Biometeorological Conditions Research Articles

Mid-afternoon Outdoor Biometeorological Conditions in a Hot-humid Climate of Minna in Nigeria, West Africa during the Year 2012

The human biometeorological conditions at mid-afternoon during 12 months of 2012 in the city of Minna North-Central Nigeria have been evaluated based on energy budget indices (UTCI and PET) using climate parameters -air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and solar radiation) observed at 15:00LST as input into the Rayman model. Air temperature demonstrated strongest significant correlation coefficient (r) with UTCI and PET (r= 0.91, r= 0.93) (P<0.0001) while windspeed show weakest association with them(r=-0.10, r=-0.20) (P<0.03, P<0.001) respectively. March and August were characterized by peak and slightest monthly thermal stress conditions according to both indices. The correlation coefficient between both indices was significantly (P<0.0001) very strong (r=0.98) and more noticeable for equivalent temperatures in strong stress thresholds (UTCI>=32°C, PET>=35°C), which shows that both indices can be used indifferently in warm climates. However, during May to October, UTCI better expressed warm conditions than PET mainly due to the difference in the definition of reference environment for both indices; this study is relevant to the urban sightseeing industry as tourists would most likely opt for a period of lesser thermal discomfort.

Impact of biometeorological conditions and air pollution on influenza-like illnesses incidence in Warsaw

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.

Warunki biometeorologiczne Kłodzka i ich wpływ na klimatoterapię i turystykę

Biometeorological conditions of Kłodzko and their influence on climatotherapy and tourism The region of Kłodzko belongs to the most important tourist areas in the Lower Silesia. It is also a very important region in the context of health resorts. Because of significant impact of weather conditions on both tourism and health issues, a crucial aspect is to evaluate the influence of weather on human organism and various forms of climatotherapy, tourism and recreation. The goal of the paper was to evaluate the biometeorological conditions of Kłodzko, considering its bio-thermal conditions as well as the usefulness of weather for climatotherapy, tourism and recreation. The basis for the analysis was meteorological data for 1971–2015 from the IMGW-PIB station in Kłodzko. The evaluation of biometeorological conditions included the bio-thermal index of UTCI and the weather suitability index for tourism and recreation (WSI). The WSI is calculated on the basis of the MENEX model which enables an assessment of the human heat balance. The climate tourism information scheme (CTIS) was also considered. It enables an evaluation of recreational potential with a consideration of bio-thermal conditions and the impact of particular meteorological variables. Based on the mentioned methods, a structure of heat stress categories and the annual course of usefulness of weather for climatotherapy, tourism and recreation were presented. The results of the research showed that weather conditions related to no thermal stress prevail on an annual scale. As for the context of the impact of weather on tourism issues, the best conditions are observed in the warm season, especially in the spring and autumn period. The results of the study can be a source of information for tourists and bathers visiting the region. They can also be a basis for increasing the knowledge on biometeorological conditions of the Sudetes.

Human thermal sensation over a mountainous area, revealed by the application of ANNs: the case of Ainos Mt., Kefalonia Island, Greece.

Mt. Ainos in Kefalonia Island, Greece, hosts a large variety of plant species, some of them endemic to the region. Because of its rich biodiversity, a large portion of the mountain area is designated as National Park and is protected from human activities such as hunting or logging. Therefore, the area presents a lot of opportunities for ecotourist activities, such as trekking, birdwatching, and mountain climbing. In order to estimate its touristic activities potential, it is essential to assess the mountain's biometeorological conditions. To achieve that, the human thermal index PET (physiologically equivalent temperature) was used, which is based on a human energy balance model. However, it is difficult to get the specific meteorological data over mountainous areas (air temperature, humidity, wind speed, and global solar radiation), appropriate as input variables for PET modeling. In order to overcome this limitation, artificial neural networks (ANNs) were developed for the estimation of PET index in ten sites within the Ainos National Park. In the process, the spatiotemporal distributions of the PET thermal index were illustrated, taking into consideration the ANN modeling. The findings of the performed analysis shed light that Mt. Ainos offers the greatest touristic opportunities from May to September, when thermal comfort conditions appear. The study also proves that the highest frequency of thermal comfort appears within the aforementioned time period over the highest altitudes, while on the contrary, slightly warm class appears as the altitude decreases on both sides of the mountain.

Bioclimatic conditions of Lublin based on the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI)

Abstract The objective of this paper is to describe bioclimatic conditions in Lublin and Radawiec in the period 1976–2015 using the UTCI index. The paper shows that in Lublin and Radawiec, the most frequent biometeorological conditions caused no heat stress and were neutral for the human organism. At the analysed stations, biometeorological conditions causing cold stress occurred more frequently than those causing heat stress. Biometeorological conditions in the analysed period were characterised by high year-to-year variability. We observed that in recent years there was an increase in frequency of conditions favouring heat stress and a decrease in conditions favouring cold stress.

Summer UTCI variability in Poland in the twenty-first century

The paper analyses the temporal and spatial variability of the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) in Poland in summer. Summer is the season with the highest intensity of tourism traffic that is why it is important to determine biometeorological conditions, especially in popular tourist destinations such as coastal, mountain and urban areas, in the times of climate changes. The analysis was based on data from 18 stations of IMGW-PIB (Institute of Meteorology and Water Management—National Research Institute), distributed evenly in the territory of the country, and representing all eight bioclimatic regions. The data include air temperature, relative humidity, wind velocity and cloudiness at 12 UTC from summer months: June, July and August from the years 2001–2018. Thermoneutral zone was the most frequently occurring UTCI class in Poland. It was recorded during 56–75% of summer days (with the exception of mountain stations, where it occurred on 30–35% of days). Moderate heat stress is the second most frequently occurring category with a frequency from 18 to 29% with the exception of mountain and coastal areas. Extreme and very strong cold stress occurred particularly in high mountain stations, and was sporadically observed at the coast of the Baltic Sea; however, the occurrence of such conditions decreases, which if favourable for beach tourism. No cases of extreme heat stress were recorded in any of the stations. The most unfavourable bioclimatic conditions were characteristic of the Upland Region (IV), represented by Kraków and Sandomierz, where very strong heat stress occurred with a 10% frequency. This is a limitation for urban tourism in those regions. The highest UTCI values were recorded in Kraków on 17 July 2007 and 29 July 2005. The highest number of cases with strong and very strong heat stress was recorded in 2015 as a consequence of the heat wave observed in Poland in the first half of August. In the majority of the analysed stations, in the second half of the analysed period (2010–2018), an increase in the number of days with strong and very strong heat stress was observed in comparison with the first half of period (2001–2009). The highest frequency of such days was observed in July. Based on the data, there are 4 potential periods of occurrence of such days, with two most intense being 26. July–13 August and 14–22 July.

Perceptions and experiences of outdoor occupational workers using digital devices for geospatial biometeorological monitoring.

Wearable devices have the potential to track and monitor a wide range of biometeorological conditions (e.g., temperature, UV, air quality) and health outcomes (e.g., mental stress, physical activity, physiologic strain, and cognitive impairments). These sensors provide the potential for personalized environmental exposure information that can be harnessed for at-risk populations. Personalized environmental exposure information is of particular importance for populations that are continuously exposed to hazardous environmental conditions or with underlying health conditions. Yet, for these devices to be effective, individuals must be willing to monitor their health and, if prompted, adhere to warnings or notifications. To date, no study has examined the perceptions and use of digital devices and wearable sensors among vulnerable outdoor working populations. This study evaluated digital device use and perceptions among a population of groundworkers in three diverse geographic sites in the southeastern USA (Boone, NC, Raleigh, NC, and Starkville, MS). Our results demonstrate that biometeorological health interventions should focus on smartphone technology as a platform for monitoring environmental exposure and associated health outcomes. It was encouraging to find that those study participants were very likely to wear sensors and utilize global positioning system technology despite potential privacy issues. In addition, 3 out of 4 workers indicated that they would change their behavior if given a personalized heat preventive warning. Future development of wearable sensors and smartphone applications should integrate personalized weather warnings and ensure privacy to facilitate the use of these technologies among vulnerable populations.

Are the Levels of Lipid Parameters Associated with Biometeorological Conditions?

Lipid disorders, especially hypercholesterolemia, are one of the most thoroughly investigated cardiovascular risk factors. Their correlation with biometeorological conditions has been reported, with authors stressing seasonal increases of total cholesterol (TC) levels, mostly occurring in winter. This study aims at determining the correlation between the level of lipid parameters (LP) and meteorological conditions, analyzing seasonal variations in LP levels, and attempting to answer the following questions: do changes in LP levels result from the organism’s response to cold or heat stress, or are they secondary to seasonal dietary variations? An observational study comprised ambulatory patients from the city of Olsztyn (Poland), for whom laboratory test were performed in 2016–2018, with 106,325 records of TC, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglycerides (TG). LP levels were matched with atmospheric conditions on the day when the test was conducted and expressed by the universal thermal climate index (UTCI). We demonstrated seasonal increases of TC in cold stress (in wintertime) and of TG in heat stress (summer). The analysis of LP levels in specific periods revealed the increase of TC levels after holidays (i.e., Christmas and Easter) in men by 4.56%, and the increase of TG levels in women by 13.46% in the same period. Our results suggest the secondary, diet-dependent underlying cause of the observed changes. This work contributes to the discussion concerning the impact of biometeorological factors on LP levels and may be of significance when planning population-dedicated preventive activities.

The Impact of Biometeorological Conditions on the Perception of Landscape

A landscape is part of our daily lives and our perception of its features may significantly impact our quality of life. This article presents the results of research aimed at determining the influence of biometeorological conditions on the way in which we perceive the landscape. An eye tracker was used throughout each season of the year to determine how 52 respondents observed the landscape while taking into consideration whether the landscape had a favorable or unfavorable impact on those same respondents. Additionally, each test was preceded by the completion of a questionnaire intended to assess the mental and physical state of each respondent. The calculated eye movement indexes demonstrated the impact of the biometeorological conditions on their perception of the landscape. Statistically significant differences in their perception of the landscape were ascertained depending on the type of weather and the respondents’ general feeling irrespective of their sex.

Biometeorological conditions during an extreme heatwave event in Poland in August 2015

Biometeorological conditions during an extreme heatwave event in Poland in August 2015

A comparison of bioclimatic conditions on Franz Josef Land (the Arctic) between the turn of the nineteenth to twentieth century and present day

The paper presents the variability of meteorological conditions: air temperature, wind speed and relative air humidity; and biometeorological indices: wind chill temperature, predicted clothing insulation and accepted level of physical activity on Franz Josef Land (in Teplitz Bay and Calm Bay) in the years 1899–1931. It employs meteorological measurements taken during four scientific expeditions to the study area. The analysis mainly covered the period October–April, for which the most complete data set is available. For that period of the year, which includes the part of the year with the Franz Josef Land’s coldest air temperatures, the range and nature of changes in meteorological and biometeorological conditions between historical periods and the modern period (1981–2010) were studied. The data analysis revealed that during the three oldest expeditions (which took place in the years 1899–1914), the biometeorological conditions in the study area were more harsh to humans than in the modern period (1981–2010) or similarly harsh. In contrast, during the 1930/1931 expedition, which represents the Early Twentieth Century Warming (ETCW), conditions were clearly more favourable (including predicted clothing insulation being 0.3 clo lower and 4.0 °C higher wind chill temperature than conditions observed nowadays).

Assessment of human bio-meteorological environment over the Tibetan Plateau region based on CORDEX climate model projections

This research mainly evaluates the human bio-meteorological conditions and its changes in the Tibetan Plateau over the past 27 years under the simulation of regional climate models of HadGEM3-RA and RegCM from the CORDEX-East Asia experiments by using the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). Both models are able to reproduce the present climate realistically. As an extension, the human thermal comfort information about Tibetan Plateau in the next 27 years is projected under the scenarios of RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. The results show that UTCI in Tibetan Plateau covers four stress categories, namely strong cold stress, moderate cold stress, slight cold stress, no thermal stress, and cold stresses, is prevailing throughout the whole year. A small amount of no thermal stress category appears in the summer period and the human bio-meteorological condition is most stable at the same period, especially from July to September. According to the projections in the near future, with climate change taken into account, annual cumulative pleasant days will increase significantly while the cold stresses days will reduce. The distribution frequency of UTCI categories varies among regions showing clear altitude/latitude dependency. Lhasa, Xining, and Yushu will be the top three cities in terms of thermal favourability by analysing the results of both models. The policy of migration, urban planning, tourism authorities, travel agencies, resorts, and tourists in Tibetan Plateau could be beneficial from these results.

Bigleaf-An R package for the calculation of physical and physiological ecosystem properties from eddy covariance data.

We present the R package bigleaf (version 0.6.5), an open source toolset for the derivation of meteorological, aerodynamic, and physiological ecosystem properties from eddy covariance (EC) flux observations and concurrent meteorological measurements. A ‘big-leaf’ framework, in which vegetation is represented as a single, uniform layer, is employed to infer bulk ecosystem characteristics top-down from the measured fluxes. Central to the package is the calculation of a bulk surface/canopy conductance (Gs/Gc) and a bulk aerodynamic conductance (Ga), with the latter including formulations for the turbulent and canopy boundary layer components. The derivation of physical land surface characteristics such as surface roughness parameters, wind profile, aerodynamic and radiometric surface temperature, surface vapor pressure deficit (VPD), potential evapotranspiration (ET), imposed and equilibrium ET, as well as vegetation-atmosphere decoupling coefficients, is described. The package further provides calculation routines for physiological ecosytem properties (stomatal slope parameters, stomatal sensitivity to VPD, bulk intercellular CO2 concentration, canopy photosynthetic capacity), energy balance characteristics (closure, biochemical energy), ancillary meteorological variables (psychrometric constant, saturation vapor pressure, air density, etc.), customary unit interconversions and data filtering. The target variables can be calculated with a different degree of complexity, depending on the amount of available site-specific information. The utilities of the package are demonstrated for three single-level (above-canopy) eddy covariance sites representing a temperate grassland, a temperate needle-leaf forest, and a Mediterranean evergreen broadleaf forest. The routines are further tested for a two-level EC site (tree and grass layer) located in a Mediterranean oak savanna. The limitations and the ecophysiological interpretation of the derived ecosystem properties are discussed and practical guidelines are given. The package provides the basis for a consistent, physically sound, and reproducible characterization of biometeorological conditions and ecosystem physiology, and is applicable to EC sites across vegetation types and climatic conditions with minimal ancillary data requirements.

BIOMETEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN THE ARCTIC DURING THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR, 1882–1883

The article provides an initial description of the biometeorological conditions in the Arctic during the first International Polar Year (IPY 1) of 1882–1883. The study is based on hourly measurements taken from nine stations which represent most of the climatic regions in the Arctic. The diversity of biometeorological conditions was analysed in relation to the height above sea level, the distance from the sea and the character of the ground. The analysis made use of such biometeorological indices as wind chill index (WCI), predicted insulation of clothing (Iclp) and the cooling power of the air (H). A considerable spatial diversity of the biometeorological conditions was found during the period investigated. The least favourable thermal sensations occurred at the Sagastyr station, and the most favourable conditions were observed at Kapp Thordsen.

The Potential Growing Areas for Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels (Sapotaceae) in Argentinean Drylands

The argan (Argania spinosa L.) tree is indigenous to southwestern Morocco. Successful introduction of this species in Argentina depends on the degree of climate similarity in the natural area compared to new areas with agroclimatic suitability. Based on international bibliography, the authors outlined an agroclimatic zoning model for this tree in Argentina. To determine agroclimatic suitability, the average climatic data of all the meteorological stations (1981–2010) were analyzed. Climatological characteristics of its region of origin were considered to evaluate the requirements and biometeorological conditions. The maps were obtained using a series of previously interpolated bioclimatic variables. The agroclimatic indices, which determine different classes of suitability, were integrated in a Geographic Information System (GIS) to create thermal and moisture regions. The resulting maps were superimposed to determine the agroclimatic zoning. Eight classes of agroclimatic suitability under dry-subhumid, semiarid, and arid climatic conditions were delineated. There are no optimal zones for the argan tree in Argentina. This work can be updated by further incorporation of complementary information. Argan tree is a promising dryland crop for farmers in semiarid and arid climates of Argentina. This model may be applied in any part of the world, using the agroclimatic limits presented in this paper.

Changes in aerobic performance, body composition, and physical activity in polar explorers during a year-long stay at the polar station in the Arctic.

The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in physical activity, aerobic performance, and body composition in polar explorers during a 1-year stay at the polar station. The study group consisted of 10 people, including 8 men and 2 women. Aerobic performance (maximal oxygen uptake), physical activity, body mass, and composition were evaluated for the polar explores of the Polish Polar Station prior to departure, and then during their stay at the station for a period of 1year. The measurements were performed every 3months. Compared to the measurements taken before going to the polar station, aerobic performance significantly (p=0.02) increased in the first 3months of residing at the polar station and then remained relatively stable for the following duration of the stay. In the first 3months of the stay, we also observed the highest level of physical activity in participants. In the polar explorers, no significant (p>0.05) body fatness changes were noted. Nonetheless, lean body mass, body mass, and BMI significantly increased compared to the measurements taken before departure to the polar station. The greatest changes in aerobic performance, physical activity, and body composition were observed during the first 3months after arrival to the Arctic and then, despite changing biometeorological conditions, they remained stable for the next months of the stay. We recommend the introduction of a physical preparation program before departing to the polar station to improve explorers' physical fitness, so that they can meet the physical challenges they are faced with immediately after arrival to the polar station.

Impact of selected personal factors on seasonal variability of recreationist weather perceptions and preferences in Warsaw (Poland)

Weather and climate are important natural resources for tourism and recreation, although sometimes they can make outdoor leisure activities less satisfying or even impossible. The aim of this work was to determine weather perception seasonal variability of people staying outdoors in urban environment for tourism and recreation, as well as to determine if personal factors influence estimation of recreationist actual biometeorological conditions and personal expectations towards weather elements. To investigate how human thermal sensations vary upon meteorological conditions typical for temperate climate, weather perception field researches were conducted in Warsaw (Poland) in all seasons. Urban recreationists’ preference for slightly warm thermal conditions, sunny, windless and cloudless weather, were identified as well as PET values considered to be optimal for sightseeing were defined between 27.3 and 31.7 °C. The results confirmed existence of phenomena called alliesthesia, which manifested in divergent thermal perception of comparable biometeorological conditions in transitional seasons. The results suggest that recreationist thermal sensations differed from other interviewees’ responses and were affected not only by physiological processes but they were also conditioned by psychological factors (i.e. attitude, expectations). Significant impact of respondents’ place of origin and its climate on creating thermal sensations and preferences was observed. Sex and age influence thermal preferences, whereas state of acclimatization is related with thermal sensations to some point.

Modeling and in situ measurements of biometeorological conditions in microenvironments within the Athens University Campus, Greece.

The objective of this research is to assess and analyze the biometeorological perception in complex microenvironments in the Athens University Campus (AUC) using urban micromodels, such as RayMan. The human thermal sensation in such a place was considered of great significance due to the great gathering of student body and staff of the University. The quantification of the biometeorological conditions was succeeded by the estimation of the physiologically equivalent temperature (PET), which is a biometeorological index based on the human energy balance. We carried out, on one hand, field measurements of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and global solar irradiance for different sites (building atrium, open area, and green atrium) of the examined microurban environment in order to calculate PET during January-July 2013. Additionally, on the other hand, PET modeling was performed using different sky-view factors and was compared to a reference site (meteorological station of Laboratory of Climatology and Atmospheric Environment, University of Athens). The global radiation was transferred to the examined sites with the RayMan model, which considers the sky-view factors for the adaptation of the radiation fluxes to simple and complex environments. The results of this study reveal the crucial importance of the existence of trees and green cover in a complex environment, as a factor that could be the solution to the efforts of stake holders in order to mitigate strong heat stress and improve people's living quality in urban areas.

Modeling of mean radiant temperature based on comparison of airborne remote sensing data with surface measured data

Assessment of outdoor thermal comfort is becoming increasingly important due to the urban heat island effect, which strongly affects the urban thermal environment. The mean radiant temperature (Tmrt) quantifies the effect of the radiation environment on humans, but it can only be estimated based on influencing parameters and factors. Knowledge of Tmrt is important for quantifying the heat load on human beings, especially during heat waves. This study estimates Tmrt using several methods, which are based on climatic data from a traditional weather station, microscale ground surface measurements, land surface temperature (LST) and light detection and ranging (LIDAR) data measured using airborne devices. Analytical results reveal that the best means of estimating Tmrt combines information about LST and surface elevation information with meteorological data from the closest weather station. The application in this method can eliminate the inconvenience of executing a wide range ground surface measurement, the insufficient resolution of satellite data and the incomplete data of current urban built environments. This method can be used to map a whole city to identify hot spots, and can be contributed to understanding human biometeorological conditions quickly and accurately.

Human thermal perception related to Föhn winds due to Saharan dust outbreaks in Crete Island, Greece

Crete Island is located in the southmost border of East Mediterranean basin, facing exacerbating atmospheric conditions (mainly concentrations of particulates) due to Saharan dust outbreaks. It is worth to note that these episodes are more frequent during spring and autumn, when mild biometeorological conditions become intolerable due to the synergy of the so called Fohn winds. Cretan mountains, especially Psiloritis Mt. (summit at 2456 m), are orientated perpendicularly to the southwest air mass flow, generating the Fohn winds. Propagating from the leeward of the mountains, these dry, hot winds have an effect on prevailing biometeorological conditions. While descending to the lowlands on the leeward side of the range, the wind becomes strong, gusty, and desiccating. This wind often lasts less than an hour to several days, with gradual weakening after the first or the second day. Sometimes, it stops very abruptly. In this work, the authors examined and analyzed the abrupt changes of human thermal perception within specific case studies during which Fohn winds appeared in Heraklion city at the leeward of Psiloritis Mt, associated with extreme Saharan dust episodes, observed within the period 2006–2010. In order to verify the development of Fohn winds, Meteorological Terminal Aviation Routine Weather Reports (METARs, meteorological observations every half hour), were acquired from the Heraklion meteorological station installed by the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS). The biometeorological conditions analyzed are based on human thermal bioclimatic indices such as the Physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) and the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). METAR recordings of meteorological variables, such as air temperature, vapor pressure, wind speed, and cloudiness, were used as input variables in modeling the aforementioned thermal indices, so that to interpret the grade of the thermo-physiological stress. The PET and UTCI analysis was performed by the use of the radiation and bioclimate model, “RayMan,” which is well-suited to calculate radiation fluxes and human biometeorological indices. The results of the performed analysis showed even an increase of air temperature from 20 to 30 °C within 5 h, associated with a decrease in the vapor pressure from 11.5 to 9.3 hPa. In addition, the wind speed at 10 m increased from 5.1 to 20.1 m/s, 3.7 to 14.3 m/s with respect to 1.1 m height, during the events of Fohn winds. The biometeorological analysis has given evidence that slight/moderate heat stress classes of the examined thermal indices appear during Saharan dust episodes. Such conditions are uncommon at the beginning of spring season, indicating that Saharan dust episodes are not only responsible for acute health impacts but also for adverse biometeorological conditions, due to the very likely development of Fohn winds towards the wider area of Heraklion, a coastal city in the eastern Mediterranean.