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Effectiveness of human-thermal indices: Spatio–temporal trend of human warmth in tropical India

Human heat stress and strain indices have been developed to ascertain the thresholds of human health and wellbeing. This study illustrates the matrices of environmental and behavioural indicators of warmth assessment (human thermal indices), referring to seasonal meteorological trend across the vari...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Urban climate 2019-03, Vol.27, p.351-371
Main Authors: Sen, Jayashree, Nag, Pranab Kumar
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Human heat stress and strain indices have been developed to ascertain the thresholds of human health and wellbeing. This study illustrates the matrices of environmental and behavioural indicators of warmth assessment (human thermal indices), referring to seasonal meteorological trend across the varied climatic regions of India. Effectiveness of the indices were explored using spatial and temporal analysis of regions. Human thermal indices are broadly grouped as direct (climatic, e.g., WBGT), rational (energy balance, e.g., SET*), perception (sensation voting, e.g., PMV) indices and CFD simulations. The warmth classification as regard to the temporal trend evidently differs to a great extent between the indices. Further to the spatial patterns in the studied regions also demonstrate inconsistent gradation. Elaborate derivation of the indices shows large deviations of the relative weightages in different indices, which may partly be attributed to the inconsistencies observed. For example, In case of WBGT, higher weightage is given to relative humidity, resulting in flattening in the climate trend, whereas, the energy balance models cover heat exchange between human body and environment. The rational indices, e.g., SET* and Esk (evaporation through skin) that take into account both meteorological and behavioural dimensions respond more effectively to both temporal and spatial trend analysis. •Evolution of a human thermal indices for warmth and comfort assessment.•Utility of the indices with respect to spatio-temporal trend in tropical climate.•India case study – Identifying the more effective indices for warmth assessment.
ISSN:2212-0955
2212-0955
DOI:10.1016/j.uclim.2018.11.009