Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Biometeorological and air quality assessment in an industrialized area of eastern Mediterranean: the Thriassion Plain, Greece

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Biometeorology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Evidence that heat wave events are associated with poor air quality conditions and health hazards has become stronger in recent years. In this study, the impact of two heat wave episodes on human thermal discomfort and air quality is examined during summer 2007, in an industrial plain of eastern Mediterranean: the Thriassion Plain, Greece. For this purpose, two biometeorological indices—Discomfort Index (DI) and Heat Load (HL)—as well as an air quality index—Air Quality Stress Index (AQSI)—were calculated using data from seven measuring sites. A land-use map was procured in order to examine the effect of different land cover types on human thermal comfort. The results indicated high level of thermal discomfort and increased air pollution levels, while a significant correlation between the DI and the AQSI was identified.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Basara JB, Basara HG, Illston BG, Crawford KC (2010) The impact of the urban heat island during an intense heat wave in Oklahoma city. Adv Meteorol. doi:10.1155/2010/230365

  • Bioklima 2.6, software package (2011) http://www.igipz.pan.pl/geoekoklimat/blaz/BioKlima.htm. Accessed on 12/01/2011

  • Blanchard DO, Lopez RE (1985) Spatial patterns of convection in south Florida. Mon Wea Rev 113:1282–1299. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1985)113<1282:SPOCIS>2.0.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blazejczyk K (2001) Assessment of recreational potential of bioclimate based on the human heat balance. In: Matzarakis A and de Freitas CR, (eds), Proceedings of the 1st International Workshop on Climate, Tourism and Recreation. Report of a Workshop, Halkidiki, Greece, 133–152

  • Briggs BC (1974) Machine contouring using minimum curvature. Geophys 39(1):39–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costello A, Abbas M, Allen A et al (2009) Managing the health effects of climate change. Lancet 373:1693–1733. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60935-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Epstein Y, Moran DS (2006) Thermal Comfort and the Heat Stress Indices. Ind Health 44:388–398. doi:10.2486/indhealth.44.388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flocas H, Kelessis A, Helmis C, Petrakakis M, Zoumakis M, Pappas K (2009) Synoptic and local scale atmospheric circulation associated with air pollution episodes in an urban Mediterranean area. Theor Appl Climatol 95(3–4):265–277. doi:10.1007/s00704-008-0005-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Founda D, Giannakopoulos C (2009) The exceptionally hot summer of 2007 in Athens, Greece – A typical summer in the future climate? Glob Planet Change 67:227–236. doi:10.1016/j.gloplacha.2009.03.013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giles BD, Balafoutis CH, Maheras P (1990) Too hot for comfort: the heatwaves in Greece in 1987 and 1988. Int J Biometeorol 34:98–104. doi:10.1007/BF01093455

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Höppe P (1999) The physiological equivalent temperature-a universal index for the biometeorological assessment of the thermal environment. Int J Biometeorol 43(2):71–75. doi:10.1007/s004840050118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jendritzky G, Maarouf A, Fiala D, Staiger H (2002) An update on the development of a Universal Thermal Climate Index. In 15th Conference on Biometeorology and Aerobiology and 16th ICB’02, 27 Oct – 1 Nov 2002, Kansas City, AMS, pp 129–133

  • Kassomenos PA, Flocas HA, Lykoudis S, Skouloudis A (1998) Spatial and temporal characteristics of the relationship between air quality status and mesoscale circulation ocer an urban Mediterranean Basin. Sci Total Environ 217(1–2):37–57. doi:10.1016/S0048-9697(98)00167-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Katavoutas G, Theoharatos G, Flocas HA, Asimakopoulos DN (2009) Measuring the effects of heat wave episodes on the human body’s thermal balance. Int J Biometeorol 53:177–187. doi:10.1007/s00484-008-0202-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katsoulis B, Kassomenos P (2004) Assessment of the air-quality over Urban areas by means of biometeorological indices. The case of Athens, Greece. Environ Technol 25(11):1293–1304

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Katsoulis BD, Theoharatos GA (1985) Indications of the urban heat island in Athens, Greece. J Clim Appl Meteorol 24(12):1296–1302. doi:1520-0450(1985)024<1296:IOTUHI>2.0.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lalas DP, Asimakopoulos DN, Deligiorgi DG, Helmis CG (1983) Sea breeze circulation and photochemical pollution in Athens, Greece. Atmos Environ 17(9):1621–1632. doi:10.1016/0004-6981(83)90171-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Larissi IK, Antoniou A, Nastos P (2010) The role of wind in the configuration of the ambient air quality in Athens, Greece. Fresen Environ Bull 19(9):1989–1996

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Livada I, Santamouris M, Niachou K, Papanikolaou N, Mihalakakou G (2002) Determination of places in the great Athens area where the heat island effect is observed. Theor Appl Climatol 7:219–230. doi:10.1007/s007040200006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matzarakis A, Mayer H (1991) The extreme heat wave in Athens July 1987 from the point of view of human biometeorology. Atmos Environ 25(2):203–211. doi:10.1016/0957-1272(91)90055-J

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matzarakis A, Nastos P (2010) Human biometeorological assessment of heat waves in Athens. Theor Appl Climatol. doi:10.1007/s00704-010-0379-3

  • Mavrakis A, Lykoudis S, Christides A, Dasaklis S, Tasopoulos A, Theoharatos G, Kyvelou S, Verouti E (2008) Air quality levels in a closed industrialized basin (Thriassion Plain, Greece). Fresen Environ Bull 17(4):443–454. http://www.psp-parlar.de/pdf/F_27_271_Original_Paper_pp443_454.pdf. Accessed 10 January 2011

  • McMichael AJ, Woodruff RE, Hales S (2006) Climate change and human health: present and future risks. Lancet 367:859–869. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(06)68079-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meehl GA, Tebaldi C (2004) More Intense, More Frequent and Longer Lasting Heat Waves in the 21st Century. Science 305:994–997. doi:10.1126/science.1098704

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Melas D, Ziomas I, Klemm O, Zerefos CS (1998) Anatomy of the sea-breeze circulation in Athens area under weak large-scale ambient winds. Atmos Environ 32(12):2223–2237. doi:10.1016/S1352-2310(97)00420-2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Metaxas DA, Kallos G (1980) Heat waves from a synoptic point of view. Riv Meteorol Aeronaut XL(2–3):107–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Nastos PT, Matzarakis A (2006) Weather impacts on respiratory infections in Athens, Greece. Int J Biometeorol 50(6):358–369. doi:10.1007/s00484-006-0031-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nastos P, Matzarakis A (2008a) Human-Biometeorological Effects on Sleep Disturbances in Athens, Greece: A Preliminary Evaluation. Indoor Built Environ 17(6):535–542. doi:10.1177/1420326X08097706

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nastos P, Matzarakis A (2008b) Variability of tropical days over Greece within the second half of the twentieth century. Theor Appl Climatol 93(1–2):75–89. doi:10.1007/s00704-007-0325-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nastos PT, Paliatsos AG, Papadopoulos M, Bakoula C, Priftis KN (2008) The Effect of Weather Variability on Pediatric Asthma Admissions in Athens, Greece. J Asthma 45(1):59–65. doi:10.1080/02770900701815818

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oke TR, Johnson GT, Steyn DG, Watson ID (1991) Simulation of surface urban heat islands under “ideal” conditions at night – Part 2: Diagnosis of causation. Bound-Layer Meteorol 56:339–358. doi:10.1007/BF00119211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Önol B, Semazzi FHM (2009) Regionalization of Climate Change Simulations over the Eastern Mediterranean. J Climate 22:1944–1961. doi:10.1175/2008JCLI1807.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pantavou K, Theoharatos G, Mavrakis A, Santamouris M (2010) Evaluating thermal comfort conditions and health responses during an extremely hot summer in Athens. Build Environ 46(2):339–344. doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2010.07.026

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prezerakos NG (1986) Characteristics of the sea breeze in Attica, Greece. Bound-Layer Meteorol 36(3):245–266. doi:10.1007/BF00118663

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sturges H (1926) The Choice of a Class Interval. J Am Stat Assoc 21(153):65–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan J, Zheng Y, Tang X, Guo C, Li L, Song G, Zhen X, Yuan D, Kalkstein AJ, Li F, Chen H (2010) The urban heat island and its impact on heat waves and human health in Shanghai. Int J Biometeorol 54(1):75–84. doi:10.1007/s00484-009-0256-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Theoharatos G, Pantavou K, Mavrakis A, Spanou A, Katavoutas G, Efstathiou P, Mpekas P, Asimakopoulos D (2010) Heat Waves observed in 2007 in Athens, Greece: synoptic conditions, bioclimatological assessment, air quality levels and health effects. Environ Res 110(2):152–161. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2009.12.002

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thom E (1959) The discomfort index. Weatherwise 12:57–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Trenberth KE, Jones PD, Ambenje P et al (2007) Observations: Surface and Atmospheric Climate Change. In: Solomon S, Qin D, Manning M, Chen Z, Marquis M, Averyt KB, Tignor M, Miller HL (eds) Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, USA, pp 235–336

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang CS, Kao SP, Lee FB, Hung PS (2004) Τwelve different interpolation methods: A case study of SURFER 8.0. In: Proceedings of XXth ISPRS Congress, pp 778–785

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Physics and Meteorology, Faculty of Physics, University of Athens, University Campus – Zografou, Building Physics 5, 157 84, Athens, Greece

    Anastasios Mavrakis, Anastasia Spanou, Katerina Pantavou, George Katavoutas & George Theoharatos

  2. Bureau of Pollution Control and Environmental Quality of the Development Association of Thriassion Plain, 50 Nikolaidou str, 192 00, Elefsis, Greece

    Anastasios Christides

  3. Bureau of Environment, Municipality of Aspropyrgos, Demokratias Av, 193 00, Aspropyrgos, Greece

    Eleni Verouti

Authors
  1. Anastasios Mavrakis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anastasia Spanou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Katerina Pantavou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. George Katavoutas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. George Theoharatos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Anastasios Christides
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Eleni Verouti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Katerina Pantavou.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mavrakis, A., Spanou, A., Pantavou, K. et al. Biometeorological and air quality assessment in an industrialized area of eastern Mediterranean: the Thriassion Plain, Greece. Int J Biometeorol 56, 737–747 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-011-0475-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-011-0475-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation