Feature Papers in Biometeorology

A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Biometeorology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 June 2023) | Viewed by 4602

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Environmental Meteorology, University of Freiburg, D-79085 Freiburg, Germany
2. Research Centre Human Biometeorology, Deutscher Wetterdienst, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
Interests: human biometeorology; urban bioclimatology; climate and tourism; climate impact research
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Guest Editor
WG Environmental Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Interests: annoyance assessment; odour emission; determination of odour exposure
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Guest Editors are inviting submissions for a Special Issue that addresses innovative research, methodological approaches, applications and impactful research in the interdisciplinary field of biometeorology. Biometeorology plays an important role not only in determining the effect on human-developed or installed infrastructures but also in the quantification of the effect of weather, climate and climate change. This is needed not only for the development of strategies and possibilities in the era of climate change but also for the improvement of daily quality of life.

In particular, we are seeking feature papers that consider the following issues:

  1. Building upon fundamental research in the application of new technologies and artificial intelligence in all biometeorological fields (including but not limited to those pertaining to human factors, forests, agriculture, phenology, animals).
  2. Adjoining the emerging development and transformation of applied methods that are based upon simple approaches and indices through new developments in data acquisition/analysis, and statistical investigation methodologies that also relate to artificial intelligence practices.
  3. Studies focusing on micro-scales and living areas such as cities, whereby the open issue in biometeorology aids (and substantiates) the fundamental connection of processes and climate characteristics at the micro-scale. In addition, those recognizing relevant needs for new techniques in the protection of the environment that will ultimately improve the quality of life in cities. As a result, cities are thus understood as unerringly associated elements to all interconnected fields of biometeorology, including when facing challenges which are increasingly targeting urban fabrics.
  4. Tackling biometeorological interactions that take place at different scales while still recognizing the cause-and-effect interconnection between said scales. Such approaches have been developing over the past several decades, with the resultant discussion leading to new approaches, including in biometeorology, to aid towards the pursuit of solutions. Such solutions are those that link different spatial resolutions, and can moreover be reflected within modelling methodologies and outputs.
  5. Exploring the interlaced relationships between biometeorology and social factors. More specifically, those which approach biometeorology as an interdisciplinary science with its robust associations to the evolving social dimension and/or patterns of life on Earth. Departing only from the perspective of natural sciences, these approaches and solutions can only partly respond to specific issues. For this reason, more holistic and synergetic attitudes are those which can fully explore such facets and explanations, and finally enable the path towards that of application.
  6. Investigations into climate services—those which are supplemented not only by good knowledge of data analysis, but also with appropriate visualization and communication techniques for different biometeorological applications that are tailored for respective audiences, irrespective of whether the timeframe covers centuries or daily life.
  7. Studies which acknowledge the capacity of biometeorology to serve as a decision factor for climate change understanding and action (theoretical and/or practical), whereby the protection of crucial and susceptible human infrastructure and life are embraced in the development of mitigation and adaptation strategies and/or measures within the entire scope of biometeorology.

Prof. Dr. Andreas Matzarakis
Prof. Dr. Günther Schauberger
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Atmosphere is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biometeorology
  • climate impact research
  • adaptation possibilities
  • bioclimate services
  • scale connections

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 7705 KiB  
Article
Diurnal Outdoor Thermal Comfort Mapping through Envi-Met Simulations, Remotely Sensed and In Situ Measurements
by Edoardo Fiorillo, Lorenzo Brilli, Federico Carotenuto, Letizia Cremonini, Beniamino Gioli, Tommaso Giordano and Marianna Nardino
Atmosphere 2023, 14(4), 641; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14040641 - 29 Mar 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2463
Abstract
Physiological equivalent temperature (PET) is one of most used indices for outdoor human well-being evaluation; its determination is particularly helpful for adaptation strategies in built-up areas affected by the urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon. In this work, we presented a methodology to compute [...] Read more.
Physiological equivalent temperature (PET) is one of most used indices for outdoor human well-being evaluation; its determination is particularly helpful for adaptation strategies in built-up areas affected by the urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon. In this work, we presented a methodology to compute spatially and temporally resolved PET values during a heatwave at the city level, based on a combination of satellite products, in situ measurements and Envi-met model runs upscaled from specific test areas to the broader city. The method exploits the ECOSTRESS sensor to detect surface thermal patterns at different diurnal times by developing an hourly based index called hUHTI (hourly urban heatwave thermal index) that serves as a proxy. A case study on Prato (Italy) municipality during the 2021 summer heatwave events is presented. Based on the available satellite products, a set of six hourly diurnal PET maps at 10 m spatial resolution were derived and daytime outdoor thermal patterns and trends were investigated according to land cover. hUHTI index resulted a more suitable tool as PET proxy compared to the sole ECOSTRESS land surface temperature (LST) product, especially for morning and evening times. Hourly PET maps were summarized by the use of an average exceedance map providing public administrations and stakeholders a synthetic tool for urban regeneration purposes at city scale. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Biometeorology)
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13 pages, 2338 KiB  
Article
Skin Protective Measures Taken during the 2017 North American Solar Eclipse in Georgia
by Alan E. Stewart and Michael G. Kimlin
Atmosphere 2022, 13(11), 1888; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13111888 - 11 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1057
Abstract
A total solar eclipse occurred over North America on 21 August 2017 and was a much-publicized astronomical event whose observance depended upon favorable weather. The eclipse also was a biometeorological event because people needed to both protect their both eyes and skin from [...] Read more.
A total solar eclipse occurred over North America on 21 August 2017 and was a much-publicized astronomical event whose observance depended upon favorable weather. The eclipse also was a biometeorological event because people needed to both protect their both eyes and skin from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. Although much attention was devoted in the media to the visual experience of the eclipse and to eye protection, skin protection received almost no emphasis. Thus, the authors surveyed 1014 university students in Athens, Georgia shortly after the eclipse event about their skin protective behaviors. Overall, people observed the eclipse outside for approximately one hour. The time spent outside differed significantly according to peoples’ self-reported skin response to the sun. The respondents also indicated that that they observed the eclipse for significantly longer periods of time than would be needed for them to receive a sunburn. Other than wearing sunglasses and using eclipse glasses, the most frequent skin protective measures were to seek shade and to wear short-sleeve shirts. Wearing additional clothing, hats, or any type of sunscreen were comparatively infrequent. We discussed the need for safeguarding the skin because every sunburn event at younger ages can increase the likelihood of skin cancers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Biometeorology)
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