| 1. |
- Bäcklin, Oskar, 1991, et al.
(författare)
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Outdoor heat stress at preschools during an extreme summer in Gothenburg, Sweden - Preschool teachers’ experiences contextualized by radiation modelling
- 2021
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Ingår i: Sustainable Cities and Society. - : Elsevier BV. - 2210-6707. ; 75
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Using a mixed-method approach consisting of interviews with preschool teachers and modelling of the outdoor thermal conditions using the mean radiant temperature as an indicator of heat stress, the occurrence of heat stress in Gothenburg preschools during the summer of 2018 and its effects have been studied. One third of 440 preschool yards modelled have more than 50% of the preschool yard-area exposed to strong heat stress during a warm and sunny summer day, implying children in many preschools have considerably less play area than current guidelines deem sufficient. Shade, where present, was mostly from trees within the preschool yards themselves rather from objects in surrounding areas, provided effective heat mitigation. Interviews confirmed that excessive heat conditions at preschool yards resulted in tired, drowsy and overheated children as well as forcing the preschool to prioritise care over pedagogical activities. The results demonstrated that heat stress occurs at Gothenburg preschools, with difficulties in ensuring the well-being of children at many preschools as a consequence. Many preschools need more shade, preferably from trees to provide healthy and secure environments for preschool children. Finally, the study highlights the need for more research on how weather and outdoor environments affect children's activity and well-being.
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| 2. |
- Bäcklin, Oskar, 1991, et al.
(författare)
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Outdoor heat stress at preschools during an extreme summer in Gothenburg, Sweden - Preschool teachers’ experiences contextualized by radiation modelling
- 2022
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Ingår i: Multiple Nordic Geographies 9th Nordic Geographers Meeting 19th - 22nd of June 2022 Joensuu, Finland.
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- With increasing urbanisation and climate change, heat stress issues are becoming increasingly important to consider in order to create sustainable urban environments worldwide. Heat affects all groups in society, although small children are especially vulnerable due to physiological factors as well as limitations in their everyday mobility. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that outdoor areas used by children, such as preschools provide healthy safe thermal conditions. Trees are proven effective heat mitigating objects, as well as highly appreciated features of preschool yards for their aesthetic and pedagogical aspects. However, there is a large variation in the amount of trees at preschool yards which can prove to be problematic regarding thermal comfort and well-being for both children and preschool teachers today and in the future. Using a mixed-method approach consisting of 19 interviews with preschool teachers, and modelling outdoor thermal conditions on 440 preschool yards, the occurrence of heat stress in Gothenburg preschools during the heat wave of 2018 and its effects on preschools has been studied. One third of modelled preschool yards were found to have more than 50% of the preschool yard area exposed to strong heat stress during a warm and sunny summer days, implying children in many preschools have significantly less play area than current guidelines deem sufficient. Shading, which was found mainly provided by trees within preschool yards rather than from objects in surrounding areas, provide effective heat mitigation. Shading devices such as shade-sails were found prone to breakage and not providing sufficient shading. Thus, shading devices are not suggested as a long-term solution for heat mitigation at preschool yards. Interviews confirmed that excessive heat conditions at preschool yards cause tired, drowsy and overheated children as well as forcing the preschool to prioritise care over pedagogical activities. The results demonstrated that heat stress is a problem at many Gothenburg preschools, with difficulties in ensuring the well-being of children at many preschools as a consequence. The strong correlation found between amount of trees at preschool yards and less heat stress highlight the importance of trees for heat mitigation.
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| 3. |
- Bäcklin, Oskar, 1991, et al.
(författare)
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Urban greenery variation between residential typologies: Implications for recreation
- 2024
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Ingår i: Trees, Forests and People. - 2666-7193. ; 16
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The importance of greenery for human well-being and recreation in urban areas is well-known. While many studies have examined the recreational importance of large green spaces, parks, and forests, the greenery encountered in our everyday surroundings, particularly in areas near our residences, has not been extensively researched. In this study, we investigated differences in tree canopy coverage, ground- and total amount of greenery among four common Nordic residential typologies, as well as how this greenery is perceived in terms of recreational values by residents. We utilized GIS-analysis and survey data for this investigation. The results revealed significant variations in urban greenery and recreational values between typologies, with modern dense residential areas being much less green and assessed to provide the least recreational values. Furthermore, the results suggest that trees and lawns play crucial roles in shaping residential areas that are pleasant to live in. These findings offer insights into the characteristics and challenges associated with the amount of greenery in various typologies, as well as preferences towards different types of greenery important for creating enjoyable outdoor residential environments. Finally, the results emphasize the importance of fine-scale investigation of greenery in residential areas.
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| 4. |
- Khorram-Manesh, Amir, 1958, et al.
(författare)
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Profiling Collapsing Half Marathon Runners-Emerging Risk Factors : Results from Gothenburg Half Marathon
- 2020
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Ingår i: Sports. - : MDPI. - 2075-4663. ; 8:1, s. 1-11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Among several serious medical conditions, arrhythmia and heat stroke are two important causes of death during endurance races. Clinically, collapsing might be the first sign of these serious conditions and may mimic the more common and benign exercise-associated collapse. Several risk factors have been reported in the literature. We aimed to conduct a qualitative study to find a perceived risk profile among runners who collapsed and who were transported by ambulances to the nearest hospital during Gothenburg's half marathon (2010-2017). Collapsing runners seem to lack the ability to make a decision to withdraw from the contest despite being exhausted. They feel the pain, but are unable to put meaning to their feeling, to adjust their pacing, and to handle other influences. Consequently, they do not overcome the problem or assess the situation. These individual mental characteristics may indicate a unique profile for collapsing runners. Pre-race health control and educational initiatives aiming at mental preparedness and information before endurance races might be a necessary step to avoid life-threatening complications.
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| 5. |
- Lindberg, Fredrik, 1974, et al.
(författare)
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Observations and modelling of mosquito prevalence within urban areas – A case study from Uppsala, Sweden
- 2024
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Ingår i: Urban Ecosystems. - 1083-8155 .- 1573-1642.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Urban green–blue infrastructure (GBI) can provide important benefits to urban residents but may also affect mosquito abundance, with associated negative nuisance and infection transmission impacts. This study addresses important knowledge and quantification gaps for the relationships between mosquito prevalence and GBI features within cities. This is done for the city of Uppsala in Sweden as an urban case example, where mosquitos were captured and ambient air temperature and humidity were observed at seven different locations in the summer of 2022. A weighted multi-critera analysis (WMCA) model was developed based on relevant open data and open tools for resolving the mosquito (Culex pipiens) variations based on geographical variables, such as land cover/use, leaf area index, and building and green (vegetation) area fractions, within the city. The results show a clear relationship between mosquito prevalence and green-area fraction (of grass and trees), indicating that urban GBI extension can enhance mosquito prevalence, with possible associated negative impacts. This relationship is supported directly by data, showing significantly higher mosquito prevalence with higher ambient humidity, which in turn is related to larger green-area fraction. The developed WMCA model emerges as a promising tool, e.g., for urban development planning that needs to account for and seek relevant trade-off balances between positive and negative effects of urban GBI changes.
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| 6. |
- Olvmo, Mats, 1956, et al.
(författare)
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Sub-arctic palsa degradation and the role of climatic drivers in the largest coherent palsa mire complex in Sweden (Vissatvuopmi), 1955-2016
- 2020
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 10:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Substantial palsa degradation has occurred in Fennoscandia, which is considered to be driven by global climate change. Deeper understanding of the role of different climatic drivers on palsa decay, however, is lacking. We use meteorological data and aerial photographs from 1955 to 2016 to statistically identify the most important climatic drivers affecting changes in lateral-temporal palsa decay rates in the largest coherent palsa complex in Sweden, Vissatvuopmi. We show that wetter, warmer and shorter winters are the main causes of large and rapid changes in lateral-palsa extent since the mid-1950s. By analyzing meteorological data from the 1880s to present, we show that average annual temperature conditions have been unfavourable for palsas for more than a century and average annual precipitation conditions have been unfavourable since the 1940s. The decay rates have likely been amplified over the past 50-60 years, and in particular over the most recent decades, due to the combined effect of adverse air temperature and precipitation conditions. Palsa loss is expected to continue, most likely at a higher rate than today, with serious ecological impacts as a consequence.
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| 7. |
- Olvmo, Mats, 1956, et al.
(författare)
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Vissátvuopmi palsmyr – en naturtyp på väg att försvinna
- 2020
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Ingår i: Geologiskt Forum. - 1104-4721. ; 108, s. 4-11
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Det förändrade klimatet i Norden får konskevenser för naturen på många sätt. En naturtyp som påverkas är palsmyrarna som finns i nordligaste Sverige i områden där permafrost förekommer. En detaljerad studie av dessa palsmyrar visar att de inom en ganska snar framtid kan komma att försvinna.
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| 8. |
- Reese, Heather, 1964, et al.
(författare)
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Multi-scale remote sensing observations of a palsa in degradation phase
- 2021
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Ingår i: EGU General Assembly 2021, online, 19–30 Apr 2021, EGU21-14455, 2021. - : Copernicus GmbH.
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- <p>The Viss&#225;tvuopmi palsa complex (N 68&#176;74&#8242;50&#8242;&#8242;, E 21&#176;11&#8242;30&#8221;) is the largest coherent palsa complex in Sweden (ca 274 ha). Aerial photo-interpretation over an area covered by plateau palsas showed a 30% decline in lateral area -- from ca 70 to 49 ha -- that occurred between 1955 to 2016 (Olvmo et al., 2020). Within Viss&#225;tvuopmi, we have more closely studied two single palsas, one dome-shaped and one ridge-shaped, for changes in extent, height and vegetation composition. Manual interpretation of aerial photography between 1955 and 2016 show lateral degradation of 35% and 54% for the dome and ridge palsas, respectively. Since 2018 we have monitored the palsas using images from drones as well as analysis of Planet Dove and Sentinel-2 satellite imagery. Photogrammetry is used to produce orthophotos as well as digital surface models (DSMs) from the drone images, and compared to earlier LiDAR and aerial photo DSMs, to study lateral and vertical degradation.</p><p>The drone-generated DSMs from 2018, 2019 and 2020 show further lateral degradation of the two large palsas. In 2020 a rapid change in vegetation composition was seen on the dome-shaped palsa, where a 250 m<sup>2</sup> area of <em>Betula nana</em> and <em>Empetrum hermaphroditum</em> transitioned to lichen. This vegetation change could be seen in spectral data from both drone and satellite platforms. The future development of this palsa, monitored annually using both fine and medium spatial resolution data, will give insight into the timing and signs of the individual palsas in stages of degradation.</p>
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| 9. |
- Thorsson, Sofia, 1972, et al.
(författare)
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Is Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) a superior screening tool for heat stress risk than Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index? : Eight years of data from the Gothenburg half marathon
- 2021
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Ingår i: British Journal of Sports Medicine. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 0306-3674 .- 1473-0480. ; 55:15, s. 825-830
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index is a common tool to screen for heat stress for sporting events. However, the index has a number of limitations. Rational indices, such as the physiological equivalent temperature (PET) and Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), are potential alternatives. Aim: To identify the thermal index that best predicts ambulance-required assistances and collapses during a city half marathon. Methods: Eight years (2010-2017) of meteorological and ambulance transport data, including medical records, from Gothenburg's half-marathon were used to analyse associations between WBGT, PET and UTCI and the rates of ambulance-required assistances and collapses. All associations were evaluated by Monte-Carlo simulations and leave-one-out-cross-validation. Results: The PET index showed the strongest correlation with both the rate of ambulance-required assistances (R2=0.72, p=0.008) and collapses (R2=0.71, p=0.008), followed by the UTCI (R2=0.64, p=0.017; R2=0.64, p=0.017) whereas the WBGT index showed substantially poorer correlations (R2=0.56, p=0.031; R2=0.56, p=0.033). PET stages of stress, match the rates of collapses better that the WBGT flag colour warning. Compared with the PET, the WBGT underestimates heat stress, especially at high radiant heat load. The rate of collapses increases with increasing heat stress; large increase from the day before the race seems to have an impact of the rate of collapses. Conclusion: We contend that the PET is a better predictor of collapses during a half marathon than the WBGT. We call for further investigation of PET as a screening tool alongside WBGT.
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| 10. |
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