Changes in the frequency, duration, and severity of climate extremes are forecast to occur under global climate change. The impacts of climate extremes on forest productivity and health remain difficult to predict due to potential interactions with disturbance events and forest dynamics-changes in forest stand composition, density, size and age structure over time. Such interactions may lead to...

We present a new statistical method to optimally link local weather extremes to large-scale atmospheric circulation structures. The method is illustrated using July-August daily mean temperature at 2m height (T2m) time-series over the Netherlands and 500 hPa geopotential height (Z500) time-series over the Euroatlantic region of the ECMWF reanalysis dataset (ERA40). The method identifies pattern...

This article considers the phenomenon of psychrophily, the ability to grow down to or below 0 °C, as displayed by microorganisms. Being small, bacteria, yeasts, fungi, and microalgae are unable to insulate themselves against the effects of cold; therefore, they must adapt their structure if they are to survive and grow successfully in cold habitats. Following a discussion of the types of cold-a...

In this paper we review the current instrumental evidence regarding climate variations and change during the 20th century emphasizing those changes that are likely to have direct interactions with the biosphere. Three basic questions are addressed: (1) Is the climate getting warmer, (2) is the hydrologic cycle changing, and (3) is the climate becoming more extreme. Based on global near-surface ...

In this study the Taguchi method, has been applied to optimize the heat treatment parameters for the corrosion resistance of AA6061 aluminum alloy. The experimental design consisted of four parameters (aging temperature, aging time, quenching environment and NaCl concentration), each containing three levels. Tafel polarization measurements were carried out to determine the corrosion resistance ...

Aerosols of Mycoplasma pneumoniae were prepared at each of eight relative humidities between 0 and 85% and at five separate temperatures between 10 and 43 C. Survival of these organisms was found to be a function of both relative humidity and temperature. However, the temperature response was mediated by humidity in that the effects of temperature could be observed only if some water vapor was ...

Homeostasis is the ability of physiological systems to regain functional balance following environment or experimental insults and synaptic homeostasis has been demonstrated in various species following genetic or pharmacological disruptions. Among environmental challenges, homeostatic responses to temperature extremes are critical to animal survival under natural conditions. We previously repo...

Rising CO2 in the atmosphere is the main cause of anthropogenic climate change, and the data shows a clear increase in global temperature of about 1 °C since pre-industrial levels. Changes in climate extremes are also occurring, with observed increases in the frequency of heat waves, in intense precipitation (rainfall and snowfall) in many places, and in sea level and storm surges. A changing c...