Biometeorology parameters

Biometeorology Module

With r3XXX a Biometeorology Module (Biomet_Mod) was implemented in PALM. It can provide spatially distributed values of the three thermal indices

• Perceived Temperature (PT, see Staiger et al. (2012))
• Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI, see Jendritzky et al. (2012))
• Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET, see Höppe (1993))

that describe thermal perception / thermal stress of a sample human being under the local meteorological conditions.

Steering:


NAMELIST group name: biometeorology_parameters

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The module is enabled as soon as the namelist biometeorology_parameters exists. The calculation of the individual indices can be switched off (default is on) by setting them to .F. This of course requires the Biomet_Mod to be enabled (see above).

Parameter Name	FORTRAN Type	Default Value	Explanation
biom_pt	L	.T.	Switch the calculation of Perceived Temperature off (.F.) or on (.T.).
biom_utci	L	.T.	Switch the calculation of Universal Thermal Climate Index off (.F.) or on (.T.).
biom_pet	L	.T.	Switch the calculation of Physiologically Equivalent Temperature off (.F.) or on (.T.).

Output

Output by the Biomet_Mod is always two dimensional and is provided for the cell level closest to 1.1 m above ground level. All parameters are available for instantaneous and time-averaged input. A list of output quantities can be found below. Output can be written to 2d and/or 3d files, where only the layer z=0 will be used. To enable the output of the given quantity, please add

quantity	long name	unit	input type (instantaneous or averaged)	output file (2d or 3d)
'biom_pt'	Perceived Temperature	°C	instantanious input	z=0 layer in 3d file
'biom_pet'	Physiologically Equivalent Temperature	°C	instantanious input	z=0 layer in 3d file
'biom_utci'	Universal Thermal Climate Index	°C	instantanious input	z=0 layer in 3d file
'biom_pt_av'	Perceived Temperature	°C	averaged input	z=0 layer in 3d file
'biom_pet_av'	Physiologically Equivalent Temperature	°C	averaged input	z=0 layer in 3d file
'biom_utci_av'	Universal Thermal Climate Index	°C	averaged input	z=0 layer in 3d file
'biom_pt_xy'	Perceived Temperature	°C	instantanious input	2d (xy) file
'biom_pet_xy'	Physiologically Equivalent Temperature	°C	instantanious input	2d (xy) file
'biom_utci_xy'	Universal Thermal Climate Index	°C	instantanious input	2d (xy) file
'biom_pt_xy_av'	Perceived Temperature	°C	averaged input	2d (xy) file
'biom_pet_xy_av'	Physiologically Equivalent Temperature	°C	averaged input	2d (xy) file
'biom_utci_xy_av'	Universal Thermal Climate Index	°C	averaged input	2d (xy) file

to the data_output section.

Proofs:

• Staiger, H.; Laschewski, G.; and Graetz, A., 2012: The perceived temperature - a versatile index for the assessment of the human thermal environment. Part A: scientific basics. International Journal of Biometeorology 56(1), 165–176. doi: 10.1007/s00484-011-0409-6.
• Jendritzky, G.; Dear, de R.; and Havenith, G., 2012: UTCI-Why another thermal index? Int J Biometeorol (56), 421–428.
• Höppe, P. R., 1999: The physiological equivalent temperature – a universal index for the biometeorological assessment of the thermal environment. Int J Biometeorol 43, 71–75.

Steering

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Since r31xx biometeorology models are available in PALM....Biomet_Mod and UV exposure....

Short description of both modules. From here, we will then link to more detailed descriptions.

NAMELIST group name: biometeorology_parameters

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Steering:

Parameter Name	FORTRAN Type	Default Value	Explanation
land_category	I	1	Category for land surface. Here, a detailed description follows...Maybe also link to an example input file.