Announcements
17 December 2025
Atmosphere Webinar | Heat Stress Quantification and Applications in Micro Scale, 21 January 2026
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 prioritize 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: 1:00 p.m. WET | 2:00 p.m. CET | 8:00 a.m. EST
Register in advance for this webinar at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/5417606390036/WN_ShGq2d-xTm-lELyQ4jgsSQ
Webinar ID: 822 6029 1006
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Webinar announcement: https://sciforum.net/event/Atmosphere-1
Register now for free!
| Speaker/Presentation | Time in WET |
| Prof. Dr. Andreas Matzarakis Chair Introduction |
1:00–1:10 p.m. |
| Prof. Dr. Andreas Matzarakis Risk Identification, Quantification, and Monitoring Through Human Biometeorological Assessment of Heat Stress The first part focuses upon extreme heat. Heat wave 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, and 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 p.m. |
| Dr. Andre Nouri Application of Climate-Resilient Design and Planning in Cities Through Measure Review Frameworks This 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 p.m. |
| Q&A Session | 2:10–2:35 p.m. |
| Prof. Dr. Andreas Matzarakis Closing of Webinar |
2:35–2:40 p.m. |
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic or institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Unable to attend? Feel free to still register; we will inform you when the recording is available.
Webinar Chair and Keynote Speaker:
- Prof. Dr. Andreas Matzarakis, Environmental Meteorology, University of Freiburg, D-79085 Freiburg, Germany; Democritus University of Thrace, 69100 Komotini, Greece;
- Dr. Andre Nouri, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (DCEA), NOVA School of Science and Technology, Lisbon, Portugal.
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
