Dusan Fiala
Articles
Geographia Polonica (2015) vol. 88, iss. 3, pp. 439-453 | 
Full text
doi: https://doi.org/GPol.0027
Abstract
This paper presents an application of the Universal Thermal Climate Index UTCI to studies of regional variability in human-biometeorological conditions. The variability in question was assessed by reference to selected meteorological stations representing Central and Southern Europe, i.e. Kołobrzeg, Warsaw and Świeradów (in Poland), Prague, Budapest, Ljubljana, Milan, Rome and Athens, with the bioclimatic features characterising these localities being presented against the background of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification. In line with that classification, the first five stations are found to represent the cold climate zones (Dfb, Dfc). The last four stations are in turn located in the temperate climate zones (Cfa, Cfb, Csa). Seasonal changes in UTCI values and the frequency of occurrence of UTCI categories are discussed. Significant regional differences in bioclimatic characteristics were found between the stations representing various types of climate. While the highest summer values for UTCI are very similar at all stations (39-42°C), the frequency of occurrence of days with at least strong heat stress (SHS) varied from 2% at the coastal station of Kołobrzeg in Poland to more than 50% at the Milan, Rome and Athens stations. In winter the lowest UTCI values are much differentiated regionally, from -54°C at the mountain station in Świeradów, Poland,to -22°C in Rome. In the zone of cold climate, the frequency of occurrence of days with at least strong coldstress (SCS) is >40%, while in the temperate climates, strong cold stress is characteristic of less than 2% of winter days.
Keywords: human bioclimate, Universal Thermal Climate Index, Köppen-Geiger climate classification, seasonal and regional variability of bioclimate
[k.blaz@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland
[j.bar@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland
, University of Freiburg Chair of Meteorology and Climatology Werthmannstraße 10, 79085 Freiburg: Germany
[anna@blazejczyk.eu], Laboratory of Bioclimatology and Environmental Ergonomics Łukowska 17/55, 04-133 Warsaw: Poland
[broede@ifado.de], Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo) Ardeystr 67, D-44139 Dortmund: Germany
, ErgonSim-Comfort Energy Efficiency Holderbuschweg 47, D-70563 Stuttgart: Germany
UTCI - validation and practical application to the assessment of urban outdoor thermal comfort
Geographia Polonica (2013) vol. 86, iss. 1, pp. 11-20 | Full text
doi: https://doi.org/GPol.2013.2
Abstract
We introduce here the structure and elements to the recently-developed Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), aswell as operational procedure relating to it. This is then followed by a demonstration of how the UTCI can be applied tobioclimatic surveys, using data from a study carried out in the sub-tropical urban area of Curitiba, Brazil. The empiricaldata from that were found to confirm the assumptions behind the UTCI model, which also supplied adequate predictionsof pedestrians’ behaviour as regards clothing and thermal sensation. Finally, in the context of urban planning, we showthat the UTCI captures the influence of the design characteristics of streets and public spaces on urban microclimate,and its impact on pedestrian thermal comfort.
Keywords: human biometeorology, climate index, model, urban planning
[broede@ifado.de], Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo) Ardeystr 67, D-44139 Dortmund: Germany
, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná Departamento de Construção Civil Campus Curitiba – Sede Ecoville, Rua Deputado Heitor de Alencar Furtado, 4900, 81280-340 Curitiba – PR: Brazil
, ErgonSim-Comfort Energy Efficiency Holderbuschweg 47, D-70563 Stuttgart: Germany
An introduction to the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI)
Geographia Polonica (2013) vol. 86, iss. 1, pp. 5-10 | Full text
doi: https://doi.org/GPol.2013.1
Abstract
The assessment of the thermal environment is one of the main issues in bioclimatic research, and more than 100 simple bioclimaticindices have thus far been developed to facilitate it. However, most of these indices have proved to be of limited applicability,and do not portray the actual impacts of thermal conditions on human beings. Indices derived from human heatbalancemodels (one- or two-node) have been found to offer a better representation of the environmental impact in questionthan do simple ones. Indeed, the new generation of multi-node models for human heat balance do allow full account to betaken of heat transfer and exchange, both within the human body and between the body surface and the surrounding airlayer. In this paper, it is essential background information regarding the newly-developed Universal Thermal Climate IndexUTCI that is presented, this in fact deriving from the Fiala multi-node model of human heatbalance. The UTCI is definedas the air temperature (Ta) of the reference condition causing the same model response as actual conditions. UTCI wasdeveloped in 2009 by virtue of international co-operation between leading experts in the areas of human thermophysiology,physiological modelling, meteorology and climatology. The necessary research for this had been conducted within theframework of a special commission of the International Society of Biometeorology (ISB) and European COST Action 730.
Keywords: UTCI, human heat balance, multi-node model, bioclimatic index, International Society of Biometeorology, COST Action 730
[k.blaz@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland
, University of Freiburg Chair of Meteorology and Climatology Werthmannstraße 10, 79085 Freiburg: Germany
[broede@ifado.de], Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo) Ardeystr 67, D-44139 Dortmund: Germany
, ErgonSim-Comfort Energy Efficiency Holderbuschweg 47, D-70563 Stuttgart: Germany
, Empa – a Research Institute of the ETH Domain Laboratory for Physiology and Protection Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014 St. Gallen: Switzerland;