Bioclimatic Conditions Research Articles

Mitigation of Climate Change Impact on Bioclimatic Conditions Using Different Green Space Scenarios: The Case of a Hospital in Gorgan Subtropical Climates

Urban development and its climatic consequences have caused urban decision-makers to establish strategies to mitigate climate change. The implementation of different green spaces is one of the main strategies to reduce the environmental and climatic consequences of urbanization. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to reveal the effect of different green space scenarios on micro-bioclimatic conditions of a hospital located in Gorgan city, Golestan province. Therefore, in order to determine the position of the hospital building relative to Gorgan’s urban heat island (UHI), the location and changes in UHI intensity of Gorgan were determined as evidence of urban expansion. Since 27 July was determined as the hottest day in Gorgan city based on historical data analysis, the climatic conditions during 27 July 2021 were measured using an AR847 data logger installed in the hospital environment. Additionally, four different conditions, including actual environmental conditions of the hospital (actual conditions), along with the application of cypress trees (scenario A), plane trees (scenario B), and Buxus shrubs (scenario C), have been used to analyze the impact of different vegetation species on the bioclimatic conditions of 5 Azar Hospital during two time intervals, including observational periods (1970–2020) and the decade of the 2040s. Finally, spatiotemporal patterns of the predicted mean vote (PMV) thermal index were calculated for the observational period and during the 2040s using the ENVI-met micro-scale model. Results showed that the study site is in the UHI, which can affect the micro-bioclimatic conditions and the patient’s thermal perception. For all designed scenarios, results indicate that the average PMV index will increase by the 2040s. However, implementing different green space scenarios showed that the minimum and maximum values of PMV were found in scenario B, of 2.7. The actual PMV conditions of the studied site increased by 3.5. The scenario introduction of green spaces during the 2040s indicates that the average PMV at the hospital site will be decreased by 0.9 compared to the actual conditions. The study proves that appropriate green space strategies can reduce thermal loads occurring due to global climate change and improve the thermal conditions in the study area.

Impacts of Air Pollution and Thermal Discomfort in Hospitalizations for Multiple Sclerosis in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune, neurological, and demyelinating disease of unknown etiology. Neuroinflammation caused by the disease has been associated with air pollution as well as bioclimatic conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the impacts of air pollution and human thermal discomfort on hospitalizations for multiple sclerosis in Sao Paulo, Brazil, from 2008 to 2015. Generalized Additive Model for Location Scale and Shape (GAMLSS) with Zero Inflated Poisson was used to relate multiple sclerosis hospitalizations in three age groups (less than 30 years old, between 30 and 50 years old, and more than 50 years old) and gender (female and male) with atmospheric pollutants PM10, SO2, NO2, NO, and NOx and thermal discomfort. The results showed that the exposure to an increase of 1 µg/m3 in SO2 concentration is highly associated with a 10% increase of the risk of MS hospitalization (95% CI: 2–21%) in female patients and a 7.5% (95% CI: 1.5–16%) increase in male patients. PM10 and NO were associated with increased MS risk only for female patients, mainly aged between 30 and 50 years old (2% and 1% increase in hospitalizations, respectively). The cold discomfort was also associated with MS hospitalization, mainly in males (2% increase in hospitalizations; 95% IC: 1–3%). These results are important, since there are few studies that relate air pollution and thermal discomfort with hospitalizations for multiple sclerosis in Brazil.

Variability of air quality and bioclimatic conditions in urban area: Case study of Lublin

The paper analyses biometeorological conditions in Lublin based on the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), and air quality based on the Common Air Quality Index (CAQI). The used data were obtained from the database of IMGW-PIB and RDEM, and cover the period 2015–2021. The most frequently occurring biometeorological conditions were classified as no thermal stress. They were observed with a frequency of 34.3%. Conditions unfavourable for the human organism accounted for 65.7% in total, including those belonging to thermal stress classes related to cold stress (52.3%), and heat stress (13.4%). In the analysed years, 75.5% of cases were with very low and low air pollution. High and very high air pollution usually occurred during biometeorological conditions related to cold stress (from slight cold stress to strong cold stress). During extreme thermal phenomena, such as a cold wave (January 2007) and hot wave (August 2015), unfavourable biometeorological conditions were accompanied by low aerosanitary conditions (low air quality). In the analysed period, and particularly in recent years, an improvement in air quality has been observed, potentially associated with limited mobility of people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DETERMINATION OF LANDSCAPE TYPOLOGY WITH REMOTE SENSING TECHNIQUES AND CORRELATION WITH DIFFERENT BIOCLIMATIC CONDITIONS: THE CASE OF BUYUK MENDERES BASIN

Abstract. Due to the multidisciplinary nature of landscape research, there are different systems and methods for landscape identification and classification. The methodology of the study is based on landscape characterization, which is based on the pre-selection of geo-ecological and land-use related features of the landscape. For this purpose, landscape character types were identified using climate classes, land use/land cover (LULC), soil and morphological structure. In obtaining the LULC data, which is one of the major inputs of the study, 36-band images were created covering four seasons by producing NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index); LAI (Leaf Area Index); MSAVI2 (Modified Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index); fCOVER (fraction of Cover); indices, which are important in determining LULC, together with the basebands in the remotely sensed Sentinel 2 satellite data. LAI is used to determine the amount of leaves per unit area; NDVI is used to determine the green areas in the area; fCOVER is used to determine the ratio of the study area to the area covered by vegetation, MSAVI2 is used to determine the amount of vegetation cover in the study area by using the soil reflectance correction factor (L). The phenological structure of the species was statistically determined with the indices derived from satellite images, and the bioclimatic condition and landscape character type were associated with the species.

Cost-Effective Cultivation of Native PGPB Sinorhizobium Strains in a Homemade Bioreactor for Enhanced Plant Growth.

The implementation of bioreactor systems for the production of bacterial inoculants as biofertilizers has become very important in recent decades. However, it is essential to know the bacterial growth optimal conditions to optimize the production and efficiency of bioinoculants. The aim of this work was to identify the best nutriment and mixing conditions to improve the specific cell growth rates (µ) of two PGPB (plant growth-promoting bacteria) rhizobial strains at the bioreactor level. For this purpose, the strains Sinorhizobium mexicanum ITTG-R7T and Sinorhizobium chiapanecum ITTG-S70T were previously reactivated in a PY-Ca2+ (peptone casein, yeast extract, and calcium) culture medium. Afterward, a master cell bank (MCB) was made in order to maintain the viability and quality of the strains. The kinetic characterization of each bacterial strain was carried out in s shaken flask. Then, the effect of the carbon and nitrogen sources and mechanical agitation was evaluated through a factorial design and response surface methodology (RSM) for cell growth optimization, where µ was considered a response variable. The efficiency of biomass production was determined in a homemade bioreactor, taking into account the optimal conditions obtained during the experiment conducted at the shaken flask stage. In order to evaluate the biological quality of the product obtained in the bioreactor, the bacterial strains were inoculated in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris var. Jamapa) plants under bioclimatic chamber conditions. The maximum cell growth rate in both PGPB strains was obtained using a Y-Ca2+ (yeast extract and calcium) medium and stirred at 200 and 300 rpm. Under these growth conditions, the Sinorhizobium strains exhibited a high nitrogen-fixing capacity, which had a significant (p < 0.05) impact on the growth of the test plants. The bioreactor system was found to be an efficient alternative for the large-scale production of PGPB rhizobial bacteria, which are intended for use as biofertilizers in agriculture.

Assessment of some Bioclimatic Indices using RayMan Model for Baghdad-Iraq

Abstract The evaluation of bioclimatic conditions on a local scale is still an important topic. It might be a key component of the national plan for the sustainable development of various areas under changing climatic conditions. The present study aimed to examine the behaviour of four bioclimatic indices namely physiologically equivalent temperature (PET), Standard Effective Temperature (SET*), Universal thermal climate index(UTCI) and, Predictive mean vote(Pmv) derived from energy budget models for Baghdad city. The monthly means data of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation during the period (1981-2021) were used in this study. All calculations of this study were extracted using RayMan Model. The relationship between PET, Pmv, SET, and UTCI indices in addition to meteorological parameters was also conducted in this study. The results indicate that July and August had the highest values of Pmv (4), SET* (39.4), PET (43.9), and UTCI (39.4). For the majority of the studied indices, the comfortable thermal perception occurred only in March, April, and October. PET and UTCI revealed acceptable comparability in terms of temperature perception when compared to other indices for most months of the year. The maximum heat stress was reported for all indices between May and September, with the lowest stress occurring between January and December. April was the most comfortable month of the year, according to the data. Correlations between UTCI and meteorological parameters found a substantial association with air temperature (0.99) and relative humidity (0.98), respectively. The lowest correlation coefficient (R2=0.69) was found with wind speed. All other indicators indicate a substantial association with the UTCI.

Transient Study (Annual) of the Heat Transfer of a Two-Channel Solar Air Collector

Abstract In this paper, a numerical heat transfer study of a solar air collector with two channels (SAC-2C) was carried out. Energy global balances in two dimension (2D) and unsteady state were considered, as well as bio-climatic conditions of Toluca city in Mexico (sub-humid temperate climate). Six mass flowrates (0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.5 kg/s) were considered during the numerical simulation, for the coldest and the warmest day of each month during a complete year (2019). Among the results, it was found that thermal efficiency of the system increases up to 35% when the mass flowrate changes from 0.01 to 0.2 kg/s, meanwhile, maximum efficiency of 84% were obtained for a mass flowrate of 0.5 kg/s. Finally, based on a cost-benefit analysis, it was determined that the SAC-2C has a recovery time of the initial investment ($ 250 USD) of three and a half years. So that the SAC-2C has the capacity to produce 1, 654, 451 kW h/m2 of clean energy annually, which is equivalent to ceasing to produce 871, 895 kg CO2 per square meter of installation.

Impact of climate change on the geographical distribution and niche dynamics of Gastrodia elata.

Gastrodia elata is widely used in China as a valuable herbal medicine. Owing to its high medicinal and nutrient value, wild resources of G. elata have been overexploited and its native areas have been severely damaged. Understanding the impacts of climate change on the distribution of this endangered species is important for the conservation and sustainable use of G. elata. We used the optimized maximum entropy model to simulate the potential distribution of G. elata under contemporary and future time periods (1970-2000, 2050s, 2070s, and 2090s) and different climate change scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5). Under these conditions, we investigated the key environmental factors influencing the distribution of G. elata as well as the spatial and temporal characteristics of its niche dynamics. With high Maxent model accuracy (AUCmean = 0.947 ±0.012, and the Kappa value is 0.817), our analysis revealed that annual precipitation, altitude, and mean temperature of driest quarter are the most important environmental factors influencing the distribution of G. elata. Under current bioclimatic conditions, the potentially suitable area for G. elata in China is 71.98 × 104 km2, while the highly suitable region for G. elata growth is 7.28 × 104 km2. Our models for three future periods under four climate change scenarios indicate that G. elata can maintain stable distributions in southern Shaanxi, southwestern Hubei, and around the Sichuan basin, as these areas are highly suitable for its growth. However, the center of the highly suitable areas of G. elata shift depending on different climatic scenarios. The values of niche overlap for G. elata show a decreasing trend over the forecasted periods, of which the niche overlap under the SSP3-7.0 scenario shows the greatest decrease. Under the condition of global climate change in the future, our study provides basic reference data for the conservation and sustainable utilization of the valuable and endangered medicinal plant G. elata. It is important to carefully choose the protection area of G. elata wild resources according the suitable area conditions modeled. Moreover, these findings will be valuable for providing insights into the breeding and artificial cultivation of this plant, including the selection of suitable areas for planting.

Climate and Soil Microsite Conditions Determine Local Adaptation in Declining Silver Fir Forests.

Ongoing climatic change is threatening the survival of drought-sensitive tree species, such as silver fir (Abies alba). Drought-induced dieback had been previously explored in this conifer, although the role played by tree-level genetic diversity and its relationship with growth patterns and soil microsite conditions remained elusive. We used double digest restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq) to describe different genetic characteristics of five silver fir forests in the Spanish Pyrenees, including declining and non-declining trees. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used to investigate the relationships between genetics, dieback, intraspecific trait variation (functional dendrophenotypic traits and leaf traits), local bioclimatic conditions, and rhizosphere soil properties. While there were no noticeable genetic differences between declining and non-declining trees, genome-environment associations with selection signatures were abundant, suggesting a strong influence of climate, soil physicochemical properties, and soil microbial diversity on local adaptation. These results provide novel insights into how genetics and diverse environmental factors are interrelated and highlight the need to incorporate genetic data into silver fir forest dieback studies to gain a better understanding of local adaptation.

ASSESSMENT OF TOURISM AND CLIMATE POTENTIAL OF TERRITORIES OF NORTHERN KAZAKHSTAN

The purpose of the research was to assess the degree of favorableness of the bioclimatic conditions of the territory of Northern Kazakhstan by calculating the tourist climate index (TCI) and analyzing its spatial and temporal variability. Archival, stock materials and data on the main meteorological and climatic indicators for 63 weather stations for the period 1966–2020 were used. The study used methods of mathematical and statistical analysis, GIS technologies. The level of climatic attractiveness varies from "very unfavorable" in the winter months to "comfortable" in the summer. It was determined that the territory of Northern Kazakhstan as a whole is relatively homogeneous in terms of the average annual TCI index (28-38). Depending on the values of the index, 5 categories of climatic attractiveness of the territory of Northern Kazakhstan were identified (comfortable, moderate, neutral, unfavorable, extremely unfavorable). The most favorable conditions for tourist and recreational activities are formed in the summer months in the northeastern and southwestern sectors of the region. Recommendations are given on the spatial placement of tourist and recreational facilities and types of tourist activities in Northern Kazakhstan, taking into account the favorable weather and climatic conditions.

Влияние сплошнолесосечных рубок на биоразнообразие среднетаёжных ельников черничных Северо-Востока европейской части России

The article discusses the biodiversity dynamics of the components of secondary plant communities grown after winter clear cutting in the series of restoration of blueberry spruce forests in the bioclimatic conditions of the middle taiga subzone. For every succession stage (1(2)-year-old, 17(18)-year-old and 49(50)-year-old secondary communities and primary forest), about 20 descriptions (81 in total) were done. The authors separately describe the plant communities of forests swaths, skidding trails in cutting strip and main skid roads. On the basis of the obtained results, we determined species richness and biodiversity indices separately for tree, shrub, herb-dwarf shrubby, and moss layers. Industrial logging has been found to have an extremely negative impact on the species richness of forest species which absolutely disappear (especially stenobionts), decrease in abundance and constancy. In secondary communities on the territory of forest swaths and skidding trails, we fixed a decrease in biodiversity in the tree, shrub and moss layers and an increase in the herb-dwarf shrubby layer due to invasion of meadow, edge, and peatland species against a decrease in the abundance of species normally dominating in forest ecosystems. At heavily disturbed areas of the cutting area (main trails), secondary communities increase in both the total species richness and biodiversity at any layer except for the woody layer. The recorded increase in values happens due to formation of communities of very active species from different ecologic and cenotic groups. The floristic composition of the disturbed forest phytocenosis does not recover in fifty years after the anthropogenic impact.

Contribution of microbial activity and vegetation cover to the spatial distribution of soil respiration in mountains.

The patterns of change in bioclimatic conditions determine the vegetation cover and soil properties along the altitudinal gradient. Together, these factors control the spatial variability of soil respiration (RS) in mountainous areas. The underlying mechanisms, which are poorly understood, shape the resulting surface CO2 flux in these ecosystems. We aimed to investigate the spatial variability of RS and its drivers on the northeastern slope of the Northwest Caucasus Mountains, Russia (1,260-2,480 m a.s.l.), in mixed, fir, and deciduous forests, as well as subalpine and alpine meadows. RS was measured simultaneously in each ecosystem at 12 randomly distributed points using the closed static chamber technique. After the measurements, topsoil samples (0-10 cm) were collected under each chamber (n = 60). Several soil physicochemical, microbial, and vegetation indices were assessed as potential drivers of RS. We tested two hypotheses: (i) the spatial variability of RS is higher in forests than in grasslands; and (ii) the spatial variability of RS in forests is mainly due to soil microbial activity, whereas in grasslands, it is mainly due to vegetation characteristics. Unexpectedly, RS variability was lower in forests than in grasslands, ranging from 1.3-6.5 versus 3.4-12.7 μmol CO2 m-1 s-1, respectively. Spatial variability of RS in forests was related to microbial functioning through chitinase activity (50% explained variance), whereas in grasslands it was related to vegetation structure, namely graminoid abundance (27% explained variance). Apparently, the chitinase dependence of RS variability in forests may be related to soil N limitation. This was confirmed by low N content and high C:N ratio compared to grassland soils. The greater sensitivity of grassland RS to vegetation structure may be related to the essential root C allocation for some grasses. Thus, the first hypothesis concerning the higher spatial variability of RS in forests than in grasslands was not confirmed, whereas the second hypothesis concerning the crucial role of soil microorganisms in forests and vegetation in grasslands as drivers of RS spatial variability was confirmed.

Sustainable University campuses. Qualitative and quantitative approach through the scope of an undergraduate, elective architectural technology course

Universities should promote sustainable development excellence not only through teaching and research but also via in campus operational management. This article presents the set-up, methodology and results of an undergraduate architectural technology course, which challenges the sustainable, bioclimatic and energy performance of buildings at NTUA Patission Campus. The course’s scope is to introduce different approaches so that students get acquainted with various research tools for the analysis of the sustainability indicators on campus and proposals for the sustainable design and redesign of university buildings and open spaces. The investigation and assessment of the existing condition was conducted with qualitative assessment and experimental quantitative methods for selected classrooms in different orientations at two adjacent buildings. Consequently, digital models of the classrooms under study were constructed with energy simulation software, in order to analyse the existing condition and assess the impact of simple interventions on the energy performance and bioclimatic conditions. The results involve the evaluation of the course set-up, but most importantly the structure of a methodology that could be applied not only to undergraduate student projects, but also to actual interventions to existing university buildings and campuses with similar characteristics in order to implement interdisciplinary methods that address environmental challenges.

Assessment of bioclimatic conditions in West Kazakhstan

Assessment of bioclimatic conditions in West Kazakhstan

Ecological varieties research of spring wheat in northern forest steppe in Chelyabinsk region

The studies were carried out in 2017-2022 in the field experiment on the fields of the primary seed production department of the crop production complex of LLC «Chebarkulskaya Ptitsa». The aim of the research was a comparative ecological study of varieties of spring soft wheat of different maturity groups in order to select an assortment that provides the maximum stable yield in the bioclimatic conditions of the northern forest-steppe of the Chelyabinsk region. The studied varieties of spring soft wheat belong to three groups of maturity - medium-early, medium-ripening and medium-late. In each of these groups, we have identified the most productive varieties in comparison with the standard variety. By origin, the standards are in all groups of the Chelyabinsk selection, the Ekaterina variety was obtained by scientists from Yekaterinburg, Ulyanovskaya 105 is a variety of the Ulyanovsk selection, and Uralosibirskaya - of the Omsk selection. The varieties Ekaterina, Ulyanovskaya 105 and Chelyaba 75 turned out to be the most stress-resistant. The varieties Ulyanovskaya 105, Erythrospermum 59 and Yekaterina have a genotype that best corresponds to changing environmental factors. When calculating the sum of ranks in each group of the studied varieties, the most productive and adaptive varieties to growing conditions were identified: Ekaterina, Ulyanovskaya 105 and Uralosibirskaya. According to the results of the research, the varieties Ekaterina, Ulyanovskaya 105 and Uralosibirskaya were selected for cultivation in the fields of the crop production complex of the agricultural holding. Elite seeds of varieties are sold to agricultural producers of the Chelyabinsk region.

The Effect Of Urban Areas On Human Bioclimatic Comfort Conditions; Sample Of Amasya City

Urban settlements, one of the most important developments in the history of humanity, expanded due to the migration movements from rural to urban areas and turned into dense and high-built settlements. This situation has caused urban areas to have different climatic conditions from the suburban and rural areas around them. Bioclimatic comfort is the state of people to feel comfortable, happy and fit in the atmospheric environment they are in. Uncomfortable conditions cause much negativity such as decrease in people's work efficiency, health conditions and increase in energy consumption. Amasya is a small Anatolian city in the Central Black Sea Region of the Black Sea Region, where industrialization has not developed. In this study, hourly data of the year 2021 of two meteorology stations, which are considered as urban and suburban, were used in order to examine the effects of urban areas on bioclimatic comfort conditions in Amasya. As a method, the PET (Physiological Equivalent Temperature) index obtained from the RayMan model, which calculates many factors together, was used. As a result of the study, suburban is 2.1 ˚C cooler than urban at the general PET average; 3.4˚C cooler at the maximum average and 2.8˚C cooler at the minimum average. The urban area is exposed to heat stress by 8.1% more throughout the year than the suburban area. In order to reduce the negative bioclimatic comfort conditions of cities and for sustainable urbanization, it is necessary to make urban design and planning that takes into account human, ecological and physical conditions.

Effect of regional baric systems on the occurrence of bi- oclimatic conditions in Poland

The present study concerns the determination of the characteristics of bioclimatic conditions, as well as the synoptic situations related to the occurrence of thermal stress conditions, in Poland. The study was based on daily data obtained from the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management – National Research Institute from the period 1966–2020 for 37 synoptic stations in Poland. Based on the obtained data, values of the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) were calculated. The occurrence of heat stress increases from the north to the south, corresponding with the variability of influx of solar radiation, and is modified by factors at a smaller spatial scale. The results of this paper evidently point to the cooling effect of the waters of the Baltic Sea. In circulation conditions favouring strong and very strong heat stress, e.g. in two of the designated circulation types (T1 and T2), the occurrence of an expansive high-pressure ridge in the Atlantic-European area is typical, stretching from the region of the Azores High towards the north- east, with a secondary high developed within its boundaries. In the third of the designated circulation types (T3), the high-pressure area extends from the Azores eastwards, reaching the Black Sea. Each of the three circulation patterns associated with the unfavourable biometeorological conditions of very strong and extreme cold stress in Poland is characterised by strong pressure centres formed in the Euroatlantic region, triggering the airflow from the northern (T4) or eastern (T5, T6) sector.

Evaluation of outdoor thermal comfort conditions: evidence from the Serbian major ski resort over the last 30years.

The study aims to present reliable information about thermal conditions and their impacts on visitors to ski travel destinations. Mountain tourism areas are specific since high altitudes affect the ambient weather conditions which can affect different types of human activities. In this paper, the thermal comfort and its changes in Kopaonik Mountain, the most popular ski resort in Serbia over the last 30years, have been evaluated. Information about thermal comfort is presented by using the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), physiologically equivalent temperature (PET), and modified physiologically equivalent temperature (mPET) in 3-h resolution for the period 1991-2020. The results indicate prevailing cold stress all year round. Days with moderate, strong, and very strong heat stress were not recorded. Strong and extreme cold stress prevailed during winter, while slight and moderate cold stress prevailed during summer. Transitional seasons were very cold, but autumn was more comfortable than spring. The occurrence of days with neutral and slightly warm/cool conditions is concentrated in the summer months. However, summer is not used enough for tourism because the choice of tourists to stay at Kopaonik is not primarily based on favorable bioclimatic conditions, but on resources for winter tourism. With global warming, the annual number of thermally favorable days has been increasing, while the number of days with extreme and strong cold stress is decreasing. Continuing this trend can significantly influence tourism in the future, and therefore, new strategies in ski resorts will be required to adapt to the changing climate.

Regional and seasonal variability in human thermal stress in Poland

The study objective was to determine the spatial and temporal variability of Poland’s bioclimatic conditions and to designate heat-stress regions with the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) application. The study was based on daily data from the multiannual period 1966–2021 obtained for 37 stations in Poland, provided from the resources of the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management–National Research Institute (IMGW-PIB). The aforementioned data provided the basis for the calculation of the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). The study revealed high variability of bioclimatic conditions in Poland, both in temporal and spatial terms. Bioclimatic regions characterised by the different occurrence of heat stress were distinguished and characterised. Regions in the south-west and west of Poland proved the most favourable in bioclimatic terms, with the highest number of days with no thermal stress. In these regions, the highest UTCI values were observed, while the lowest were recorded in the northeast of Poland and at the east coast of the Baltic Sea. Among unfavourable biometeorological conditions, the ones causing hypothermia have so far occurred more frequently than the ones causing overheating of the human organism. However, UTCI has increased during the study period; therefore, under proceeding global warming, an increase in the frequency of occurrence of heat stress can be expected. So far, the most intensive increase in UTCI values in Poland was recorded in spring and the weakest in winter.

The Bioclimatic Change of the Agricultural and Natural Areas of the Adriatic Coastal Countries

In this study, the present bioclimatic conditions and the estimated changes of the bioclimate over natural and agricultural areas of the Adriatic territory (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, Montenegro, and Slovenia) are analysed and presented. For this purpose, a survey on De Martonne’s bioclimate categories’ spatial distribution over the entire examined area and individual countries is conducted for the reference period (1981–2010) and for three more future time periods (2011–2040; 2041–2070; 2071–2100) under two emissions scenarios (ssp370/RCP7 and ssp585/RCP8.5). The very high spatial resolution (~300 m) results demonstrate that the potential future alterations of the Adriatic territory’s bioclimate indicate the probable acceleration of the trend towards warmer and dryer conditions by 2100 under the RCP8.5 scenario, with the Italian region’s agricultural areas mainly being influenced. Moreover, as the studied scenarios project, the bioclimatic impact will affect natural and agricultural areas. For the agricultural areas, the semi-dry class (the most xerothermic in the study area) will expand from 4.9% (reference period) to 17.7% according to the RCP8.5 scenario for the period 2071–2100. When over the natural areas, the related variation of the same class is from 0.9% to 5.6%. In general, the western part of the Adriatic coastline is more vulnerable to climate results than the eastern one.