plays an important role for net vegetation Hg uptake, because foliage assimilates Hg via the stomata. Here, we use empirical relationships of foliar Hg uptake by forest tree species to produce a spatially highly resolved (1 km2) map of foliar Hg fluxes to European forests over one growing season. The modeled forest foliar Hg uptake flux is 23 ± 12 Mg Hg season−1, which agrees with previous estimates from literature. We spatially compared forest Hg fluxes with modeled fluxes of the chemical transport model GEOS‐Chem and find a good overall agreement. For European pine forests, stomatal Hg uptake was shown to be sensitive to prevailing conditions of relatively high ambient water vapor pressure deficit (VPD). We tested a stomatal uptake model for the total pine needle Hg uptake flux during four previous growing seasons (1994, 2003, 2015/2017, 2018) and two climate change scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5). The resulting modeled total European pine needle Hg uptake fluxes are in a range of 8.0–9.3 Mg Hg season−1 (min–max). The lowest pine forest needle Hg uptake flux to Europe (8 Mg Hg season−1) among all investigated growing seasons was associated with unusually hot and dry ambient conditions in the European summer 2018, highlighting the sensitivity of the investigated flux to prolonged high VPD. We conclude, that stomatal modeling is particularly useful to investigate changes in Hg deposition in the context of extreme climate events.

Self‐Healing and ‐Repair of Nanomechanical Damages in Lead Halide Perovskites

AbstractRecovery from damage in materials helps extend their useful lifetime and of devices that contain them. Given that the photodamages in HaP materials and based devices are shown to recover, the question arises if this also applies to mechanical damages, especially those that can occur at the nanometer scale, relevant also in view of efforts to develop flexible HaP‐based devices. Here, this question is addressed by poking HaP single crystal surfaces with an atomic force microscope (AFM) tip under both ultra‐high vacuum (UHV) and variably controlled ambient water vapor pressure conditions. Sequential in situ AFM scanning allowed real‐time imaging of the morphological changes at the damaged sites. Using methylammonium (MA) and cesium (Cs) variants for A‐site cations in lead bromide perovskites, the experiments show that nanomechanical damages on methylammonium lead bromide (MAPbBr3) crystals heal an order of magnitude faster than Cs‐based ones in UHV. However, surprisingly, under ≥40% RH conditions, cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr3) shows MAPbBr3‐like fast healing kinetics. Direct evidence for ion solvation on CsPbBr3 is presented, leading to the formation of a surface hydration layer. The results imply that moisture improves the ionic mobility of degradation components and leads to water‐assisted improved healing, i.e., repair of nanomechanical damages in the HaPs.

Onset of cardiovascular drift during progressive heat stress in young adults (PSU HEAT project).

With climate change, humans are at a greater risk for heat-related morbidity and mortality, often secondary to increased cardiovascular strain associated with an elevated core temperature (Tc). Critical environmental limits (i.e., the upper limits of compensable heat stress) have been established based on Tc responses for healthy, young individuals. However, specific environmental limits for the maintenance of cardiovascular homeostasis have not been investigated in the context of thermal strain during light activity. Therefore, the purposes of this study were to 1) identify the specific environmental conditions (combinations of ambient temperature and water vapor pressure) at which cardiovascular drift [i.e., a continuous rise in heart rate (HR)] began to occur and 2) compare those environments to the environmental limits for the maintenance of heat balance. Fifty-one subjects (27 F; 23 ± 4 yr) were exposed to progressive heat stress across a wide range of environmental conditions in an environmental chamber at two low metabolic rates reflecting minimal activity (MinAct; 159 ± 34 W) or light ambulation (LightAmb; 260 ± 55 W). Whether systematically increasing ambient temperature or humidity, the onset of cardiovascular drift occurred at lower environmental conditions compared with Tc inflection points at both intensities (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the time at which cardiovascular drift began preceded the time of Tc inflection (MinAct P = 0.01; LightAmb P = 0.0002), and the difference in time between HR and Tc inflection points did not differ (MinAct P = 0.08; LightAmb P = 0.06) across environmental conditions for either exercise intensity. These data suggest that even in young adults, increases in cardiovascular strain precede the point at which heat stress becomes uncompensable during light activity.NEW & NOTEWORTHY To our knowledge, this study is the first to 1) identify the specific combinations of temperature and humidity at which an increase in cardiovascular strain (cardiovascular drift) occurs and 2) compare those environments to the critical environmental limits for the maintenance of heat balance. We additionally examined the difference in time between the onset of increased cardiovascular strain and uncompensable heat stress. We show that an increase in cardiovascular strain systematically precedes sustained heat storage in young adults.

Relative influence of individual characteristics on critical WBGT limits in young adults (PSU HEAT Project)

Critical environmental limits are temperature-humidity thresholds above which heat balance cannot be maintained for a given metabolic heat production. This study examined the association between individual characteristics [sex, body surface area (A D ), aerobic capacity (V̇O 2max ; L∙min-1), and body mass (m b )] and critical environmental limits in young adults. Forty-four (20 M/24 F; 23±4 yr) subjects were exposed to progressive heat stress in an environmental chamber at two low net metabolic rates (M net ); minimal activity (MinAct; M net = 160±35 W) and light ambulation (LightAmb; M net = 259±54 W). In 2 hot-dry (HD; &lt;25% rh) environments, ambient water vapor pressure (P a = 12 or 16 mmHg) was held constant and dry-bulb temperature (T db ) was systematically increased. In 2 warm-humid (WH; &gt;50% rh) environments, T db was held constant at 34 or 36 °C and P a was systematically increased. The critical wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT crit ) was determined for each condition. There were no sex differences in WBGT crit for any condition ( p ≥ 0.21). During MinAct, only m b was retained in a backward linear regression model explaining the variance in WBGT crit in WH (R 2adj = 0.08, p &lt; 0.001), whereas m b and V̇O 2max were retained for HD environments (R 2adj = 0.09, p &lt; 0.001). During LightAmb, m b and A D were retained in the model for both WH (R 2adj = 0.46, p &lt; 0.001) and HD environments (R 2adj = 0.22; p &lt; 0.001). These data demonstrate the relative importance of individual characteristics on WBGTcrit during low-intensity weight-bearing (LightAmb) and non-weight-bearing (MinAct) activity in extreme thermal environments. This work was supported by NIH R01 AG067471. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

A new colorimetric paper-based detection of furfural vapor as a fuel marker

Conventional fuel dye markers used in prevention of fuel smuggling and unauthorized mixing generally require laborious sample preparation including extraction and mixing of color developer in liquid phase which also generate high waste volume. In this work, furfural is used as an economical fuel marker which can be directly detected in vapor phase without extraction providing low waste generation. The ambient vapor pressure of furfural allows adequate amount of the marker to be captured by filter paper coated with amine color developers and detected by smartphone camera for colorimetric quantification using ImageJ processing software. The color is developed by either the Stenhouse reaction or imine condensation of amine with furfural in the presence of an appropriate acid. The dynamic quantification range of furfural marker in gasoline fuel is 5–35 ppm with the detection limit at 3.10 ppm.

Cloud Droplet Nucleation Simulation and Parameterization

Abstract Cloud droplet nucleation is classically defined as a droplet growing to a size such that its ambient supersaturation exceeds its surface equilibrium water vapor pressure. Unactivated particles are always in equilibrium with the ambient vapor pressure. Further studies showed that such an equilibrium assumption leads to many more cloud droplets being nucleated due to neglecting kinetic growth limitations, including the inertial mechanism, evaporation mechanism, and deactivation mechanism. Moreover, the inertial mechanism results in great discrepancy between the actual size and the critical size of nucleation for large aerosol particles. These issues complicate cloud droplet nucleation parameterization for applications in cloud modeling. To establish a physically based nucleation scheme, we established a highly size-resolved Lagrangian parcel model. Vapor diffusion and heat conduction were calculated according to Maxwell theory, and the surface vapor density and temperature were explicitly simulated. The surface temperature variation of a droplet with its size was considered. The surface supersaturation of a droplet, taking into account the surface temperature variation, is different from its equilibrium supersaturation at its large sizes. The nucleation simulation showed that the inertial and deactivation mechanisms can impact droplet nucleation. Moreover, very large nuclei can trigger rain embryo formation in a short time period. Even though there are kinetic limitations, the classical equilibrium assumption can be applied to determine the primary nucleation number of cloud droplets. Meanwhile, a regression formula for the size of a nucleated droplet and its dry aerosol size was established.

Heat exposure limits for young unacclimatized males and females at low and high humidity

ABSTRACT Little is known about the separate and combined influences of humidity conditions, sex, and aerobic fitness on heat tolerance in unacclimatized males and females. The purpose of the current study was to describe heat tolerance, in terms of critical WBGT (WBGTcrit), in unacclimatized young males and females in hot-dry (HD) and warm-humid (WH) environments. Eighteen subjects (9M/9F; 21 ± 2 yr) were tested during exercise at 30% V̇O2max in a controlled environmental chamber. Progressive heat stress exposures were performed with either (1) constant dry-bulb temperature (Tdb) of 34 and 36 °C and increasing ambient water vapor pressure (Pa) (Pcrit trials; WH), or (2) constant Pa of 12 and 16 mmHg and increasing Tdb (Tcrit trials; HD). Chamber Tdb and Pa, and subject esophageal temperature (Tes), were continuously monitored throughout each trial. After a 30-min equilibration period, progressive heat stress continued until subject heat balance could no longer be maintained and a clear rise in Tes was observed. Absolute WBGTcrit, WBGTcrit adjusted to a metabolic rate of 300W (WBGT300), and the difference between WBGTcrit and occupational exposure limits (OEL; ΔOEL) were assessed. WBGTcrit, WBGT300, and ΔOEL were higher in WH compared to HD (p < 0.0001) for females but were the same between environments for males (p ≥ 0.21). WBGTcrit was higher in females compared to males in WH (p < 0.0001) but was similar between sexes in HD (p = 0.44). When controlling for metabolic rate, WBGT300 and ΔOEL were higher in males compared to females in WH and HD (both p < 0.0001). When controlling for sex, V̇O2max was not associated with WBGT300 or ΔOEL for either sex (r ≤ 0.12, p ≥ 0.49). These findings suggest that WBGTcrit is higher in females compared to males in WH, but not HD, conditions. Additionally, the WBGTcrit is lower in females, but not males, in HD compared to WH conditions.

Critical Environmental Limits for Young, Healthy Adults (PSU HEAT)

The average temperature of the Earth has been steadily increasing for decades and is expected to continue increasing throughout the 21st century. Along with the increase in average global temperatures, the frequency, duration, and severity of heat waves have increased. Thus, there is a critical need for research targeted at understanding the specific environmental conditions associated with increased risk of heat‐ and humidity‐related morbidity and mortality.PurposeTo establish critical environmental limits for healthy young adults at two metabolic rates that reflect activities of daily living and light activity. We hypothesized that critical environmental limits would be shifted toward lower combinations of temperature and humidity at higher compared to lower rates of metabolic heat production.MethodsTwenty‐five (12M/13F; 24 ± 4 yrs) subjects were exposed to progressive heat stress in an environmental chamber at two rates of metabolic heat production chosen to represent minimal activity (MinAct) or light ambulation (LightAmb). Progressive heat stress comprised either (1) constant dry‐bulb temperature (Tdb; 36, 38, or 40 °C) and increasing ambient water vapor pressure (Pa; Pcrit trials), or (2) constant Pa (12, 16, or 20 mmHg) and increasing Tdb (Tcrit trials). Chamber Tdb and Pa, and subject gastrointestinal temperature (Tgi), were continuously monitored throughout each trial. After a 30‐min equilibration period, progressive heat stress superseded until subject heat balance could no longer be maintained and a clear rise in Tgi was observed. Each subject was tested during MinAct and LightAmb in 2 or 3 randomized environmental conditions, for a total of 4–6 trials per participant.ResultsBy design, oxygen consumption (V̇O2: 0.46 ± 0.10 vs. 0.80 ± 0.16 L/min; 1.8 ± 0.3 vs. 3.2 ± 0.3 METs), metabolic heat production (82.9 ± 12.5 vs. 133.3 ± 14.8), and sweat rate (142.8 ± 80.2 vs. 230.8 ± 84.9) were lower for MinAct compared to LightAmb (all p &lt; 0.0001). There were no differences in these variables (p ≥ 0.05) among environmental conditions for either MinAct or LightAmb intensities. Higher metabolic heat production (p &lt; 0.001) during LightAmb compared to MinAct trials resulted in significantly lower critical environmental limits across all Pcrit and Tcrit conditions (all p &lt; 0.001).ConclusionsThese data are the first to define critical environmental limits for the maintenance of heat balance in healthy young adults during minimal to light physical activity reflecting activities of daily living and light household tasks. By establishing critical environmental limits in a young, healthy population, the findings of this study will be used as a benchmark for future studies in aged and other vulnerable populations, and can be used to develop guidelines, policy decisions, and evidence‐based alert communications to minimize adverse impacts of extreme heat events.

Critical Environmental Limit Protocol: Validity and Reliability (PSU HEAT)

With increasing average global temperatures and greater frequency, duration, and severity of heat waves, there is an urgent need to better understand the specific environmental temperatures that place humans at greater risk of heat‐related morbidity and mortality. An incremental heat stress protocol can be used to establish critical environmental limits for human heat exchange, i.e., those combinations of ambient temperature and humidity above which heat stress becomes uncompensable and, therefore, unsafe. However, no studies have rigorously investigated the reliability and validity of this experimental paradigm.PURPOSEHere, we assessed the (1) between‐visit repeatability and (2) validity of an experimental paradigm that either holds ambient vapor pressure (Pa) constant and incrementally increases dry‐bulb temperature (Tdb) or vice versa.METHODSTwelve subjects (5M/7W; 25±4 yr) completed a progressive heat stress protocol during which they walked on a treadmill (2.2 mph, 3% gradient) in a controllable environmental chamber while gastrointestinal temperature (Tgi) was continuously monitored. After an equilibration period, the progressive heat stress protocol involved increasing Tdb every 5 min while Pa was held constant (Tcritexperiments), or increasing Pa every 5 min while Tdb was held constant (Pcritexperiments), until an upward inflection and continuous rise in Tgi was observed. The Tcrit or Pcrit was identified as the average Tdb or Pa, respectively, across the 2 min preceding the Tgi inflection point. For repeatability experiments, 11 subjects returned to the lab to repeat the same protocol as their first visit. For validity experiments, 10 subjects returned to the lab for a progressive heat stress trial in which Tdb or Pa was held constant at the Tcrit or Pcrit value from their first visit.RESULTSThe between‐visit repeatability for critical environmental limits was excellent (ICC = 0.98). Similarly, there was excellent agreement between original and validity trials for Tdb (ICC = 0.95) and Pa (ICC = 0.96) at the Tgi inflection point. Furthermore, the wet‐bulb temperature at the Tgiinflection point was not different during reliability (p = 0.78) or validity (p = 0.32) trials compared to original trials.CONCLUSIONTogether, these data provide strong evidence that this experimental paradigm is rigorous, reliable, and valid, supporting its use to investigate critical environmental limits to the maintenance of heat balance.

Critical environmental limits for young, healthy adults (PSU HEAT Project).

Critical environmental limits are those combinations of ambient temperature and humidity above which heat balance cannot be maintained for a given metabolic heat production, limiting exposure time, and placing individuals at increased risk of heat-related illness. The aim of this study was to establish those limits in young (18-34 yr) healthy adults during low-intensity activity approximating the metabolic demand of activities of daily living. Twenty-five (12 men/13 women) subjects were exposed to progressive heat stress in an environmental chamber at two rates of metabolic heat production chosen to represent minimal activity (MinAct) or light ambulation (LightAmb). Progressive heat stress was performed with either 1) constant dry-bulb temperature (Tdb) and increasing ambient water vapor pressure (Pa) (Pcrit trials; 36°C, 38°C, or 40°C) or 2) constant Pa and increasing Tdb (Tcrit trials; 12, 16, or 20 mmHg). Each subject was tested during MinAct and LightAmb in two to three experimental conditions in random order, for a total of four to six trials per participant. Higher metabolic heat production (P < 0.001) during LightAmb compared with MinAct trials resulted in significantly lower critical environmental limits across all Pcrit and Tcrit conditions (all P < 0.001). These data, presented graphically herein on a psychrometric chart, are the first to define critical environmental limits for young adults during activity resembling those of light household tasks or other activities of daily living and can be used to develop guidelines, policy decisions, and evidence-based alert communications to minimize the deleterious impacts of extreme heat events.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Critical environmental limits are those combinations of temperature and humidity above which heat balance cannot be maintained, placing individuals at increased risk of heat-related illness. Those limits have been investigated in young adults during exercise at 30% V̇o2max, but not during metabolic rates that approximate those of light activities of daily living. Herein, we establish critical environmental limits for young adults at two metabolic rates that reflect activities of daily living and leisurely walking.

Evaluating the 35°C wet-bulb temperature adaptability threshold for young, healthy subjects (PSU HEAT Project).

A wet-bulb temperature of 35°C has been theorized to be the limit to human adaptability to extreme heat, a growing concern in the face of continued and predicted accelerated climate change. Although this theorized threshold is based in physiological principles, it has not been tested using empirical data. This study examined the critical wet-bulb temperature (Twb,crit) at which heat stress becomes uncompensable in young, healthy adults performing tasks at modest metabolic rates mimicking basic activities of daily life. Across six experimentally determined environmental limits, no subject's Twb,crit reached the 35°C limit and all means were significantly lower than the theoretical 35°C threshold. Mean Twb,crit values were relatively constant across 36°C -40°C humid environments and averaged 30.55 ± 0.98°C but progressively decreased (higher deviation from 35°C) in hotter, dry ambient environments. Twb,crit was significantly associated with mean skin temperature (and a faster warming rate of the skin) due to larger increases in dry heat gain in the hot-dry environments. As sweat rates did not significantly differ among experimental environments, evaporative cooling was outpaced by dry heat gain in hot-dry conditions, causing larger deviations from the theoretical 35°C adaptability threshold. In summary, a wet-bulb temperature threshold cannot be applied to human adaptability across all climatic conditions and where appropriate (high humidity), that threshold is well below 35°C.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study is the first to use empirical physiological observations to examine the well-publicized theoretical 35°C wet-bulb temperature limit for human to extreme environments. We find that uncompensable heat stress in humid environments occurs in young, healthy adults at wet-bulb temperatures significantly lower than 35°C. In addition, uncompensable heat stress occurs at widely different wet-bulb temperatures as a function of ambient vapor pressure.

An investigation into environmental variables influencing post-race exertional heat illness in thoroughbred racehorses in temperate eastern Australia.

Exertional heat illness (EHI) is a syndrome that occurs when metabolic heat production from muscular contraction exceeds the rate at which it can be dissipated. Core body temperature rises to critical levels, causing hyperthermia and central nervous system dysfunction. Best practice for the prevention of EHI centres around early detection, rapid response and aggressive cooling. Advance planning enables risk mitigation measures. The more that is known about EHI in horses, the better prepared those in the positions of responsibility can be to anticipate events in which the risk of EHI may be elevated. This prospective, observational study investigated environmental risk factors associated with the occurrence of EHI. From 2014 to 2018, the number of horses exhibiting the symptoms of post-race EHI was recorded at 73 convenience sampled race meetings. Of the 4809 starters, the signs of EHI were recorded for 457. Thermal environmental data were measured and included ambient temperature, radiant heat, vapor pressure (humidity) and wind speed (WS). Mixed linear regression models were computed to assess the associations between the occurrence and incidence of post-race EHI and the four thermal environmental variables. The analysis showed that vapor pressure and WS had the largest effects on the occurrence of post-race EHI. The major limitations were that the race meetings selected were convenience sampled according to attendance by the first author and individual horse data were not available. EHI is influenced by a complex interaction of independently acting environmental variables, but warm, windless, humid days are most likely to result in the cases of EHI.

Metabolism- and sex-dependent critical WBGT limits at rest and during exercise in the heat.

Critical environmental limits are environmental thresholds above which heat gain exceeds heat loss and body core temperature (Tc) cannot be maintained at equilibrium. Those limits can be represented as critical wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGTcrit), a validated index that represents the overall thermal environment. Little is known about WBGTcrit at rest and during low-to-moderate intensity exercise, or sex differences in WBGTcrit, in unacclimated young adults. The following hypotheses were tested: 1) WBGTcrit progressively decreases as metabolic heat production (Mnet) increases, 2) no sex differences in WBGTcrit occur at rest, and 3) WBGTcrit is lower during absolute-intensity exercise but higher at relative intensities in women than in men. Thirty-six participants [19 men (M)/17 women (W); 23 ± 4 yr] were tested at rest, during light, absolute-intensity exercise (10 W), or during moderate, relative-intensity exercise [30% maximal oxygen consumption (V̇o2max)] in an environmental chamber. Dry-bulb temperature was clamped as relative humidity or ambient water vapor pressure was increased until an upward inflection was observed in Tc (rectal or esophageal temperature). Sex-aggregated WBGTcrit was lower during 10 W (32.9°C ± 1.7°C, P < 0.0001) and 30% V̇o2max (31.6°C ± 1.1°C, P < 0.0001) exercise versus at rest (35.3°C ± 0.8°C), and lower at 30% V̇o2max versus 10 W (P = 0.01). WBGTcrit was similar between sexes at rest (35.6°C ± 0.8°C vs. 35.0°C ± 0.8°C, P = 0.83), but lower during 10 W (31.9°C ± 1.7°C vs. 34.1°C ± 0.3°C, P < 0.01) and higher during 30% V̇o2max (32.4°C ± 0.8°C vs. 30.8°C ± 0.9°C, P = 0.03) exercise in women versus men. These findings suggest that WBGTcrit decreases as Mnet increases, no sex differences occur in WBGTcrit at rest, and sex differences in WBGTcrit during exercise depend on absolute versus relative intensities.

Normobaric hypoxia does not alter the critical environmental limits for thermal balance during exercise‐heat stress

What is the central question of this study? Hypoxia reportedly does not impair thermoregulation during exercise in compensable heat stress conditions: does it have an impact on maximal heat dissipation and therefore the critical environmental limit for the physiological compensability of core temperature? What is the main finding and its importance? Although skin blood flow was higher in hypoxia, no differences in sweat rates or the critical environmental limit for the physiological compensability of core temperature - an indicator of maximal heat loss - were found compared to exercise in normoxia, indicating no influence of normobaric hypoxia on thermoregulatory capacity in warm conditions. Altered control of skin blood flow (SkBF) in hypoxia does not impair thermoregulation during exercise in compensable conditions, but its impact on maximal heat dissipation is unknown. This study therefore sought to determine whether maximum heat loss is altered by hypoxia during exercise in warm conditions. On separate days, eight males exercised for 90min at a fixed heat production of ∼500W in normoxia (NORM) or normobaric hypoxia (HYP, = 0.13) in a 34°C environment. Ambient vapour pressure was maintained at 2.13kPa for 45min, after which it was raised 0.11kPa every 7.5min. The critical ambient vapour pressure at which oesophageal temperature inflected upward (Pcrit ) indicated that maximum heat dissipation had been reached. Neither local sweat rates on the upper arm, back and forehead (average NORM: 1.46 (0.15) vs. HYP: 1.41 (0.16) mgcm-2 min-1 ; P=0.59) nor whole-body sweat losses (NORM: 1029 (137) g vs. HYP: 1025 (150) g; P=0.95) were different between trials. Laser-Doppler flux values (LDF; arbitrary units), an index of SkBF, were not different between NORM and HYP on the forearm (P=0.23) or back (P=0.73); however, when normalized as a percentage of maximum, LDF values tended to be higher in HYP compared to NORM at the forearm (condition effect, P=0.05) but not back (P=0.19). Despite potentially greater SkBF in hypoxia, there was no difference in Pcrit between conditions (NORM: 3.67 (0.35) kPa; HYP: 3.46 (0.39) kPa; P=0.22). These findings suggest that hypoxia does not independently alter thermoregulatory capacity during exercise in warm conditions.

Redefining physiological responses of moose (Alces alces) to warm environmental conditions.

We tested the concept that moose (Alces alces) begin to show signs of thermal stress at ambient air temperatures as low as 14°C. We determined the response of Alaskan female moose to environmental conditions from May through September by measuring core body temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, rate of heat loss from exhaled air, skin temperature, and fecal and salivary glucocorticoids. Seasonal and daily patterns in moose body temperature did not passively follow the same patterns as environmental variables. We used large changes in body temperature (≥1.25°C in 24hr) to indicate days of physiological tolerance to thermal stressors. Thermal tolerance correlated with high ambient air temperatures from the prior day and with seasonal peaks in solar radiation (June), ambient air temperature and vapor pressure (July). At midday (12:00hr), moose exhibited daily minima of body temperature, heart rate and skin temperature (difference between the ear artery and pinna) that coincided with daily maxima in respiration rate and the rate of heat lost through respiration. Salivary cortisol measured in moose during the morning was positively related to the change in air temperature during the hour prior to sample collection, while fecal glucocorticoid levels increased with increasing solar radiation during the prior day. Our results suggest that free-ranging moose do not have a static threshold of ambient air temperature at which they become heat stressed during the warm season. In early summer, body temperature of moose is influenced by the interaction of ambient temperature during the prior day with the seasonal peak of solar radiation. In late summer, moose body temperature is influenced by the interaction between ambient temperature and vapor pressure. Thermal tolerance of moose depends on the intensity and duration of daily weather parameters and the ability of the animal to use physiological and behavioral responses to dissipate heat loads.

Data-Driven Models for Canopy Temperature-Based Irrigation Scheduling

HighlightsArtificial neural network modeling was used to predict crop water stress index lower reference canopy temperature.Root mean square error of predicted lower reference temperatures was &amp;lt;1.1°C for sugarbeet and Pinot noir wine grape.Energy balance model was used to dynamically predict crop water stress index upper reference canopy temperature.Crop water stress index for sugarbeet was well correlated with irrigation and soil water status.Crop water stress idex was well correlated with midday leaf water potential of wine grape.Abstract. Normalized crop canopy temperature, termed crop water stress index (CWSI), was proposed over 40 years ago as an irrigation management tool but has experienced limited adoption in production agriculture. Development of generalized crop-specific upper and lower reference temperatures is critical for implementation of CWSI-based irrigation scheduling. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate data-driven models for predicting the reference canopy temperatures needed to compute CWSI for sugarbeet and wine grape. Reference canopy temperatures for sugarbeet and wine grape were predicted using machine learning and regression models developed from measured canopy temperatures of sugarbeet, grown in Idaho and Wyoming, and wine grape, grown in Idaho and Oregon, over five years under full and severe deficit irrigation. Lower reference temperatures (TLL) were estimated using neural network models with Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiencies exceeding 0.88 and root mean square error less than 1.1°C. The relationship between TLL minus ambient air temperature and vapor pressure deficit was represented with a linear model that maximized the regression coefficient rather than minimized the sum of squared error. The linear models were used to estimate upper reference temperatures that were nearly double the values reported in previous studies. A daily CWSI, calculated as the average of 15 min CWSI values between 13:00 and 16:00 MDT for sugarbeet and between 13:00 and 15:00 local time for wine grape, were well correlated with irrigation events and amounts. There was a significant (p &amp;lt; 0.001) linear relationship between the daily CWSI and midday leaf water potential of Malbec and Syrah wine grapes, with an R2 of 0.53. The data-driven models developed in this study to estimate reference temperatures enable automated calculation of the CWSI for effective assessment of crop water stress. However, measurements taken under conditions of wet canopy or low solar radiation should be disregarded as they can result in irrational values of the CWSI. Keywords: Canopy temperature, Crop water stress index, Irrigation scheduling, Leaf water potential, Sugarbeet, Wine grape.

Body temperature patterns vary with day, season, and body condition of moose (Alces alces)

Abstract Variation in core body temperature of mammals is a result of endogenous regulation of heat from metabolism and the environment, which is affected by body size and life history. We studied moose (Alces alces) in Alaska to examine the effects of endogenous and exogenous factors on core body temperature at seasonal and daily time scales. We used a modified vaginal implant transmitter to record core body temperature in adult female moose at 5-min intervals for up to 1 year. Core body temperature in moose showed a seasonal fluctuation, with a greater daily mean core body temperature during the summer (38.2°C, 95% CI = 38.1–38.3°C) than during the winter (37.7°C, 95% CI = 37.6–37.8°C). Daily change in core body temperature was greater in summer (0.92°C, 95% CI = 0.87–0.97°C) than in winter (0.58°C, 95% CI = 0.53–0.63°C). During winter, core body temperature was lower and more variable as body fat decreased among female moose. Ambient temperature and vapor pressure accounted for a large amount of the residual variation (0.06–0.09°C) in core body temperature after accounting for variation attributed to season and individual. Ambient temperature and solar radiation had the greatest effect on the residual variation (0.17–0.20°C) of daily change in core body temperature. Our study suggests that body temperature of adult female moose is influenced by body reserves within seasons and by environmental conditions within days. When studying northern cervids, the influence of season and body condition on daily patterns of body temperature should be considered when evaluating thermal stress.