Atmosphere Webinar | Heat Stress Quantification and Applications in Micro Scale
Atmosphere Webinar | Heat Stress Quantification and Applications in Micro Scale
21 January 2026
Atmosphere, Climate, Heat, Extreme Heat, Urban Heat Island, Thermal Indices, Climate Adaptation, Urban Microclimate, Physiologically Equivalent Temperature
Welcome from the Chair
Welcome from the Chair
1th Atmosphere Webinar
Heat Stress Quantification and Applications in Micro Scale
Extreme heat and heat waves are becoming stronger, longer, and more frequent, posing growing risks to human health and well-being. The global population is increasingly vulnerable, underscoring the need for accurate quantification of heat stress through the latest interdisciplinary scientific approaches. Effective climate adaptation must prioritise both information and early-warning systems, as well as the design of indoor, semi-outdoor, and outdoor environments that protect thermal comfort and public health. Resilient urban planning and design are therefore crucial to safeguard human well-being in an era of unprecedented and intensifying climatic challenges.
Date: 21 January 2026
Time: 01:00 p.m. WET | 02:00 p.m. CET | 08:00 p.m. EST |
Webinar ID: 822 6029 1006
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Registration
This is a FREE webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registration with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Certificates of attendance will be delivered to those who attend the live webinar.
Can't attend? Register anyway and we'll let you know when the recording is available to watch.
Event Chairs
Environmental Meteorology, University of Freiburg, D-79085 Freiburg, Germany,
Democritus University of Thrace, 69100 Komotini, Greece
Heat waves are conditions have been on the rise and will continue to increase in the future. The knowledge of the quantification of heat and especially of heat stress exposure on humans is not only a focus of climate and human biometeorology but also for public health. Thermal indices provide the possibility to quantify the effect of the thermal environment on humans. They are based on the exchange of energy between humans and the atmospheric environment. The concept of equivalent temperatures summarizes most of the effects with a value of temperature, which can be communicated better as a value of energy fluxes. The calculation of the thermal indices requires input data from meteorology and thermo-physiology. In addition, the appropriate knowledge and application of models for microscale simulations are required. The different thermal indices (PET, UTCI, mPET), along with their respective limitations and possibilities, will be presented. These shall then be looked at further in terms of how these can present and support crucial climate resilience responses within warming fabrics.
From August 2015 to March 2024, Andreas Matzarakis led the Research Centre Human Biometeorology of the German Meteorological Service in Freiburg. He has been appointed as an extraordinary Professor at the University of Freiburg since October 2006. He is also the developer of several models and tools in applied climatology and biometeorology, i.e., RayMan Model, SkyHelios Model, Climate Mapping Tool and CTIS (Climate Tourism Information Scheme).
Keynote Speakers
Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (DCEA), NOVA School of Science and Technology, Lisbon, Portugal
Measure Review Frameworks go beyond singular climatic variables and classify measures typologies into Green, Blue, Sun, and Surface. The Green framework highlights the role of vegetation typologies, species, age, and spatial configurations, including the microclimatic benefits of park cooling islands and canyon trees through shading, wind modulation, and evapotranspiration. The Blue framework demonstrates how water bodies and misting systems can regulate relative humidity and air temperature while also responding to air currents, radiation fluxes, and evaporation processes. The Sun framework focuses on how shading structures and morphological configurations mediate exposures to solar radiation, ensuring not only human thermo-physiological well-being but the psychological benefits of climatic “choice” in the public realm as well. Finally, the Surface framework examines the textures, finishes, and colors of urban materials and how these influence patterns of energy storage, reflection, and dissipation across both indoor and outdoor environments.
Andre Nouri is an architect and urbanist specializing in climate-resilient planning, environmental management, and urban climate research. His work integrates human mobility, biometeorology, and sustainable development to support local climate adaptation. He has coordinated EU-funded research and held academic posts in New Zealand, Portugal, and Türkiye. Formerly a Visiting Scientist at the University of Freiburg, he is currently an Assistant Professor at NOVA School of Science and Technology and a member of MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre.
Program
|
Speaker/Presentation |
Time in WET |
|
Prof. Dr. Andreas Matzarakis Chair Introduction |
1:00 - 1:10 pm |
|
Prof. Dr. Andreas Matzarakis Risk Identification, Quantification, and Monitoring Through Human Biometeorological Assessment of Heat Stress. The first part focuses upon extreme heat. Heat waves are conditions have been on the rise and will continue to increase in the future. The knowledge of the quantification of heat and especially of heat stress exposure on humans is not only a focus of climate and human biometeorology but also for public health. Thermal indices provide the possibility to quantify the effect of the thermal environment on humans. They are based on the exchange of energy between humans and the atmospheric environment. The concept of equivalent temperatures summarizes most of the effects with a value of temperature, which can be communicated better as a value of energy fluxes. The calculation of the thermal indices requires input data from meteorology and thermo-physiology. In addition, the appropriate knowledge and application of models for microscale simulations are required. The different thermal indices (PET, UTCI, mPET), along with their respective limitations and possibilities, will be presented. These shall then be looked at further in terms of how these can present and support crucial climate resilience responses within warming fabrics. |
1:10 - 1:40 pm |
|
Dr. Andre Nouri Application of Climate-Resilient Design and Planning in Cities Through Measure Review Frameworks. The following part focuses on the introduction of four “Measure Review Frameworks” (MRFs) that are linked to human and urban energy balance models. These frameworks go beyond singular climatic variables and classify measures typologies into Green, Blue, Sun, and Surface. The Green framework highlights the role of vegetation typologies, species, age, and spatial configurations, including the microclimatic benefits of park cooling islands and canyon trees through shading, wind modulation, and evapotranspiration. The Blue framework demonstrates how water bodies and misting systems can regulate relative humidity and air temperature while also responding to air currents, radiation fluxes, and evaporation processes. The Sun framework focuses on how shading structures and morphological configurations mediate exposures to solar radiation, ensuring not only human thermo-physiological well-being but the psychological benefits of climatic “choice” in the public realm as well. Finally, the Surface framework examines the textures, finishes, and colors of urban materials and how these influence patterns of energy storage, reflection, and dissipation across both indoor and outdoor environments. |
1:40 - 2:10 pm |
|
Q&A |
2:10 - 2:35 pm |
|
Prof. Dr. Andreas Matzarakis Closing of Webinar |
2:35 – 2:40 pm |
Relevant Special Issue
Sustainable Urban Heat Islands and Role of Urban CO2-Offsetting Mechanisms
Guest editor: Dr. Mirko Filipponi
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026
Sponsors and Partners
Organizers
