Geographia Polonica (2007) vol. 80, iss. 1
Assessment of bioclimatic differentiation of Poland based on the human heat balance
Geographia Polonica (2007) vol. 80, iss. 1, pp. 63-82 | 
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Abstract
The paper presents general features of the bioclimate of Poland and discusses theirseasonal and spatial differentiation. Special attention is paid to biothermal indices (PhysiologicalSubjective Temperature—PST, Physiological Strain—PhS, Physiological Equivalent Temperature—PET and Weather Suitability Index—WSI) derived from the human heat balance modelsMENEX_2005 and MEMI. Climatic and biothermal indices were used to distinguish eight bioclimaticregions in Poland. WSI was also applied in defining bioclimatic weather seasons, and PETto illustrate seasonal differentiation in biothermal conditions over Polish territory. The presentresults augment bioclimatic research with a detailed analysis of physiologically significant interactionsbetween humankind and the environment.
Keywords: bioclimate, bioclimatic regionalization, biothermal indices (PST, PhS, PET and WSI), human heat balance
[k.blaz@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland
[andreas.matzarakis@dwd.de]