Overview of Existing Heat-Health Warning Systems in Europe

Abstract

The frequency of extreme heat events, such as the summer of 2003 in Europe, and their corresponding consequences for human beings are expected to increase under a warmer climate. The joint collaboration of institutional agencies and multidisciplinary approaches is essential for a successful development of heat-health warning systems and action plans which can reduce the impacts of extreme heat on the population. The present work constitutes a state-of-the-art review of 16 European heat-health warning systems and heat-health action plans, based on the existing literature, web search (over the National Meteorological Services websites) and questionnaires. The aim of this study is to pave the way for future heat-health warning systems, such as the one currently under development in the framework of the Horizon 2020 HEAT-SHIELD project. Some aspects are highlighted among the variety of examined European warning systems. The meteorological variables that trigger the warnings should present a clear link with the impact under consideration and should be chosen depending on the purpose and target of the warnings. Setting long-term planning actions as well as pre-alert levels might prevent and reduce damages due to heat. Finally, education and communication are key elements of the success of a warning system.

Towards health for future

“…Heat warning systems have been proposed as an appropriate adaptation measure, but Toloo et al (2013) found evidence for their efficiency to be scarce in 2013. Since then, several new studies provide evidence for the health benefits of heat warning systems, although it is still not entirely clear what specific measures are most effective and how the target group is best reached (Casanueva et al 2019).…”

The Heat Health Warning System in Germany—Application and Warnings for 2005 to 2019

“…Specific periods of heat are predicted by the numerical weather forecast as part of the HHWS, which are epidemiologically known to have negative implications on human health [6]. Sixteen European HHWSs have currently been reviewed [8]. With respect to the criteria for issuing a heat warning, the HHWSs in Europe show heterogeneity, while the implemented intervention strategies are similar.…”

“…With respect to the criteria for issuing a heat warning, the HHWSs in Europe show heterogeneity, while the implemented intervention strategies are similar. Many countries such as the Netherlands, Hungary, Portugal, Slovenia, North Macedonia, Romania, Sweden, and Greece use maximum temperature or mean temperature [8]. In some countries such as France, England, Spain, and Belgium, the warnings are based on maximum and minimum temperature.…”

“…In some countries such as France, England, Spain, and Belgium, the warnings are based on maximum and minimum temperature. Only a few countries take into account other relevant meteorological variables such as humidity (Switzerland), air masses (Italy), humidity, wind speed, and solar and thermal radiation (Austria, Germany) [8]. Epidemiological studies of mortality data are used in most countries to determine the threshold above which a warning is issued.…”

Estimation of Time-Course Core Temperature and Water Loss in Realistic Adult and Child Models with Urban Micrometeorology Prediction

“…WBGT is also used as a metric in municipalities. In addition, heatstroke warning systems have been introduced using several indices for thermal stress in many countries [4]. Conventional indices are mainly based upon the measurement every several hours with an instrument fixed in the shade in each municipality.…”