The diploma thesis provides special studies from the human bioclimatology sector. Ten year sequences (2001-2010) of many meteorological components are processed here. The meteorological components are as follows: average daily air temperature, average daily wind speed, time of sunshine per day, duration of rainfalls, fogs and fumes and also monthly aggregate rainfall. The main study aims attention to evaluation of complex effects of selected elements on humans. The most and the least suitable season of the year for performing outdoor activities for a human were found, including optimal definition of summer holidays. Further studies concern the problems of air pollution related with synoptic situation. Sufficient space has been also given to more studies relating to wind chill or relations among individual meteorological elements, which can be helpful while forecasting the weather. With the help of particular data provided by Liberec hospital, the correlation between amounts of patients with particular diseases and changes of selected meteorological elements has been discovered.

This thesis is focused on impacts that climatic and meteorological phenomena may display in reference to human´s health. Body of thesis is based on analysis of czech reference sources as well as foreign sources that discuss given issues. We found out that phenomena and effects that may affect our health are numerous. Most of them work complexly and interact with each other. It is hard to distinguish every single phenomenon, because it always works simultaneously with others. When defining an influence of effect that affects given area of health, it is necessary to calculate with genetic burden, diet, lifestyle etc. Factors that are mostly discussed in current reference books are sunshine, polluted atmosphere and radical weather changes. Moreover, nowadays is also the anthropogenic electromagnetic pollution (which is a product of mechanization and medialisation of modern world) a subject of discussion. In this thesis we sorted out and systematically elaborated all available information about changes in health, which appear in human organism under influences of climatic and meteorological phenomena.

Objetivo: A pesquisa teve como objetivo verificar como as condições atmosféricas intraurbanas atuam no agravamento dos problemas respiratórios, em crianças menores de cinco anos, e, circulatórias e respiratórias, em adultos com mais de sessenta anos, no setor Sul/Sudeste, da cidade de São Paulo, a partir da associação com as variáveis atmosféricas e o índice bioclimático PET (Physiological Equivalent Temperature). Métodos: Analisou-se 12.269 casos de internação por doenças respiratórias em crianças; 24.318 por doenças do aparelho circulatório e 8.894 do aparelho respiratório em idosos. Os dados foram agrupados segundo perfil socioambiental. Nas estações meteorológicas do IAG/USP e do aeroporto de Congonhas foram obtidas variáveis e obteve-se o índice de qualidade do ar na CETESB/CONGONHAS. Foram utilizados: análise estatística descritiva; modelo linear generalizado com distribuição binomial negativa (GLM); e modelo de regressão. Resultados: Houve associação estatística entre as variáveis atmosféricas ambientais e as internações hospitalares, porém de forma diferenciada e específica. O GLM apontou aumento nas internações hospitalares com a elevação em 1ºC de amplitude térmica (0,6por cento) índice de poluição (0,2por cento) e com diminuição na temperatura média (0,9por cento). A regressão apontou aumento de internações com a diminuição das temperaturas médias e mínimas e o índice PET indicou que o calor é protetor. A chance de ocorrência de internações foi 12por cento maior com a diminuição de 1ºC no índice PET e com aumento 1ºC na temperatura máxima, no grupo de pior perfil socioambiental. Doenças Respiratórias em Idosos: O GLM indicou aumento das internações hospitalares com a elevação em 1ºC na amplitude térmica (2,1por cento) e poluição (0,2por cento) e diminuição em 1ºC do PET (1por cento). A regressão aponta maior risco com o aumento da amplitude térmica. Dias com maior taxa de internação foi 3,4por cento maior nos distritos com perfil socioambiental intermediário, com o decréscimo de 1ºC na temperatura mínima. Crianças: O GLM apontou aumento das internações hospitalares com o aumento em 1ºC da temperatura média (3,7por cento), da amplitude térmica (2,7por cento) e da poluição (0,2por cento) e diminuição em 1ºC do índice PET (1por cento). A regressão apontou risco nas faixas intermediárias de temperatura média, de menor temperatura mínima e de maior amplitude térmica. A faixa de conforto térmico mostrou que nas faixas de pouco calor (>31ºC) e frio (<12ºC) há proteção e maior risco na faixa de pouco frio (<18ºC). Houve associação estatística significante nos grupos de diferente perfil socioambiental, de forma homogênea. Conclusões: Houve associação entre a morbidade e as variáveis climáticas e o índice de conforto de forma diferenciada nos grupos etários e de doenças. O desconforto para frio e a alta amplitude térmica consistiram em fatores mais agravantes para o desencadeamento das doenças. Os resultados corroboram parcialmente a hipótese de que os distritos com piores condições socioambientais apresentam maior impacto negativos à saúde. Os dados confirmam a proposição no que se refere ao grupo de adultos com mais de sessenta anos, mas não apresentaram diferenças significativas para o grupo de crianças com doenças respiratórias e menores de cinco anos / Objective: The research aimed to verify how the local climatic conditions can intensify the respiratory disease in children under five years, and circulatory and respiratory in adults sixty years and older. The sector south/southeast of São Paulo city from the association with the atmospheric variables and bioclimatic index PET (Physiological Equivalent Temperature). Methods: 12.269 cases respiratory diseases in children, 24 318 circulatory diseases and 8.894 respiratory tract in elderly people were selected. Admissions data were grouped according to socio-environmental profile. Meteorological variables were obtained at IAG/USP and Congonhas airport stations. Air quality data were obtained in Cetesb station. Statistical and numerical modeling tools were used. Statistical correlation between atmospheric variables and hospital admissions was observed, but in different ways. Results: Circulatory (>60 years old): GLM showed increase in hospital admissions with elevation in 1ºC temperature range (0.6per cent) index of pollution (0.2per cent) and decrease in average temperature (0.9per cent). The occurrence of hospitalizations was 12per cent higher with the decrease 1ºC in PET and increase in 1ºC maximum temperature, to lower socio-environmental profile. Respiratory Diseases (>60): GLM indicated increased hospitalizations with the increase in 1ºC in a temperature range (2.1per cent) and pollution (0.2per cent) and decreased 1ºC PET (1per cent). Higher admissions days (3.4per cent) occurred in districts with middle socio-environmental profile with decrease 1ºC minimum temperature. Children: GLM showed an increase in hospital admissions with an increase in average temperature 1°C (3.7per cent), the temperature range (2.7per cent) and pollution (0.2per cent) and a decrease 1ºC of PET (1per cent). Groups of different socio-environmental was significantly associated with thermal comfort index and temperatures range. Conclusions: There were association between morbidity and climatic variables and comfort index in the age groups and diseases. The results partially support the hypothesis that the districts with the worst social and environmental conditions have a higher negative impact on health. The data confirm the proposition with regard to the group of adults over sixty years, but no significant differences for the group of children with respiratory diseases and under-fives

Objetivo: A pesquisa teve como objetivo verificar como as condições atmosféricas intraurbanas atuam no agravamento dos problemas respiratórios, em crianças menores de cinco anos, e, circulatórias e respiratórias, em adultos com mais de sessenta anos, no setor Sul/Sudeste, da cidade de São Paulo, a partir da associação com as variáveis atmosféricas e o índice bioclimático PET (Physiological Equivalent Temperature). Métodos: Analisou-se 12.269 casos de internação por doenças respiratórias em crianças; 24.318 por doenças do aparelho circulatório e 8.894 do aparelho respiratório em idosos. Os dados foram agrupados segundo perfil socioambiental. Nas estações meteorológicas do IAG/USP e do aeroporto de Congonhas foram obtidas variáveis e obteve-se o índice de qualidade do ar na CETESB/CONGONHAS. Foram utilizados: análise estatística descritiva; modelo linear generalizado com distribuição binomial negativa (GLM); e modelo de regressão. Resultados: Houve associação estatística entre as variáveis atmosféricas ambientais e as internações hospitalares, porém de forma diferenciada e específica. O GLM apontou aumento nas internações hospitalares com a elevação em 1ºC de amplitude térmica (0,6por cento) índice de poluição (0,2por cento) e com diminuição na temperatura média (0,9por cento). A regressão apontou aumento de internações com a diminuição das temperaturas médias e mínimas e o índice PET indicou que o calor é protetor. A chance de ocorrência de internações foi 12por cento maior com a diminuição de 1ºC no índice PET e com aumento 1ºC na temperatura máxima, no grupo de pior perfil socioambiental. Doenças Respiratórias em Idosos: O GLM indicou aumento das internações hospitalares com a elevação em 1ºC na amplitude térmica (2,1por cento) e poluição (0,2por cento) e diminuição em 1ºC do PET (1por cento). A regressão aponta maior risco com o aumento da amplitude térmica. Dias com maior taxa de internação foi 3,4por cento maior nos distritos com perfil socioambiental intermediário, com o decréscimo de 1ºC na temperatura mínima. Crianças: O GLM apontou aumento das internações hospitalares com o aumento em 1ºC da temperatura média (3,7por cento), da amplitude térmica (2,7por cento) e da poluição (0,2por cento) e diminuição em 1ºC do índice PET (1por cento). A regressão apontou risco nas faixas intermediárias de temperatura média, de menor temperatura mínima e de maior amplitude térmica. A faixa de conforto térmico mostrou que nas faixas de pouco calor (>31ºC) e frio (<12ºC) há proteção e maior risco na faixa de pouco frio (<18ºC). Houve associação estatística significante nos grupos de diferente perfil socioambiental, de forma homogênea. Conclusões: Houve associação entre a morbidade e as variáveis climáticas e o índice de conforto de forma diferenciada nos grupos etários e de doenças. O desconforto para frio e a alta amplitude térmica consistiram em fatores mais agravantes para o desencadeamento das doenças. Os resultados corroboram parcialmente a hipótese de que os distritos com piores condições socioambientais apresentam maior impacto negativos à saúde. Os dados confirmam a proposição no que se refere ao grupo de adultos com mais de sessenta anos, mas não apresentaram diferenças significativas para o grupo de crianças com doenças respiratórias e menores de cinco anos / Objective: The research aimed to verify how the local climatic conditions can intensify the respiratory disease in children under five years, and circulatory and respiratory in adults sixty years and older. The sector south/southeast of São Paulo city from the association with the atmospheric variables and bioclimatic index PET (Physiological Equivalent Temperature). Methods: 12.269 cases respiratory diseases in children, 24 318 circulatory diseases and 8.894 respiratory tract in elderly people were selected. Admissions data were grouped according to socio-environmental profile. Meteorological variables were obtained at IAG/USP and Congonhas airport stations. Air quality data were obtained in Cetesb station. Statistical and numerical modeling tools were used. Statistical correlation between atmospheric variables and hospital admissions was observed, but in different ways. Results: Circulatory (>60 years old): GLM showed increase in hospital admissions with elevation in 1ºC temperature range (0.6per cent) index of pollution (0.2per cent) and decrease in average temperature (0.9per cent). The occurrence of hospitalizations was 12per cent higher with the decrease 1ºC in PET and increase in 1ºC maximum temperature, to lower socio-environmental profile. Respiratory Diseases (>60): GLM indicated increased hospitalizations with the increase in 1ºC in a temperature range (2.1per cent) and pollution (0.2per cent) and decreased 1ºC PET (1per cent). Higher admissions days (3.4per cent) occurred in districts with middle socio-environmental profile with decrease 1ºC minimum temperature. Children: GLM showed an increase in hospital admissions with an increase in average temperature 1°C (3.7per cent), the temperature range (2.7per cent) and pollution (0.2per cent) and a decrease 1ºC of PET (1per cent). Groups of different socio-environmental was significantly associated with thermal comfort index and temperatures range. Conclusions: There were association between morbidity and climatic variables and comfort index in the age groups and diseases. The results partially support the hypothesis that the districts with the worst social and environmental conditions have a higher negative impact on health. The data confirm the proposition with regard to the group of adults over sixty years, but no significant differences for the group of children with respiratory diseases and under-fives

Bioclimate envelope models are widely used to project potential species habitat under changing climate. Conceptually, these models are also well suited to match natural resource management practices to new climatic realities, for example by guiding species choice in reforestation programs. Nevertheless, uncertainty due to a variety of causes has so far limited the practical application of bioclimate envelope models. The goal of this thesis is to examine sources of uncertainty, to reduce uncertainty if possible, and to develop methodology to systematically deal with the remaining variability in model projections. Secondly, this thesis develops practical climate change adaptation strategies for the forestry sector in western Canada. This requires answering what species should be used for reforestation for a particular site, and subsequently selecting planting stock of the species that is best adapted to current and anticipated environments. Using a novel approach to partition variance in results from multiple model runs, climate data were identified as arguably the most important source of uncertainty. Variation was primarily caused by different general circulation models, followed by different emission scenarios. Also, the method used to interpolate current weather station data was an important contributor to uncertainty at specific locations. Other sources of uncertainty were the choice of predictor variables and different bioclimate envelope modeling methods, which primarily contributed to uncertainty through interaction effects. For example, different modeling methods provided similar habitat projections for western Canada on average, but under certain climate change scenarios their results differed markedly. Given the large uncertainties in model projections, it is important to remember that ultimately, climate change adaptation has to be guided by climate trends that actually materialize. A considerable portion of this thesis therefore analyzes climate trends in western Canada over the past century. In a case study for aspen, it is shown that the combined information from multiple bioclimate envelope model runs, climate trends that have already materialized, and observed climate change impacts can make a strong case for implementing adaptation strategies in central Alberta. Amendments to aspen reforestation practices are proposed, avoiding the use of the species in areas where it is likely to lose habitat in the future, and recommending movement of planting stock so that it is reasonably well adapted under a range of future climate scenarios. / Forest Biology and Management

No description available.

La question alimentaire offre un angle d’attaque privilégié pour aborder quasiment sous tous ses aspects le royaume d’Ougarit tel qu’il est actuellement connu par l’archéologie et l’épigraphie. La présente recherche vise à offrir une vision d’ensemble sur l’alimentation à Ougarit à l’âge du Bronze récent et à approfondir certains points sur le sujet. Les conditions bioclimatiques et naturelles exceptionnelles ont grandement contribué au développement de l’agriculture et de l’élevage qui étaient les premières occupations des Ougaritains. À leur tour, les produits agricoles ont joué un rôle très important dans la vie économique, sociale et religieuse du royaume d’Ougarit : le vin et l’huile ougaritiques, notamment, faisaient l’objet d’échanges commerciaux et étaient exportés vers l’Égypte et vers Chypre. Mais les usages des denrées alimentaires étaient bien plus diversifiés, puisqu’elles entraient en jeu dans plusieurs pratiques symboliques essentielles, comme la rétribution du travail ou des services rendus, l’alimentation des dieux par le biais du culte, la célébration de certaines cérémonies collectives lors de banquets sacrés, etc. Par le rapprochement de l’ensemble des textes administratifs et religieux touchant à l’alimentation, notre travail doit offrir une synthèse permettant d’approfondir la connaissance du royaume d’Ougarit. / The dietary question offers a unique perspective to study almost every aspect of the kingdom of Ugarit, as it is currently known by archeology and epigraphy. The present research aims to provide a comprehensive view of the Ugaritic diet during the late Bronze Age and to develop certain topics. The unique bioclimatic and environmental conditions contributed considerably to the development of crop and livestock farming which was the primary way of life of the Ugaritic people. As regards agricultural products, they played an important role in the economic, social and religious life of the Ugaritians: Ugaritic wine and oil, in particular, were traded commercially and exported to Egypt and Cyprus. Furthermore, the use of foodstuffs was varied: They were used in several essential symbolic practices such as the payment for work or services, religious offerings for the gods as well as in ceremonial celebrations namely sacred banquets. By studying administrative and religious texts dealing with food, our work will provide a synthesis that will expand our understanding of the kingdom of Ugarit.

Marine Inseln beherbergen einen großen Teil der biologischen Vielfalt unseres Planeten und weisen gleichzeitig einen hohen Anteil endemischer Arten auf. Inselbiota sind allerdings zudem besonders anfällig für anthropogene Einflüsse wie den globalen Klimawandel, Habitatverlust und invasive Arten. Für ihren Erhalt ist es daher wichtig, die ökologischen Prozesse auf Inseln detailliert zu verstehen. Aufgrund ihrer definierten Größe und isolierten Lage eignen sich Inseln als Modellsysteme in der ökologischen und evolutionären Forschung. Der Großteil der bisherigen Inselstudien hat sich allerdings mit kleinräumigen Mustern befasst, so dass standardisierte globale Daten zu den biogeographischen Eigenschaften und eine makroökologische Synthese ihrer Biota bislang fehlen. In dieser Arbeit stelle ich eine physische und bioklimatische Charakterisierung der Inseln der Welt vor und behandle die Frage, wie abiotische Inseleigenschaften die Diversität von Inselfloren beeinflussen. Ich bearbeite zwei Hauptaspekte dieser Fragestellung: Zuerst konzentriere ich mich auf historische und heutige Klimabedingungen und physische Inseleigenschaften als Triebfedern von Pflanzendiversitätsmustern auf Inseln. Hierbei setze ich einen Schwerpunkt auf die räumliche Anordnung von Inseln und Struktur von Archipelen. Als Zweites behandle ich taxon-spezifische Unterschiede in der Antwort von Diversitätsmustern auf abiotische Faktoren. Hierzu stelle ich eine globale Datenbank mit historischen und heutigen Klimabedingungen und physischen Eigenschaften, wie Fläche, Isolation und Geologie, von 17883 Inseln größer als 1 km² vor. Mit Hilfe von Ordinations- und Klassifikationsverfahren charakterisiere und klassifiziere ich die Inseln in einem multidimensionalen Umweltraum. Außerdem entwickele ich einen Satz von ökologisch relevanten Maßen zur Beschreibung von Isolation von Inseln und ihrer räumlichen Anordnung in Archipelen, darunter Maße zu Trittstein-Inseln, Wind- und Meeresströmungen, klimatischer Ähnlichkeit, Distanzen zwischen Inseln und umgebender Landfläche. Diese Maße berücksichtigen verschiedene Aspekte von Isolation, welche Immigration, Artbildung und Aussterben auf Inseln sowie Austausch zwischen Inseln beeinflussen. Um abiotische Bedingungen mit biotischen Eigenschaften von Inselfloren in Verbindung zu bringen, nutze ich eine für diese Arbeit erstellte Datenbank aus 1295 Insel-Artenlisten, die insgesamt ca. 45000 heimische Gefäßpflanzenarten umfassen. Dies ist der umfassendste und erste globale Datensatz für Pflanzen auf Inseln, der Artidentitäten anstatt lediglich Artenzahlen beinhaltet. Die globale Insel-Charakterisierung bestätigt quantitativ, dass sich Inseln in bioklimatischen und physischen Eigenschaften vom Festland unterscheiden. Inseln sind im Durchschnitt signifikant kühler, feuchter und weniger saisonal geprägt als das Festland. Die weiteren Ergebnisse zeigen, dass eine sorgfältige Beschreibung der räumlich-physischen Eigenschaften von Inseln und Archipelen nötig ist, um die Diversitätsmuster ihrer Biota zu verstehen. Isolation ist nach Inselfläche der zweitwichtigste Einflussfaktor für den Gefäßpflanzenartenreichtum auf Inseln. Von den verglichenen Isolationsmaßen eignet sich der Anteil an umgebender Landfläche am besten zur Erklärung der Artenzahlen. Außerdem erhöht sich durch die Berücksichtigung von Trittsteininseln, großen Inseln als Quell-Landflächen und klimatischer Ähnlichkeit der Quell-Landflächen die Vorhersagekraft der Modelle. Isolation spielt eine geringere Rolle auf großen Inseln, wo in situ Diversifizierung den negativen Effekt von Isolation auf Immigration ausgleicht. Die räumliche Struktur innerhalb von Archipelen ist von besonderer Bedeutung für β-Diversität, d.h. für den Unterschied in der Artenzusammensetzung der Inseln. Außerdem beeinflusst sie indirekt, durch den Effekt auf die β-Diversität, auch die γ-Diversität, d.h. die Diversität des gesamten Archipels. Die Ergebnisse heben die enorme Bedeutung der relativen räumlichen Position von Inseln zueinander für Diversitätsmuster auf Inseln hervor und zeigen die Notwendigkeit für Inselforschung und Naturschutz, Inseln im Kontext ihres Archipels zu betrachten. Die Ergebnisse für Farne auf südostasiatischen Inseln zeigen, dass die Bedeutung von physischen Inseleigenschaften für Diversität kontinuierlich mit der Größe der betrachteten Untersuchungsfläche von der Insel- bis zur Plotebene abnimmt, wohingegen der Einfluss von lokalen Umweltbedingungen zunimmt. Lokale Artgemeinschaften sind häufig gesättigt, wodurch die Anzahl an Arten, die aus dem regionalen Artenbestand einwandern können, limitiert wird. Um Vorhersagen über lokalen Artenreichtum zu machen, ist es daher wichtig, die Skalenabhängigkeit der Effekte des regionalen Artenbestandes zu berücksichtigen. Großgruppen von Pflanzen unterscheiden sich in ihrer Ausbreitungsfähigkeit, ihrem Genfluss, Artbildungsraten und Anpassungen an das Klima. Dementsprechend zeigen die vergleichenden Analysen zwischen taxonomischen Pflanzengruppen deutliche Unterschiede in der Reaktion von Artenreichtum und phylogenetischen Diversitätsmustern auf abiotische Faktoren. Die Arten-Fläche-Beziehung, d.h. die Zunahme von Artendiversität mit zunehmender Fläche, variiert zwischen den Pflanzengruppen. Die Steigung der Arten-Fläche-Beziehung ist für Spermatophyten größer als für Pteridophyten und Bryophyten, wohingegen der y-Achsenabschnitt kleiner ist. Unter der Annahme, dass Merkmale und klimatische Anpassungen innerhalb von taxonomischen Gruppen phylogenetisch konserviert sind, führen die Filterwirkung von Ausbreitungsbarrieren und Umwelteigenschaften sowie in situ Artbildung zu Gemeinschaften eng verwandter Arten (phylogenetic clustering). Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass physische und bioklimatische Inseleigenschaften, die mit der Filterwirkung und Artbildung in Verbindung stehen, die phylogenetische Struktur von Inselgemeinschaften beeinflussen. Die Stärke und Richtung der Zusammenhänge variieren zwischen taxonomischen Gruppen. Abiotische Faktoren erklären mehr Variation in phylogenetischer Diversität für alle Angiospermen und Palmen als für Farne, was auf Grund höherer Ausbreitungsfähigkeit und größerer Verbreitungsgebiete von Farnen den Erwartungen entspricht. Die abiotische Charakterisierung und Klassifizierung der weltweiten Inseln und die zugehörigen Daten ermöglichen eine integrativere Berücksichtigung von Inseln in der makroökologischen Forschung. In dieser Arbeit präsentiere ich die ersten Vorhersagen globaler Pflanzenartenvielfalt auf Inseln und die ersten Analysen zu unterschiedlichen Diversitätskomponenten (α, β, γ und phylogenetische Diversität) von Inselsystemen und ihren abiotischen Einflussfaktoren auf globalem Maßstab. Ich zeige, dass Zusammenhänge zwischen Umweltfaktoren und Artenzahl sowie phylogenetischen Eigenschaften von Inselgemeinschaften zwischen unterschiedlichen taxonomischen Gruppen in Abhängigkeit ihrer vorwiegenden Ausbreitungs- und Artbildungseigenschaften variieren können. Dies ist eine neue Sichtweise in der makroökologischen Inselforschung, die Rückschlüsse auf die Mechanismen hinter Diversitätsmustern von Pflanzen auf Inseln erlaubt. Ein detailliertes Verständnis davon, wie Diversität unterschiedlicher Pflanzengruppen durch Immigration und Diversifizierung auf Inseln entsteht, dürfte auch das Verständnis globaler Diversitätsmuster im Allgemeinen verbessern.