impact of acclimatization on thermophysiological strain for contrasting regional climates

• Published in: International journal of biometeorology Vol. 58; no. 10; pp. 2129 - 2137
• Main Authors: de Freitas, C. R, Grigorieva, E. A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01-12-2014; Springer Berlin Heidelberg; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: acclimation; Acclimatization; air; Animal Physiology; Bioclimatology; Biological and Medical Physics; Biometeorology; Biophysics; Body Temperature Regulation; China; Climate; Climatic conditions; climatic factors; Cold; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Environmental Health; health services; Heat; Heat exchange; heat transfer; Heat waves; Humans; Meteorology; Niger; Original Paper; Physiology; Plant Physiology; Public health; respiratory system; Respiratory tract; risk; Risk assessment; Russia; Singapore; Stress response; Temperature; United Arab Emirates; Vapor Pressure; weather; Singapore; United Arab Emirates; Niger; China; Russia; Acclimatization; Cold strain; Acclimatization Thermal Strain Index; Heat strain; Physiological adaptation; Human bioclimate
• ISSN: 0020-7128; 1432-1254
• DOI: 10.1007/s00484-014-0813-9

During acclimatization to heat and cold, the body experiences additional thermally induced physiological strain. The first signs show up in the respiratory organs because respiration is a continuous heat exchange process in which the body is in closest contact with the ambient air. There are no behavioral or other adjustments to prevent the ambient air from entering into the body’s core area through the respiratory tract. The Acclimatization Thermal Strain Index (ATSI) describes the acclimatization thermal loading (ATL) on respiratory organs until full adaptation is achieved. The aim here is to further assess the ATSI scheme using a range of actual but contrasting bioclimatic conditions. To simulate ATL, scenarios of the consequences of acclimatization due to movement to or from five contrasting climates are used. The results show that adjusting to cold comes with greater physiological strain than adjusting to heat, the biggest impact occurring for a change of location from hot-humid to cold-dry climatic conditions. The approach can be used to assess risks due to increases in short-term thermal variability in weather conditions such as encountered during heat waves and cold snaps. The information could also be useful for assessing the need for public health services and measures that might be used to help mitigate impacts.