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Cited by 1,129Urban Heat Island MitigationThermoregulation and physiological responsesClimate Change and Health Impacts

Comparison of UTCI to selected thermal indices

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Blazejczyk, Krzysztof, Epstein, Yoram, Jendritzky, Gerd, Staiger, Henning, Tinz, Birger·2012·International Journal of Biometeorology
DOI 10.1007/s00484-011-0453-2PMC PMC3337419
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Abstract

Over the past century more than 100 indices have been developed and used to assess bioclimatic conditions for human beings. The majority of these indices are used sporadically or for specific purposes. Some are based on generalized results of measurements (wind chill, cooling power, wet bulb temperature) and some on the empirically observed reactions of the human body to thermal stress (physiological strain, effective temperature). Those indices that are based on human heat balance considerations are referred to as "rational indices". Several simple human heat balance models are known and are used in research and practice. This paper presents a comparative analysis of the newly developed Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), and some of the more prevalent thermal indices. The analysis is based on three groups of data: global data-set, synoptic datasets from Europe, and local scale data from special measurement campaigns of COST Action 730. We found the present indices to express bioclimatic conditions reasonably only under specific meteorological situations, while the UTCI represents specific climates, weather, and locations much better. Furthermore, similar to the human body, the UTCI is very sensitive to changes in ambient stimuli: temperature, solar radiation, wind and humidity. UTCI depicts temporal variability of thermal conditions better than other indices. The UTCI scale is able to express even slight differences in the intensity of meteorological stimuli.

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Authors
Blazejczyk, K., Epstein, Y., Jendritzky, G., Staiger, H., & Tinz, B.
Affiliations
  • Tel Aviv University (IL)
  • University of Freiburg (DE)
  • Deutscher Wetterdienst (DE)
ORCID
Venue
International Journal of Biometeorology
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2011-05-26
Volume
56
Issue
3
Pages
515-535
ISSN
  • 0020-7128 (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-1254
DOI
10.1007/s00484-011-0453-2
PMC
PMC3337419
OpenAlex
W1997181432
Cited by
1,129
References
0
Citations by year
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FWCI
15.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc
Locations
  • International Journal of Biometeorology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Urban Heat Island Mitigation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Climate Change and Health Impacts
Keywords
Universal Thermal Climate Index, thermal comfort index, bioclimatic conditions, human heat balance, effective temperature, physiological strain, cooling power, wind chill, wet-bulb temperature, solar radiation, wind speed, humidity
MeSH terms
Body Temperature Regulation, Climate, Humans, Meteorological Concepts, Models, Biological, Stress, Physiological, Thermosensing, Databases, Factual

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