Presentation by Pablo Fernández Arroyabe from Geobiomet Research Group, University of Cantabria on Esri European User Conference 2011.

1. BIOMETEOROLOGY, HEALTH
WARNING SYSTEMS AND
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGIES
GEOBIOMET RESEARCH GROUP
UNIVERSITY OF CANTABRIA - Pablo Fdez-Arroyabe

2. INDEX
1. BIOMETEOROLOGY
2. WEATHER & HEALTH
3. GIS & BIOMETEOROLOGY: PRONBIOMET
4. MAIN OUTCOMES
5. CONCLUSIONS

3. BIOMETEOROLOGY
BIOMETEOROLOGY
WHERE? WHEN?
ANSWERS
BIOMETEOROLOGY is an interdisciplinary science
that study relationships between atmospheric
processes and living organisms

4. BIOMETEOROLOGY
Funded on Augut 29th 1956 at the UNESCO headquarters in
Paris:
- Dr. S.W. Tromp - Dutch Geologist
- Dr. H. Ungeheuer – German meteorologist
- Several experts on human physiology from USA
Dr. Sargent (USA) was the first president of ISB

5. BIOMETEOROLOGY
International Journal Bulletin International Congress

6. BIOMETEOROLOGY
ANIMAL, VEGETAL AND HUMAN

7. BIOMETEOROLOGY
HEALTH AND ADAPTATION
From a Biometeorological
point of view
The inability to adapt to
a new atmospheric variability
and change can generate
HEALTH CRISIS

8. VARIABILITY AND CHANGE
CLIMATE VARIABILITY
a changing state in a
non lineal system where
inside variables do not ever
reach a balance state

9. VARIABILITY AND CHANGE
CLIMATE VARIABILITY and CHANGE
in relation to human´s health
?

10. VARIABILITY AND CHANGE
CLIMATE VARIABILITY SCALES
LONG TERM VARIABILITY
(Inter decadal or seasonal)
SHORT TERM VARIABILITY
(Weekly, daily)
MICRO VARIABILITY
(Hourly, minutes)

11. BIOMETEOROLOGY
ADAPTATION

12. ATMOSPHERE
AND
HUMAN HEALTH

13. Physiological
VARIABLES TEMPERATURE thermoregulation
LOW TEMPERATURES HIGH TEMPERATURES
♦ HEART FREQUENCY INCREMENT
♦ MUSCULAR FIBRILATION
♦ SWEATING INCREMENT
♦ SKIN VASOCONSTRICTION
♦ HYPERVENTILATION
Fuente: CAMARA DIEZ, E. (2006) Variables meteorológicas y salud. Documentos de Sanidad Ambiental. Comunidad de Madrid

14. VARIABLES
TEMPERATURE
EXTREME COLD EXTREME HOT
Hypothermia DIRECT EFFECTS
Frostbite Dermatitis and edemas
Sun burns
Fractures
Sun stroke
Heat syncope
Heat exhaustion
INDIRECT EFFECTS
Heat waves

15. VARIABLES ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
Air is a GAS which weight is higher or lower
depending on geographic location
1. Headaches
Associated to high pressures and or sudden changes
2. Heart diseases
3. Spontaneous Pneumothorax
1. Gil Romea I, Moreno Mirallas MJ. Lesiones por frío. Arch Cir Gen Dig, 2000 Sep 5.
2. Jehle D, Moscati R. The incidente of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage with change in barometric
pressure. Am J Emerg Med 1994 Jan; 12 (1): 90-1.
3. Landers AT, Narotam PK. The effect of changes in barometric pressure on the risk of rupture of intracranial
aneurysms. Br J Neurosurgery 1997 Jun; 11(3): 191-5.

16. VARIABLES WINDS and HEALTH
COLD WINDS HOT WINDS
Parasympathetic system
Sympathetic system is Activity is stimulated (Psique)
stimulated.
Emotional disorders,
Alteration of the depressions, suicides.
respiratory dynamics
Sirocco in Sahara,
Increase of pain Föehn in The Alps
sensitivity on rheumatic Chinook in Rocky mountains
patients. Puelche in The Andes
Austru in Rumania

17. VARIABLES ATMOSPHERIC HUMIDITY
Amount of steam in the air (%)
Rhinitis y Asthma because of mites
(More important in places by the sea)
Optimum conditions: tempertaure 20-25°and air hu midity about 75%.
Asthma because of pollens

18. OTHER VARIABLES
VARIABLES
SUN RADIATION
Amount of ultraviolet radiation Sun burns, skin cancer
Amount of light Mood
PRECIPITACION (rain,snow)
Rainfall increase number of car accidents
Snow storms Increase in the number of heart attacks and cerebro-vascular problems
STORMS
Accidents because of rays. Floodings risks, cold drops, landslides
POSITIVE IONS
It is related to headaches, nasal congestion, hoarseness, sore throat,
incrrease in blood preassure.

19. COMBINED EFFECTS
VARIABLES
HUMIDITY AND HEAT WIND AND LOW Tª
HEAT INDEX WIND CHILL
+ + + + +
UNIVERSAL THERMAL PHYSIOLOGICAL EQUIVALENT
CLIMATE INDEX TEMPERATURE
UTCI PET
Prof. Dr. GERD JENDRITZKY Prof. ANDREAS MATZARAKIS

20. COMBINED EFFECTS
VARIABLES
+ + +
1. High pressure. Stability.
2. High temperatures
3. High relative humidity
4. High levels of pollution (SO2 NO2 particles…)
5. Demographic, social and personal aspects
METEOROTROPIC BOMB

21. COMBINED EFFECTS
VARIABLES
- hormonal functions are modified
- our neurotransmitters are affected
- can alter cerebral biochemistry
- affect to vasodilatation
- modify capilar resistance
- and many others…
WE KNOW FEW ABOUT
THE SPECIFIC MECHANISMS
THAT TAKE PLACE IN THESE
PROCESSESS FOR EACH PERSON

22. GIS ON
BIOMETEOROLOGICAL
FORECASTING

23. The use of GIS on Biometeorology has given the
biometeorologist an excellent opportunity to develop
early warning systems based on
biometeorological forecasting.
In this sense, the spatial component is a key issue
in the study of heat waves impacts on mortality
and also in the revision of
spatial patterns and diffusion
of some infectious diseases such as influenza or in the
cartographic representation of biometeorological
indicators such as DOA index that is successfully
implemented in health warning systems such as
Pronbiomet

24. HEAT WAVES HWS AND SPATIAL INFORMATION
USA 2005 Kalstein, L.

25. ANOTHER GERMAN EXAMPLE, 2006

27. THE FUNDAMENTS
CHANGE
Yes HEALTH
ADAPTATION?
No DISEASES

28. HEALTH WARNING SYSTEMS
BIOMETEOROLOGICAL
GIS FORECAST
DEVELOPMENT

29. METEOROGRAMS AT SPECIFIC POINTS

30. A model based on GIS exists since 1996
The first model (1996) used the daily surface synoptic data for
the regional diagnostic of the PODA index at 00 and 12 GMT.
An objective new numerical forecast model was developed in
2006. It takes on-line as input data the GFS information up to
180 hours in advance.
The outputs are 16 bio-forecast maps and
meteorograms for six different world regions.
The model makes the bio-forecast maps with the 24- hours
differences of the partial oxygen density in the air (PODA
index), with a resolution of 0.5 degree (55 km).

31. Air temperature
Air humidity
Atmospheric
GIS Pressure
MODEL Oxygen
Density

32. The global monitoring of meteor-tropic
effects on human health…
… Such as fundament to mitigate the impacts of abrupt
weather changes on health and society.
CUBA
EAST ASIA AND WEST PACIFIC ZONE NORTH AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
Luís B. Lecha, Center for Environmental Research & Services, Cuba
Pablo Fernández de Arroyabe, University of Cantabria, Spain
David Martín, University of Alicante, Spain
EUROPE

33. THE MODEL DAILY OUTPUTS
EAST ASIA AND WESTPACIFIC
NORTH
AMERICA
CUBA
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
SOUTH
AMERICA EUROPE

34. HOW TO READ THE MAPS?
Biomet. Conditions Low Latitude Middle High Latitude
Latitude
Extreme hyperoxia > 10.0 > 20.0 > 30.0
Very strong hyperoxia 8.1 to 10.0 16.1 to 20.0 24.1 to 30.0
Strong hyperoxia 6.1 to 8.0 12.1 to 16.0 18.1 to 24.0
Moderate hyperoxia 4.1 to 6.0 8.1 to 12.0 12.1 to 18.0
Weak hyperoxia 2.1 to 4.0 4.1 to 8.0 6.1 to 12.0
THE NEUTRAL ZONE -2.0 to 2.0 -4.0 to 4.0 -6.0 to 6.0
Weak hypoxia -2.1 to -4.0 -4.1 to -8.0 -6.1 to -12.0
Moderate hypoxia -4.1 to -6.0 -8.1 to -12.0 -12.1 to -18.0
Strong hypoxia -6.1 to -8.0 -12.1 to -16.0 -18.1 to -24.0
Very strong hypoxia -8.1 to -10.0 -16.1 to -20.0 -24.1 to -30.0
Extreme hypoxia < -10.0 < -20.0 < -30.0

35. BIOMETEOROLOGICAL
FORECASTING
BASED ON GIS
RESULTS

36. DATE: 17 / 11 / 2007 HYPEROXIA

37. DATE: 20 / 11 / 2007 HYPOXIA

39. BRAIN VASCULAR DISEASES
BILBAO (October – November 2007)
ENFERMEDADES CEREBRO VASCULARES en BILBAO
(Octubre - Noviembre 2007)
10
15
6
13
Nº asistencias
2
11
3
g/m
-2 9
-6 7
-10 5
-14 3
1-10 6-10 11-10 16-10 21-10 26-10 31-10 5-11 10-11 15-11 20-11 25-11 30-11
ECV DOA

40. MIGRAINES, HYPERTENSION ANDCEFALEAS
BILBAO (October - November 2007)
ENFERMEDADES HIPERTENSITIVAS y CEFALEAS en BILBAO
(Octubre - Novirmbre 2007)
10
28
6
24
2
Nº asistencias
20
3
g/m
-2
16
-6 12
-10 8
-14 4
1-10 6-10 11-10 16-10 21-10 26-10 31-10 5-11 10-11 15-11 20-11 25-11 30-11
THA CEF DOA

41. HEART RELATED DISEASES
BILBAO (October – November 2007)
CARDIOPATIAS ISQUEMICAS en BILBAO
(Octubre - Novirmbre 2007)
10 20
18
6
16
2 14
12
3
g/m
-2
10
-6 8
6
-10
4
-14 2
1-10 6-10 11-10 16-10 21-10 26-10 31-10 5-11 10-11 15-11 20-11 25-11 30-11
DOA CAI

42. ECV = BRAIN VASCULAR DISEASES
HTA-CEF-MIG = HIPERTENSION, CEFALEAS, MIGRAÑAS
CAI = CARDIOPATIAS ISQUEMICAS
FECHAS ∆ ECV HTA-CEF-MIG CAI
01/04 -7,3 6 -1 2-3 2-2
28/05 9,5 3 -1 3-3 0-4
19/06 8 3-4 5-8 2-4
15/07 6,3 3-2 2-6 4-0
2005 29/07 7,6 4-1
4-1 0-4
04/09 8,8 5 -7 3-7 3-1
22/11 6,2 0-4 5-6 4-2
30/12 -8,7 4-0 6-2 5-3

43. HTA-CEF- CAI
FECHAS ∆ ECV
MIG
03/03 -5,9 4–3 8 – 10 4–2
05/03 14,7 3–3 2–8 2–4
08/03 -6,7 2–4 3–6 3–4
04/04 -7,3 6–2 9–4 3–3
05/04 7 2–4 4–3 3–2
14/04 -8,6 5–3 5–5 0–0
18/05 7,7 4–0 8–7 4–7
2006 22/05 8,4 3–5 9–4 4–2
01/07 -5,7 8–4 4–3 0–0
20/09 -7,6 3–2 2–6 1–5
25/10 -7,5 4–3 2–7 3–3
15/11 -6,8 3–6 4–5 0–3
25/11 7,6 2–3 6–3 1–3
06/12 8 2–3 5–8 2–4
09/12 8,9 8–8 4–7 1–3

44. FECHAS ∆ ECV HTA-CEF-MIG CAI
12/02 6,7 5-3 6-7 1-4
16/02 -6 3-0 5-2 3- 4
05/03 8,6 2-3 4-2 1-3
14/05 9,7 3–6 6-2 2-1
02/07 -10 2-4 3-3 2-0
2007 14/07 7,9 0-2 7-0 3-5
16/08 8,6 4-0 1-4 3-0
18/09 6,4 2-4 9-3 3-4
18/11 -9,2 5-3 5-5 2-6
19/11 -7,9 3-5 5-9 6-3

45. BIOMETEOROLOGICAL
FORECASTING RESULTS
PERIOD 2005-2007
33 days with the highest DOA contrast
23 days (70%) ECV = > Pctil 66
25 days (75 %) HTA = > Pctil 66
28 days (84.8 %) CAI = > Pctil 66

46. CONCLUSIONS

47. A NETWORK OF VALIDATORS IS CREATED TO DETERMINE
HOW USEFUL IS EACH HEALTH WARNING SYSTEM
CREATION PROMOTION
IMPROVEMENT VALIDATION

48. CONCLUSIONS
BIOMETEOROLOGICAL
FORECASTING DESIGN
1 – Development of BHWS must be simple and based on
Geographic Information Technologies
2 - They should be designed based on the operative
systems of the weather forecasting offices
3 – They can be applied to different regions of the world
spatial information is absolutely neccesary
4 – They have to be based on an easy implementation
5 – Depends on access to medical information

49. CONCLUSIONS
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
ARE NECESSARY
IN ORDER TO DEVELOP
EARLY HEALTH WARNING SYSTEMS
BASED ON BIOMETEOROLOGICAL
FORECASTING

50. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR YOUR ATTENTION