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Analysis of thermal discomfort associated with synoptic conditions in the city of Pelotas, southernmost region of Brazil

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Abstract

Here, we evaluated the influence of outdoor environmental conditions (synoptic weather conditions) on human thermal discomfort in the five macro-regions of Pelotas city, located in the southernmost region of Brazil. To do this, meteorological sensors (HOBO MX2301A) were installed outside the residences to measure the air temperature, dew point temperature, and relative humidity between 18 January and 20 August 2019. Two well-established simplified biometeorological indices were examined seasonally: (i) humidex for the summer months and (ii) effective temperature as a function of wind for the autumn and winter months. Our findings showed seasonal differences related to human thermal discomfort and outdoor environmental conditions. The thermal discomfort was highest in the afternoons during the summer months and at night during the winter months. The seasonal variation in human thermal discomfort was highly associated with the meteorological conditions. In summer, the presence of the South Atlantic Subtropical Anticyclone (SASA) contributed to heat stress. The SASA combined with the continent’s low humidity contributed to the perceived sensation of thermal discomfort. In the winter, thermal discomfort was associated with the decrease in air humidity caused by high atmospheric pressure systems, which led to a decrease in both air temperature and air moisture content. Our findings suggest that a better understanding of the complex interplay between outdoor environmental factors and human thermal comfort is needed in order to mitigate the negative effects of thermal discomfort.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express gratitude to the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for funding and support through the call Universal MCTI/CNPq No. 01/2016. Special thanks are extended to the entire team and third parties involved in the COORTE project of the Epidemiological Research Center of the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPEL). Additionally, the authors acknowledge the partial support of PRPPG/UFPel and CAPES in the publication of this article. A heartfelt acknowledgment is also extended to meteorologist Dr. Henrique Fuchs Bueno Repinaldo for his valuable contributions to this research. These acknowledgments reflect the various sources of support that have significantly contributed to the completion of this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Meteorology, Federal University of Pelotas (UFPEL), Engenheiro Ildefonso Simões Lopes Avenue, Pelotas, RS, 2751, Brazil

    Franciele da Costa Trassante, Rose Ane Pereira de Freitas, Raquel Machado Machado, Marco Antônio Flores de Medeiros, Douglas da Silva Lindemann, Fernanda Casagrande & Marcelo Felix Alonso

  2. Faculty of Agronomy, Federal University of Fronteira Sul (UFFS), Campus Cerro Largo, Cerro Largo, RS, Brazil

    Anderson Spohr Nedel

  3. Institute for Space Research (INPE), São José Dos Campos, SP, 12227-10, Brazil

    Ana Lucia da Silva Nascimento

  4. Earth System Numerical Modeling Division (DIMNT), National Institute for Space Research (INPE), Cachoeira Paulista, SP, 12630-000, Brazil

    Fernanda Casagrande

  5. Tropical Oceanography Group (GOAT) Federal University of Bahia – UFBA, Salvador, Brazil

    Luis Felipe Ferreira de Mendonça

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  1. Franciele da Costa Trassante
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Correspondence to Rose Ane Pereira de Freitas.

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da Costa Trassante, F., de Freitas, R.A.P., Nedel, A.S. et al. Analysis of thermal discomfort associated with synoptic conditions in the city of Pelotas, southernmost region of Brazil. Int J Biometeorol 68, 463–477 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-023-02604-2

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