Editorial: Urban climate and heat stress - Part 1

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Editorial: Urban climate and heat stress – Part 2

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Spatial analysis of hospital admissions for respiratory diseases during summer months in Berlin taking bioclimatic and socio-economic aspects into account

International environmental health studies of the past years have discussed the impacts of heat stress on human health. In particular, respiratory morbidity has shown significant heat effects in European cities. Metropolitan areas such as Berlin are characterised by an intra-urban spatial variability in socio-economic and bioclimatic conditions that is assumed to result in spatial differences in respiratory health risks. In essence, the elderly, children and people with chronic diseases suffer from heat stress. A spatial epidemiological approach was chosen to map elevated risks for hospital admissions among > 64-year-olds with respiratory diseases (RD) during the summer months (June–September) from 2000 to 2009 and to link respiratory health risks to bioclimatic and socio-economic conditions in Berlin. The study aims to detect significant clusters with elevated relative risks for hospital admissions among > 64-year-olds with RD in due consideration of socio-economic conditions as a covariate for health outcomes. The findings from the purely spatial analysis show significant intra-urban disparities in the relative risks for hospital admissions among > 64-year-olds with RD. The highest relative risks within significant clusters were basically detected in the north-western and south-eastern city centre based on the study period 2000–2009 and also during the hot months of July and August in 2003 and 2006. The correlation analysis depicted significantly positive relationships between relative risks for hospital admissions among > 64-year-olds with RD and population density, socio-economic conditions and the annual mean number of days with heat loads on the basis of the period 1971–2000 and the average of the periods 1971–2000 and 2021–2050 at the zip code level in Berlin. To specifically implement health care intervention and prevention strategies into urban planning and to apply a directed practice of telemedicine for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, spatial epidemiological analyses are an important approach to identifying heat-vulnerable urban areas

Four Types of Knowledge Integration Management in Interdisciplinary Research on Cities and the Environment

This article provides an overview on different types of managing interdisciplinary knowledge integration in environmental urban research projects: 1. synthesis-then , 2. synthesis-online , 3. synthesis-first , 4. synthesis-as contracted . We present two projects in the context of urban ecology, in order to discuss two types of integration management in more detail. In the synthesis-first type of project management, interdisciplinary knowledge integration is organized through syntheses groups that represent the relevant perspectives on a case. We introduce synthesis-first using the Zurich North case study as an example. In the synthesis-online type of project management, interdisciplinary knowledge integration is wanted but occurs only occasionally. As an example, we present the interdisciplinary Berlin project on urban ecology. This article argues that knowledge integration in general requires sufficient management and an audience for the products of knowledge integration (scientific or not). We emphasize the importance of boundary objects for interdisciplinary knowledge integration in general and for urban ecology in particular

Indoor heat stress: An assessment of human bioclimate using the UTCI in different buildings in Berlin

Because humans spend most of their time indoors and can be negatively affected by unfavourable thermal environ­ments, the assessment of indoor heat stress is an important issue for public health care. To characterise indoor human bioclimate, the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) was used. UTCI values were calculated from meas­urements of air temperature and air humidity in 16 rooms in Berlin during the summer months of 2011 and 2012. A constant air velocity of approximately 0.3 m/s and a metabolic heat production of 135 W/m2 were assumed. The mean radiant temperature was set to the air temperature. Because the mean air humidity was below or slightly above 50 %, the calculated UTCI values were mostly lower than the air temperatures. In summer 2012, the mean UTCI values ranged from 22.2 °C to 27.1 °C, and the maximum UTCI values ranged from 24.7 °C to 35.6 °C. Whereas only minor differences were found between rooms located within comparable buildings in different districts of Berlin, pronounced variations of the UTCI values were detected in two adjoining buildings, with differences up to 8.6 K for the daily minimum, 9.8 K for the daily mean and 12.2 K for the daily maximum UTCI between differ­ent rooms. These variations can be explained by differences in the structures of the two buildings, floor level and aspect. The UTCI values were also used to determine the occurrence of moderate and strong heat stress. Only two rooms showed no thermal stress, while strong heat stress was detected in three rooms

Veränderungen in der Landwirtschaft der Vorkarpaten in der Oblast Lwiw (Westukraine) seit der Unabhängigkeit 1991

In der seit 1991 unabhängigen Ukraine ist die Agrarproduktion stark gesunken. Diese Entwicklung wird für ein Gebiet in den ukrainischen Vorkarpaten in der Oblast Lwiw anhand von Befragungen und Satellitendaten dargestellt. Viele landwirtschaftliche Betriebe leiden unter großer Finanznot, wodurch oft der nötigste Input nicht beschafft werden kann, die Erträge sinken und ein "Teufelskreis" entsteht. Da in den meisten Betrieben kein Gehalt ausgezahlt wird, leben die Menschen auf dem Land überwiegend von der privaten Landwirtschaft, die fast ausschließlich zur Eigenversorgung betrieben wird. Durch die existenziellen Probleme wird die langfristige Erhaltung der Bodenfruchtbarkeit wenig beachtet, weswegen die Böden zunehmend an Nährstoffen verarmen und Probleme der Bodenerosion zunehmen. Durch die Analyse von Landsat-TM-Daten war es möglich, die räumlichen Auswirkungen aufzuzeigen. Deutlich konnte eine beginnende Extensivierung erkannt werden, die sich in der Umwandlung von Ackerflächen in Grünland wie auch einem Brachfallen von landwirtschaftlicher Fläche äußert. Die Extensivierung findet dabei überwiegend in Ungunstlagen statt, in Gunstlagen nimmt der Ackerbau sogar leicht zu. Auch um die Städte herum gibt es eine deutliche Zunahme der Ackerfläche, was die Intensivierung des Gartenbaus der Stadtbevölkerung belegt.In Ukraine, which became independent in 1991, agricultural production heavily declined. The resulting situation is described by surveys and satellite data for an area in the Ukrainian Pre- carpathians in the administrative district of Lviv. Many agricultural enterprises suffer from financial neediness, this is why often bare necessities of input can not be obtained, yields decline and a "vicious circle" arises. Because in most of the enterprises no salary is paid, rural population live predominantly of private agriculture, which nearly exclusively is carried out for personal use. Due to existential problems little attention is paid to longerterm preservation of soil fertility, this is the reason why soils more and more become leached and eroded. By means of Landsat TM data it was possible to show some physical consequences. A beginning extensification was clearly located, which is expressed by conversion of arable land to pasture and meadows as well as by leaving fallow agricultural land. Extensification predominantly occur in unfavorable areas, in favorable areas cropping even increased. A clear increase of arable land as well is located around cities, which is indicating an intensification of horticulture of the urban population

Perception of Climate Change in a Pacific Island City

According to the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 2007) small island states (SIS) will be severely affected by global climate change. Especially a rising sea level, increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and rising temperature will have serious impact on life on small islands in tropical regions. SIS hardly contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases, therefore their main challenge will be focussing on adaptation to prevent further damages

Seasonal variations of all-cause and cause-specific mortality by age, gender, and socioeconomic condition in urban and rural areas of Bangladesh

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mortality exhibits seasonal variations, which to a certain extent can be considered as mid-to long-term influences of meteorological conditions. In addition to atmospheric effects, the seasonal pattern of mortality is shaped by non-atmospheric determinants such as environmental conditions or socioeconomic status. Understanding the influence of season and other factors is essential when seeking to implement effective public health measures. The pressures of climate change make an understanding of the interdependencies between season, climate and health especially important.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study investigated daily death counts collected within the Sample Vital Registration System (VSRS) established by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). The sample was stratified by location (urban vs. rural), gender and socioeconomic status. Furthermore, seasonality was analyzed for all-cause mortality, and several cause-specific mortalities. Daily deviation from average mortality was calculated and seasonal fluctuations were elaborated using non parametric spline smoothing. A seasonality index for each year of life was calculated in order to assess the age-dependency of seasonal effects.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found distinctive seasonal variations of mortality with generally higher levels during the cold season. To some extent, a rudimentary secondary summer maximum could be observed. The degree and shape of seasonality changed with the cause of death as well as with location, gender, and SES and was strongly age-dependent. Urban areas were seen to be facing an increased summer mortality peak, particularly in terms of cardiovascular mortality. Generally, children and the elderly faced stronger seasonal effects than youths and young adults.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study clearly demonstrated the complex and dynamic nature of seasonal impacts on mortality. The modifying effect of spatial and population characteristics were highlighted. While tropical regions have been, and still are, associated with a marked excess of mortality in summer, only a weakly pronounced secondary summer peak could be observed for Bangladesh, possibly due to the reduced incidence of diarrhoea-related fatalities. These findings suggest that Bangladesh is undergoing an epidemiological transition from summer to winter excess mortality, as a consequence of changes in socioeconomic conditions and health care provision.</p