Heat waves analysis and the heat load of agricultural workers during the heat waves in 2017 (using index WBGT)

Workers in agriculture are regularly exposed to heat stress during summer, which can affect reduced labour productivity and income losses. Air temperatures in Slovenia have been rising in recent decades, and climate change projections show that this trend will continue along with an increase in the number of days with heat stress risk. Changes in the number of heat waves in central and south-western Slovenia for the period 1961–2017 were analysed as well as the risk of the heat stress for workers during heat waves in the year 2017. The heat wave occurs if the temperature threshold for the average daily temperature is reached or exceeded on at least three consecutive days, with the threshold for the mild continental climate (Ljubljana) 24 °C and the mild Submediterranean climate (Bilje) 25 °C. The WBGT (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature) index, assessing the risk of heat stress, was calculated from relative humidity and air temperatures. At both locations, the number of days in heat waves increased as well as their intensity, average daily air temperatures were significantly higher than in the first half of the considered period. The time span, in which the heat waves occur, also extended, as until 1990 they did not appear in early June and late August, as in recent years. The calculated values of the WBGT show that for most days in the heat waves in 2017 in Ljubljana and Bilje, the WBGT 23 °C threshold was exceeded practically all day, which shows a high level of heat stress risk for physically intense work. In the case of exceeded WBGT reference values, employers or farmers themselves should take actions to reduce the risk of heat stress

Spatio-temporal assessment of beech growth in relation to climate extremes in Slovenia – An integrated approach using remote sensing and tree-ring data

Climate change is predicted to affect tree growth due to increased frequency and intensity of extreme events such as ice storms, droughts and heatwaves. Yet, there is still a lot of uncertainty on how trees respond to an increase in frequency of extreme events. Use of both ground-based wood increment (i.e. ring width) and remotely sensed data (i.e. vegetation indices) can be used to scale-up ground measurements, where there is a link between the two, but this has only been demonstrated in a few studies. We used tree-ring data together with crown features derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) to assess the effect of extreme climate events on the growth of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Slovenia. We found evidence that years with climate extremes during the growing season (drought, high temperatures) had a lower ring width index (RWI) but we could not find such evidence for the remotely sensed EVI (Enhanced Vegetation Index). However, when assessing specific events where leaf burning or wilting has been reported (e.g. August 2011) we did see large EVI anomalies. This implies that the impact of drought or heatwave events cannot be captured by EVI anomalies until physical damage on the canopy is caused. This also means that upscaling the effect of climate extremes on RWI by using EVI anomalies is not straightforward. An exception is the 2014 ice storm that caused a large decline in both RWI and EVI. Extreme climatic parameters explained just a small part of the variation in both RWI and EVI by, which could indicate an effect of other climate variables (e.g. late frost) or biotic stressors such as insect outbreaks. Furthermore, we found that RWI was lower in the year after a climate extreme occurred in the late summer. Most likely due to the gradual increase in temperature and more frequent drought we found negative trends in RWI and EVI. EVI maps could indicate where beech is sensitive to climate changes and could be used for planning mitigation interventions. Logical next steps should focus on a tree-based understanding of the short -and long-term effects of climate extremes on tree growth and survival, taking into account differential carbon allocation to the crown (EVI) and to wood-based variables. This research highlights the value of an integrated approach for upscaling tree-based knowledge to the forest level

The effect of hot days on occupational heat stress in the manufacturing industry: implications for workers' well-being and productivity

Climate change is expected to exacerbate heat stress at the workplace in temperate regions, such as Slovenia. It is therefore of paramount importance to study present and future summer heat conditions and analyze the impact of heat on workers. A set of climate indices based on summer mean (Tmean) and maximum (Tmax) air temperatures, such as the number of hot days (HD: Tmax above 30 °C), and Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) were used to account for heat conditions in Slovenia at six locations in the period 1981–2010. Observed trends (1961–2011) of Tmean and Tmax in July were positive, being larger in the eastern part of the country. Climate change projections showed an increase up to 4.5 °C for mean temperature and 35 days for HD by the end of the twenty-first century under the high emission scenario. The increase in WBGT was smaller, although sufficiently high to increase the frequency of days with a high risk of heat stress up to an average of a third of the summer days. A case study performed at a Slovenian automobile parts manufacturing plant revealed non-optimal working conditions during summer 2016 (WBGT mainly between 20 and 25 °C). A survey conducted on 400 workers revealed that 96% perceived the temperature conditions as unsuitable, and 56% experienced headaches and fatigue. Given these conditions and climate change projections, the escalating problem of heat is worrisome. The European Commission initiated a program of research within the Horizon 2020 program to develop a heat warning system for European workers and employers, which will incorporate case-specific solutions to mitigate heat stress.The work was supported by the European Union Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Action (Project number 668786: HEATSHIELD)

Fenologija razvoja listov navadne bukve (Fagus sylvatica) na rastišču v Ljubljani v letu 2020

In spring of 2020 we observed leaf phenology in mature European beech (Fagus sylvatica) trees in Tivoli, Rožnik and Šišenski hrib Landscape Park in Ljubljana, Slovenia (46.05°N, 14.49°E, 310 m a. s. l.). A group of 11 trees was selected for daily monitoring of leaf development. We recorded seven phases from dormant buds, through leaf unfolding till development of mature leaves. At the same time, photos were taken to illustrate the leaf development. First developing leaves were observed on 4 April in one tree. General leaf unfolding, as defined by International Phenological Gardens (IPG), was observed in different trees between 7 and 25 April 2020. The occurrence and duration of individual phases of leaf development showed great variation within and between trees. General leaf unfolding of the tree included in the long-term monitoring program of the Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia (ARSO) occurred on DOY 105 (14 April 2020), which is 4 days earlier than long-term average of the same tree/location, and this is ascribed to above average temperatures in the winter of 2019/2020.V Krajinskem parku Tivoli, Rožnik in Šišenski hrib v Ljubljani (46,05°S, 14,49°V, 310 m n. m.) smo spomladi leta 2020 opazovali fenologijo razvoja listov odraslih dreves navadne bukve ( Fagus sylvatica ). Izbrali smo skupino enajstih dreves za dnevno opazovanje, beleženje in fotografiranje razvoja listov. Razlikovali smo sedem faz od mirujo - čih brstov, preko različnih faz olistanja do zrelih listov. Prve razvijajoče se liste smo na enem drevesu opazili 4. aprila 2020. Fazo splošnega olistanja, kot jo določa metodologija Mednarodnih fenoloških vrtov, smo pri različnih drevesih beležili od 7. do 25. aprila 2020. Pri nastopu in trajanju različnih faz razvoja listov smo zabeležili velike razlike znotraj posameznega drevesa in med drevesi. Splošno olistanje pri drevesu, ki ga dolgotrajno opazuje Agencija RS za okolje (ARSO), je nastopilo na zaporedni dan 105 (14. aprila 2020), kar je 4 dni prej kot kaže dolgoletno povprečje za isto drevo/lokacijo. Slednje pripisujemo nadpovprečno visokim temperaturam v zimi 2019/202

LITTER DECOMPOSITION IN SOILS OF OVERGROWN GRASSLANDS IN DEPENDANCE OF TEMPERATURE

The aim of the study was to examine whether the effect of projected temperature rises due to the global climate change could accelerate plant litter decomposition in soils of overgrown grasslands. The experiment was carried out under natural conditions at the locations of Bohinj-Polje and Uskovnica with similar environmental conditions (precipitation, parent material and soil development, plant communities) and the difference in air temperatures. The average difference in monthly air temperatures during our study were higher in Bohinj for 4.4 °C (± 1.5 °C) than in Uskovnica. Nylon mesh bags with mixed plant litter from both locations were placed into the Of horizon of the soil profiles at both locations in autumn 2007. The litter bags were sampled successively at 4 sampling times until May 2009 in 5 replicates. The litter degradation, expressed as mass loss, was throughout our study 57.1 ± 1.2 % (0 - 526 days) in Bohinj, 57.3 ± 2.6 % (0 - 555 days) at Uskovnica. No statistically significant differences in litter decomposition rate and seasonal pattern of mass loss was found between the sites. The dynamics of the total content of cellulose and lignin, Corg and N and their soluble forms (DOC and DON) were similar between the sites as well. The lignin content in the plant material did not statistically significantly change during the experiment. The results of our experiment did not confirm the effect of the difference in average air temperature on decomposition rate decreases. The results did not confirm any effect from the difference in the average monthly air temperature between the sites on the plant litter decomposition in our study

Variabilnost jesenske listne fenologije med drevesi navadne bukve (Fagus sylvatica) na rastišču v Ljubljani

Temporal variability of leaf senescence (autumn phenology) was observed in 2020 in 11 European beech (Fagus sylvatica) trees in Tivoli, Rožnik and Šišenski hrib Landscape Park in Ljubljana, Slovenia, previously this year observed also for spring phenology. General leaf colouring (LC) BBCH94 occurred, between 19 and 24 October 2020, with lower inter-individual variability than that of leaf unfolding (LU), BBCH11. The trees had active leaves (LC-LU) between 177 and 199 days. In only 3 trees total leaf fall (LF), BBCH97, occurred before 19 November 2020. LC of the tree included in the long-term monitoring program of the Slovenian Environment Agency ARSO occurred on 24 October 2020. This is 7 days later than 65-year average of the same tree/location and is ascribed to weather conditions. Investigation of tree tissues showed that the width of the last formed tree-ring in the wood varied between 0.39 and 9.61 mm and in phloem between 0.09 and 0.26 mm and that the tissues reflect health condition of the trees.V letu 2020 smo spremljali jesensko fenologijo listov 11 dreves evropske bukve (Fagus sylvatica) v Krajinskem parku Tivoli, Rožnik in Šišenski hrib v Ljubljani, Slovenija. Pri istih drevesih smo spomladi spremljali proces olistanja. Splošno obarvanje listov (LC), BBCH94, je nastopilo med 19. in 24. oktobrom 2020, v ožjem časovnem intervalu kot spomladansko olistanje (LU), BBCH11. Drevesa so imela aktivne liste (LC-LU) od 177 do 199 dni. Samo s 3 dreves je do 19. novembra 2020 odpadlo vse listje (LF), BBCH97. Pri drevesu, ki je vključeno v dolgoletni program spremljanja fenologije listov Agencije Republike Slovenije za okolje ARSO, je obarvanje listov nastopilo 24. oktobra 2020, kar je za 7 dni kasneje od 65-letnega povprečja za isto drevo / lokacijo. Raziskave drevesnih tkiv so pokazale, da je znašala širina zadnje branike v lesu med 0,39 in 9,61 mm in v floemu med 0,09 in 0,26 mm in da tkiva nakazujejo zdravstveno stanje dreves