Microclimate Data Research Articles

Impact of temperature humidity index (THI) on blood gas and electrolytes of dairy cows in late gestation

The study was carried out to assess the impact of heat stress on dairy cows in late gestation and their newborn calves. Study was conducted in two phases in crossbred cattle during last trimester of pregnancy, maintained in University Livestock Farm and Fodder Research Development Scheme, Mannuthy, KVASU. December to February with minimum THI was taken as season 1 and March to May with maximum THI as season 2 of the study. Microclimatic data in the animal shed was recorded three times at three days intervals. The ambient temperature, relative humidity and THI obtained during season 2 was significantly (p<0.01) higher than season 1 in both macro and microclimatic data. Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2 ) was low in season 2 but there was no significant difference in potassium (K+), sodium (Na+), bicarbonate (HCO3 - ) and partial pressure of oxygen (pO2 ) between the seasons. Keywords: Heat stress in cattle, THI, blood gases, electrolytes, late gestation

“The Devil You Know”: Barriers and Opportunities for Co-Designing Microclimate Sensors, A Case Study of Manoomi

Current environmental challenges have profound local consequences and often benefit from the collection of fine-grained microclimate data. Advances in wireless sensor networks and the Internet of Things have led to technologies nominally suited to support remote sensing; however, in practice long-running deployments of in-field environmental sensors are rare. Field conditions are often remote and culturally sensitive, with limited power, Internet, transportation, and human infrastructure; advances in device technology alone will not suffice. We ask how communities, Internet of Things researchers, government, and other interested parties can work together to co-design useful, low burden, sustainability-focused infrastructure. Toward this end, we conducted 11 semi-structured interviews with 13 experts who use or rely on environmental sensing technology. To complement our interview data, we engaged in three months of participant observation while immersed in organizations specifically working toward manoomin (wild rice) conservation. We make two primary contributions. First, we confirm and enrich a five-stage model, the microclimate sensor lifecycle, focusing on desired features and persistent challenges. Second, we outline a space for co-design of microclimate sensors with emphasis on the cost of experience, the generally unaddressed issue of technical usability in the messy field, and the opportunity for community engagement to improve technical design and outcomes. Furthermore, we discuss future design opportunities, recommendations, and challenges in the microclimate sensor design, deployment, and sustainability space.

Investigating the Role of Microclimate and Microorganisms in the Deterioration of Stone Heritage: The Case of Rupestrian Church from Jac, Romania

Natural stone can undergo disaggregation from various causes, including physical actions such as freeze–thaw cycles, temperature and humidity variations, chemical actions such as the solubilization of minerals by organic and inorganic acids, as well as biological actions due to the colonization of organisms that can produce biocorrosion and biomineralization. This research investigates the impact of microclimatic conditions and microbial activity on the physical and chemical integrity of stone heritage, particularly the biodeterioration caused by fungi in the case of a Romanian rock church. Various analytical techniques were employed, including macroscopic and optical microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and culture-based identification methods, to characterize the mineral composition and microbial contamination of the rock samples. The analyses revealed that the sandstone consists primarily of quartz (over 90%), muscovite (5–10%), and feldspars. The identified fungi included Cladosporium herbarium, Aspergillus niger, and Mortierella hyalina. The SEM images showed fungal hyphae and spores within the kaolinite–illite matrix, indicating significant microbial colonization and its role in rock deterioration. Additionally, microclimatic data collected over a 12-week period highlighted the substantial fluctuations in temperature and relative humidity within the church, which contribute to the physical and chemical weathering of the stone. This study also noted high levels of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and volatile organic compounds, which can exacerbate microbial growth and stone decay. The comprehensive analysis underscores the need for targeted preservation strategies that consider both microclimatic factors and microbial colonization to effectively conserve stone heritage sites, ensuring their longevity and structural integrity.

Downscaling Vapor Pressure Deficit across Complex Forested Terrain

Abstract The forest microclimate shapes many aspects of forest functioning, including plant regeneration and wildfire occurrence. In complex landscapes with varying terrain, the forest microclimate varies at fine spatial scales (10–100 m2). However, accurately mapping this variation remains challenging. Vapor pressure deficit (VPD) is an important microclimatic variable for plant growth and fire activity, yet few studies have specifically focused on downscaling VPD. The aim of this study was to examine the drivers of in-forest VPD in temperate eucalypt forests and develop a model to predict in-forest VPD. We use microclimate data from 37 in-forest weather stations, installed across an aridity gradient in southeastern Australia. We used linear mixed models within an information theoretic approach to develop a predictive model for daily maximum in-forest VPD using open VPD and topographic variables. The highest-ranked model included fundamental topographic drivers of vegetation structure and microclimate in forested landscapes: aspect, elevation, and slope, in addition to open VPD. The model had high accuracy when tested against independent data. We used this model to map fine-scale (30 m2, daily) maximum in-forest VPD across a topographically complex case study landscape. Predicted in-forest VPD showed considerable spatial and temporal variations not captured by coarse-scale open VPD. This represents a significant advancement in our ability to model microclimatic conditions in temperate eucalypt forests and has the potential to advance our understanding of how ecosystem processes vary at fine spatial scales.

Microclimate Vision: Multimodal prediction of climatic parameters using street-level and satellite imagery

High-resolution microclimate data is essential for capturing spatio-temporal heterogeneity of urban climate and heat health management. However, previous studies have relied on dense measurements that require significant costs for equipment, or on physical simulations demanding intensive computational loads. As a potential alternative to these methods, we propose a multimodal deep learning model to predict microclimate at a high spatial and temporal resolution based on street-level and satellite imagery. This model consists of LSTM and ResNet-18 architectures, and predicts air temperature (Tair), relative humidity (RH), wind speed (ν), and global horizontal irradiance (GHI). For our study area situated at a university campus in Singapore, we collected microclimate data, street-level and satellite imagery. We conducted extensive experiments with our collected dataset to showcase our model’s predictive capabilities and its practical use in generating high-resolution microclimate maps. Our model reported RMSE at 0.95 °C for Tair, 2.57% for RH, 0.31 m/s for ν, and 225 W/m2 for GHI. Furthermore, we observed a contribution of imagery inputs to higher accuracy by comparing models with and without such inputs. We identified hot spots at a high spatio-temporal resolution, indicating its application for issuing real-time heat alerts. Our models are released openly at the microclimate-vision GitHub repository (https://github.com/kunifujiwara/microclimate-vision).

Impact of climate change on vector-borne diseases: Exploring hotspots, recent trends and future outlooks in Bangladesh

Climate change is a significant risk multiplier and profoundly influences the transmission dynamics, geographical distribution, and resurgence of vector-borne diseases (VBDs). Bangladesh has a noticeable rise in VBDs attributed to climate change. Despite the severity of this issue, the interconnections between climate change and VBDs in Bangladesh have yet to be thoroughly explored. To address this research gap, our review meticulously examined existing literature on the relationship between climate change and VBDs in Bangladesh. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach, we identified 3849 records from SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. Ultimately, 22 research articles meeting specific criteria were included. We identified that the literature on the subject matter of this study is non-contemporaneous, with 68% of studies investing datasets before 2014, despite studies on climate change and dengue nexus having increased recently. We pinpointed Dhaka and Chittagong Hill Tracts as the dengue and malaria research hotspots, respectively. We highlighted that the 2023 dengue outbreak illustrates a possible shift in dengue-endemic areas in Bangladesh. Moreover, dengue cases surged by 317% in 2023 compared to 2019 records, with a corresponding 607% increase in mortality compared to 2022. A weak connection was observed between dengue incidents and climate drivers, including the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). However, no compelling evidence supported an association between malaria cases, and Sea Surface Temperature (SST) in the Bay of Bengal, along with the NINO3 phenomenon. We observed minimal microclimatic and non-climatic data inclusion in selected studies. Our review holds implications for policymakers, urging the prioritization of mitigation measures such as year-round surveillance and early warning systems. Ultimately, it calls for resource allocation to empower researchers in advancing the understanding of VBD dynamics amidst changing climates.

EXPLORING THE POTENTIAL OF VEGETATION STRUCTURES (VS) AND LANDSCAPE ORIENTATION IN MINIMIZING THERMAL PERFORMANCE IN A TROPICAL CLIMATE: A FIELDWORK STUDY

The study investigates the impact of vegetation structure within two landscape orientations on thermal performance, a critical consideration in urban planning and environmental management. Given the increasing concerns about Urban Heat Islands and global warming, understanding how vegetation influences thermal regulation is essential. This research employed a quantitative method through field measurement studies, focusing on two single-storey semi-detached houses namely East Landscape Orientation (ELO) and West Landscape Orientation (WLO) located at Seri Iskandar, Perak Malaysia. The snowball technique was utilized to select the case study houses, ensuring a targeted approach to understanding the effects. Thermal Microclimate Data Logger and Indoor Air Quality Monitor Data Logger were used to measure environmental parameters for thermal conditions, ensuring consistent, reliable, and comprehensive data for analyzing thermal performance in both outdoor and indoor environments. The research findings reveal that the orientation of a house relative to the sun's path significantly impacts its thermal dynamics, with vegetation playing a crucial role in moderating these effects. ELO houses benefit from milder morning sunlight and effective afternoon cooling, while WLO houses experience higher outdoor and indoor temperatures due to intense sunlight and less efficient transpiration by vegetation. Vegetation on the west side provides shade and reduces heat absorption, improving comfort and energy efficiency. Understanding these dynamics can help homeowners and architects make informed decisions about landscape design, enhancing thermal comfort and energy efficiency in homes. This research also contributes to the expanding knowledge base on sustainable urban design by exploring the use of vegetation to enhance thermal performance.

Topography-driven microclimate gradients shape forest structure, diversity, and composition in a temperate refugialforest.

Macroclimate drives vegetation distributions, but fine-scale topographic variation can generate microclimate refugia for plant persistence in unsuitable areas. However, we lack quantitative descriptions of topography-driven microclimatic variation and how it shapes forest structure, diversity, and composition. We hypothesized that topographic variation and the presence of the forest overstory cause spatiotemporal microclimate variation affecting tree performance, causing forest structure, diversity, and composition to vary with topography and microclimate, and topography and the overstory to buffer microclimate. In a 20.2-ha inventory plot in the North American Great Plains, we censused woody stems ≥1 cm in diameter and collected detailed topographic and microclimatic data. Across 59-m of elevation, microclimate covaried with topography to create a sharp desiccation gradient, and topography and the overstory buffered understory microclimate. The magnitude of microclimatic variation mirrored that of regional-scale variation: with increasing elevation, there was a decrease in soil moisture corresponding to the difference across ~2.1° of longitude along the east-to-west aridity gradient and an increase in air temperature corresponding to the difference across ~2.7° of latitude along the north-to-south gradient. More complex forest structure and higher diversity occurred in moister, less-exposed habitats, and species occupied distinct topographic niches. Our study demonstrates how topographic and microclimatic gradients structure forests in putative climate-change refugia, by revealing ecological processes enabling populations to be maintained during periods of unfavorable macroclimate.

Performance evaluation of MeteoTracker mobile sensor for outdoor applications

Abstract. The morphological complexity of urban environments results in a high spatial and temporal variability of the urban microclimate. The consequent demand for high-resolution atmospheric data remains a challenge for atmospheric research and operational application. The recent widespread availability and increasing adoption of low-cost mobile sensing offer the opportunity to integrate observations from conventional monitoring networks with microclimatic and air pollution data at a finer spatial and temporal scale. So far, the relatively low quality of the measurements and outdoor performance compared to conventional instrumentation has discouraged the full deployment of mobile sensors for routine monitoring. The present study addresses the performance of a commercial mobile sensor, the MeteoTracker (IoTopon Srl), recently launched on the market to quantify the microclimatic characteristics of the outdoor environment. The sensor follows the philosophy of the Internet of Things technology, being low cost, having an automatic data flow via personal smartphones and online data sharing, supporting user-friendly software, and having the potential to be deployed in large quantities. In this paper, the outdoor performance is evaluated through tests aimed at quantifying (i) the intra-sensor variability under similar atmospheric conditions and (ii) the outdoor accuracy compared to a reference weather station under sub-optimal (in a fixed location) and optimal (mobile) sensor usage. Data-driven corrections are developed and successfully applied to improve the MeteoTracker data quality. In particular, a recursive method for the simultaneous improvement of relative humidity, dew point, and humidex index proves to be crucial for increasing the data quality. The results mark an intra-sensor variability of approximately ± 0.5 °C for air temperature and ± 1.2 % for the corrected relative humidity, both of which are within the declared sensor accuracy. The sensor captures the same atmospheric variability as the reference sensor during both fixed and mobile tests, showing positive biases (overestimation) for both variables. Through the mobile test, the outdoor accuracy is observed to be between ± 0.3 to ± 0.5 °C for air temperature and between ± 3 % and ± 5 % for the relative humidity, ranking the MeteoTracker in the real accuracy range of similar commercial sensors from the literature and making it a valid solution for atmospheric monitoring.

An Approach to Assess the Impact of High Biaxial Photovoltaic Trackers on Crop Growth and Yield

The growing need for producing renewable energy such as photovoltaic electricity, and the mitigation of the increasing occurrences of heatwaves and drought affecting annual crops, could be addressed by the installation of agrivoltaic systems. Depending on pedoclimatic context, cultivated crop, solar panels technology and implementation configuration, solar panels shading can improve or reduce crop growth and yields. Among photovoltaic installations, solar trackers might have a high development potential. These photovoltaic panels are mounted on a vertical axis at a 7m height. Thanks to their height, their biaxial moving capacity, their small anchoring surface and their punctual structure making plants design easily adaptable to agricultural constraints, they can fit with all types of agricultural systems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of such trackers on crop growth and yields. For this purpose, a set of 6 different fields crop located in western France were studied. Crop phenology, height and yield were investigated. Results showed a delay in crop development near the trackers that was overcome late in the crop cycle, near harvest. For crop height and crop yield, the results showed important spatial variability but without clear trend related to the tracker shadow. The results are discussed in the light of new perspectives, including the consideration of microclimatic and pedological data to better explore the effects of trackers on plant growth and development, the measurement of morphological and physiological traits of plants, the accounting of a multi-trackers effect implemented on the same site, the temporal dynamics of the effect of a tracker.

Heat water and reptiles – do the hydro‐thermal properties of animals at the source location persist at the translocation site?

AbstractAssisted colonization to locations predicted to remain climatically suitable in the future is increasingly necessary to mitigate climate change effects in ectotherms such as reptiles. However, these future‐suitable locations are often currently cooler than those from which individuals are sourced. While species‐wide paradigms prevail, responses to thermal regimes may vary across a species range, affecting daily activity, colonization and survival in a new environment. Additionally, hydro‐regulatory behaviours are severely understudied, despite the need for understanding trade‐offs between thermoregulation and hydro‐regulation for successful assisted colonization strategies. We investigated behavioural responses to temperature and relative humidity in two latitudinally distinct lineages of pygmy bluetongue (Tiliqua adelaidensis), a cryptic, burrow‐dwelling endangered lizard, in the Mid‐North of South Australia. From spring 2020 to autumn 2021 we took monthly field‐based approach distance and behavioural footage at the source locations and at a southerly translocation site. Behaviours were matched to site‐specific microclimate data prior to principal component and generalized linear mixed model analysis. We found lineage differences in behaviour that persisted after translocation; southern lineage lizards showed significantly less daily activity and were active at lower temperatures and higher humidity than northern lineage lizards. Southern lineage lizards allowed a human observer to approach closer as base‐of‐burrow humidity increased, while northern lineage lizards were quicker to retreat into burrows, at both source and translocation sites. Novel, non‐invasive field‐based activity curves successfully identified lineage differences in humidity and temperature ranges for surface activity, implying environmental preferences of target populations that were reinforced by the models. Specifically, we found evidence for thermoregulation and adaptation/acclimation to higher temperatures in northern lizards and hydroregulation and adaptation/acclimation to cooler, more humid conditions in southern lizards. The limited behavioural plasticity shown by translocated individuals over the season demonstrates the importance of understanding lineage‐level behaviours, hydro‐regulation, and micro‐climate when selecting individuals for assisted colonization.

Use of an automatic fruit-zone cooling system to cope with multiple summer stresses in Sangiovese and Montepulciano grapes.

Grapevines are frequently subjected to heatwaves and limited water availability during ripening. These conditions can have consequences for the physiological health of the vines. Moreover, the situation is often exacerbated by intense solar radiation, resulting in reduced yield due to sunburn and a decline in quality. In light of these challenges, our study aimed to develop a fruit-zone cooling system designed to mitigate grape sunburn damage and improve the microclimate conditions within the vineyard. The system comprises a network of proximal sensors that collect microclimate data from the vineyard and an actuator that activates nebulizers when the temperature exceeds the threshold of 35°C. The research was conducted over two years (2022 and 2023) in Bologna (Italy) using potted Sangiovese and Montepulciano vines. These two vintages were characterized by high temperatures, with varying amounts of rainfall during the test period, significantly impacting the evaporative demand, which was notably higher in 2023. Starting from the veraison stage we compared three treatments: Irrigated control vines (WW); Control vines subjected to 50% water restriction during the month of August (WS); WS vines treated with nebulized water in the bunch area during the stress period (WS+FOG). The application of nebulized water effectively reduced the temperature of both the air around the clusters and the clusters themselves. As we expected, Montepulciano showed better single leaf assimilation rate and stomatal conductance under non-limiting water conditions than Sangiovese while their behavior was unaffected under water-scarce conditions. Importantly, for the first time, we demonstrated that nebulized water positively affected gas exchange in both grape varieties. In addition to this, the vines treated with the misting system exhibited higher productivity compared to WS vines without affecting technological maturity. In the 2023 vintage, the activation of the system prevented the ripening blockage that occurred in Montepulciano under water stress. Regarding the concentration of total anthocyanins, a significant increase in color was observed in WS+FOG treatment, suggesting a predominant role of microclimate on anthocyanin biosynthesis and reduction of oxidative phenomena. In conclusion, the fruit-zone cooling system proved to be an invaluable tool for mitigating the adverse effects of multiple summer stresses.

Microclimate, an important part of ecology and biogeography

AbstractBrief introduction: What are microclimates and why are they important?Microclimate science has developed into a global discipline. Microclimate science is increasingly used to understand and mitigate climate and biodiversity shifts. Here, we provide an overview of the current status of microclimate ecology and biogeography in terrestrial ecosystems, and where this field is heading next.Microclimate investigations in ecology and biogeographyWe highlight the latest research on interactions between microclimates and organisms, including how microclimates influence individuals, and through them populations, communities and entire ecosystems and their processes. We also briefly discuss recent research on how organisms shape microclimates from the tropics to the poles.Microclimate applications in ecosystem managementMicroclimates are also important in ecosystem management under climate change. We showcase new research in microclimate management with examples from biodiversity conservation, forestry and urban ecology. We discuss the importance of microrefugia in conservation and how to promote microclimate heterogeneity.Methods for microclimate scienceWe showcase the recent advances in data acquisition, such as novel field sensors and remote sensing methods. We discuss microclimate modelling, mapping and data processing, including accessibility of modelling tools, advantages of mechanistic and statistical modelling and solutions for computational challenges that have pushed the state‐of‐the‐art of the field.What's next?We identify major knowledge gaps that need to be filled for further advancing microclimate investigations, applications and methods. These gaps include spatiotemporal scaling of microclimate data, mismatches between macroclimate and microclimate in predicting responses of organisms to climate change, and the need for more evidence on the outcomes of microclimate management.

Attenuating Anthropogenic Impact on Subterranean Micro-Climate: Insights from the Biospeleological Station in Postojna Cave

The Biospeleological Station (BS) in Postojna Cave, with a volume of 36,000 m3, has served as an underground biological laboratory since 1931, receiving 100,000 visitors annually. Historical cave micro-climate monitoring was performed in 1933 and 1963, and continuous monitoring of cave air temperature and carbon dioxide concentration at hourly intervals started in 2015. Micro-climatic data collected between 2015 and 2024 has helped us to understand the relationship between natural underground environment and anthropogenic impact, thereby aiding expert recommendations to cave managers for the mitigation of anthropogenic micro-climatic effects. Results strongly support the policy that, during summer, when outdoor temperatures are higher than in the cave, solid metal doors connecting the BS with the rest of the cave (Stara Jama) should be kept open. Such a simple mitigation act helps to decrease anthropogenically increased air temperature and carbon dioxide concentrations, thereby maintaining suitable micro-climatic conditions for the exhibition of cave animals. Closure during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021) resulted in the lowest temperatures recorded. BS visitation increases air temperature by 1 °C, highlighting the need for management strategies to maintain suitable conditions for cave fauna exhibition.

Microclimatic Influences on the Abundance of Three Non-Troglobiont Species

Subterranean environments are often characterized by a natural gradient of microclimatic conditions and trophic resources, showing a higher trophic availability and a lower microclimatic stability in the shallowest area (close to the cave entrance), while the opposite occurs in the deepest sections. The shallowest areas of subterranean environments (e.g., the entrance and twilight zone, Mesovoid Shallow Substratum) act as ecotones between the surface habitats and the deep areas, creating a particular habitat which can be exploited by numerous species with different degrees of adaptation to subterranean environments. Species living in these ecotones may hold a key role in sustaining the entire ecosystem, as they are likely one of the major drivers of allochthonous organic matter. Indeed, these species are usually facultative cave-dwellers, meaning that they are able to exit and forage on the surface. Once these species are back inside the cave, they provide the local community with different typologies of organic matter (e.g., feces, eggs), which represent one of the most important sources of organic carbon. Therefore, studying which ecological features may exert significant effects on the abundance of these species may be of great help in understanding the ecosystem dynamics and the functional role of each species. In this study we analyzed the data collected through a year-round monitoring program, aiming to assess the potential effects that both abiotic and biotic features may have on the abundance of three facultative cave species. We focused on seven caves located in Monte Albo (Sardinia, Italy). The cave environments were divided into 3-meter sectors, and within each cave sector, microclimatic and biological data were seasonally recorded. We focused on the following facultative cave species: the spiders Metellina merianae and Tegenaria sp. and the snail Oxychilus oppressus. Different relationships were observed between the ecological features and the abundance of the three species. The two spiders were more abundant in warmer cave sectors closer to the cave entrance, especially the M. merianae. On the other hand, the snail tended to be more abundant farther from the cave entrance and in more illuminated cave sectors, probably because sunlight promotes the abundance of some of its trophic resources (e.g., lichens, vegetation). Furthermore, O. oppressus was the only species whose abundance and cave distribution was significantly affected by seasonality. This study provides useful and novel information to understand the population dynamics of facultative cave species and their role in subterranean ecosystems.

Impact of water exhaled out by visitors in show caves: a case study from the Moravian Karst (Czech Republic)

The anthropogenic impact of the water and CO2 exhaled by visitors was studied in the show caves of the Moravian Karst (Czech Republic), especially in the Balcarka and Výpustek Caves. Two alternative models based on (1) the known/presumed composition of the breathed air and physical activity of visitors and (2) the detailed monitoring microclimatic data were proposed. The CO2 fluxes of 2.4 × 10−4 and (2.0–3.9) × 10−4 mol person−1 s−1 and the water vapor fluxes of (3.2–8.9) × 10−3 and (0.6–1.2) × 10−2 g person−1 s−1 were found for a slightly increased physical load. The total attendance and cave tour duration were the main driving factors. For the available data on attendance and accessibility periods, the total mass of water vapor exhaled by visitors in all show caves in the Moravian Karst was estimated between 9.6 × 106 and 4.3 × 108 g with significant seasonality. According to the geochemical model, this mass of water is capable of dissolving 1280 to 59,038 g of calcite, assuming a mean winter and summer CO2 concentration in the cave air of 1000 and 3000 ppmv. The larger extent of water condensation can lead to the so-called condensation corrosion, whereas the lower extent of condensation probably causes a recrystallization of calcite on the surface of speleothems and rocks.

Thermal stress and comfort assessment in urban areas using Copernicus Climate Change Service Era 5 reanalysis and collected microclimatic data

In this initial study of a research project, this paper seeks to understand the thermal conditions in the cities of Lisbon and Munich, specifically focusing on Urban Heat Island intensity and on thermal comfort using the Universal Thermal Climate Index modeling data at the Local Climate Zone scale. Based on these datasets, Munich has exhibited more unfavourable thermal conditions than Lisbon. In terms of UHII, both cities have shown that low, medium, and high rise compact urban areas and bare rock or paved areas have the highest values, while sparsely built areas have the lowest. These results differ from the UTCI, which indicates that in Lisbon and Munich, these sparsely built areas as well as areas with low plants and vegetation are the most uncomfortable. In Munich, the population was exposed to very strong heat stress, while Lisbon experienced strong heat stress conditions. Conversely, low, medium, and high rise compact urban areas and densely wooded areas in Munich, and scattered trees areas and large low-rise urban areas in Lisbon, have demonstrated the lowest monthly mean and average maximum values. These results will be further explored in future studies in the city of Lisbon and cross-checked with data obtained from roving missions. This will enable a more detailed temporal and local analysis.

Development of Microclimate Data Recorder on Coffee-Pine Agroforestry Using LoRaWAN and IoT Technology

Microclimate monitoring in agroforestry is very important to understand the complex interactions between vegetation, soil, and the environment. Microclimate parameters include air and soil temperature, air humidity, soil moisture, and light intensity. This research aims to develop a new microclimate data recording system for coffee-pine agroforestry, utilizing LoRaWAN and IoT technology to capture real-time microclimate parameters. Unlike traditional data loggers that require manual download on-site, this innovative system enables instant data download from IoT servers, thereby increasing data efficiency and accessibility. The system proved effective, significantly improving the precision of air temperature and humidity, as well as soil temperature measurements, with an average accuracy of 100%. However, soil moisture and light intensity recorded lower accuracies of 81.23% and 82.56%, respectively, indicating potential areas for future research and system refinement. The system maintains a 15-minute sampling period, aligning with conventional datalogger intervals. This represents an advancement in precision agriculture for microclimate monitoring, enabling the data to be utilized in decision-making for agroforestry management, which involves complex interactions between the local microclimate and the broader ecological system. It underscores the significance of sustainable land use as a response to global climate change.

Relationship among thermal environment, stage of lactation, body characteristics, yield and milk constituents of dairy Gyr cows managed on pasture.

Our aims were to evaluate changes in body characteristics, milk yield and milk constituents as well as to determine the relationship between the thermal environment and production characteristics during the first lactation of dairy Gyr cows managed on pasture. Between 2013 and 2015, forty-five primiparous dairy Gyr cows were evaluated from prepartum to 10 months of lactation in Southeast of Brazil. Body weight, body condition score (BCS), subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT), milk yield (305 d), and milk constituents were collected monthly and progesterone was collected weekly. Additionally, we determined the temperature humidity index (THI) based on microclimate data. Overall, the cows lost body weight until six months of lactation and there was a progressive decrease in BCS, SFT, milk yield and milk lactose as the months in lactation progressed. In contrast, there was an increase in milk fat, milk protein and milk solids. The thermal environment did not pose a consistent heat challenge, nevertheless, we found a positive correlation between the average THI two days before milk collection with milk yield, fat and lactose contents, but in contrast a negative correlation was found with total solids and protein. In conclusion, the THI and months of lactation affected the yield and constituents of milk. However, more studies are necessary to understand the impacts of body characteristics and thermal environment on yield and milk constituents throughout the productive life of Gyr dairy cows.

Imputation of missing microclimate data of coffee-pine agroforestry with machine learning

This research presents a comprehensive analysis of various imputation methods for addressing missing microclimate data in the context of coffee-pine agroforestry land in UB Forest. Utilizing Big data and Machine learning methods, the research evaluates the effectiveness of imputation missing microclimate data with Interpolation, Shifted Interpolation, K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), and Linear Regression methods across multiple time frames - 6 hours, daily, weekly, and monthly. The performance of these methods is meticulously assessed using four key evaluation metrics Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Mean Squared Error (MSE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). The results indicate that Linear Regression consistently outperforms other methods across all time frames, demonstrating the lowest error rates in terms of MAE, MSE, RMSE, and MAPE. This finding underscores the robustness and precision of Linear Regression in handling the variability inherent in microclimate data within agroforestry systems. The research highlights the critical role of accurate data imputation in agroforestry research and points towards the potential of machine learning techniques in advancing environmental data analysis. The insights gained from this research contribute significantly to the field of environmental science, offering a reliable methodological approach for enhancing the accuracy of microclimate models in agroforestry, thereby facilitating informed decision-making for sustainable ecosystem management.