Assessing Heatwaves and Their Association with North African Dust Intrusions in the Algarve (Portugal)
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atmosphere Article Assessing Heatwaves and Their Association with North African Dust Intrusions in the Algarve (Portugal) Raquel Fernandes * and Marcelo Fragoso Centre of Geographical Studies, Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning (IGOT), Universidade de Lisboa, 1600-276 Lisboa, Portugal; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Heatwaves are an extreme meteorological event in which affected populations may also be exposed to deteriorated air quality conditions due to the increase in air pollutant concentrations, such 3 as PM10 (particulate matter < 10 µg/m ). In order to identify heatwaves (1973–2019) in the region of Faro (Algarve) during the hot season (April–September), the Excess Heat Factor (EHF) index was applied. The Mann–Kendall test revealed an upward trend in three heatwave metrics in Faro, and the trend of accumulated heat load (EHF load) was also positive as would be expected, but its signal was not statistically significant. An inventory of North African dust events (2006–2019) was made, and their simultaneous occurrence with heatwaves was assessed, pointing to only 20% of dust events of the Sahara occurring simultaneously with heatwave days. A cluster analysis was conducted on daily geopotential height fields at 850 hPa level over the 2006–2019 period, and four distinct patterns were identified as the most prominent synoptic circulations promoting both heatwave conditions and North African dust over the Algarve. Citation: Fernandes, R.; Fragoso, M. Keywords: atmospheric patterns; cluster analysis; Excess Heat Factor; PM10; Saharan dust events Assessing Heatwaves and Their Association with North African Dust Intrusions in the Algarve (Portugal). Atmosphere 2021, 12, 1090. https:// 1. Introduction doi.org/10.3390/atmos12091090 Heatwaves are a phenomenon known for their impacts not only on human health and mortality but also on the economy and environment [1]. There is no consensual Academic Editors: definition of this extreme meteorological event to date despite a better understanding and Alexandra Monteiro, David Carvalho more accurate heatwave assessments in addition to more characteristics in terms of their and Carla Gama description and duration [2]. The effects of abnormally high temperatures depend on both the level of exposure (frequency, duration, intensity) [3] and vulnerability of the population, Received: 12 July 2021 which may be influenced by several factors, such as physiological aspects, age, gender [4], Accepted: 21 August 2021 Published: 24 August 2021 or preexisting health conditions [5]. The impacts on mortality and morbidity have been described in many parts of the globe (e.g., [4,6–9]). Likewise, Portugal has experienced Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral heatwaves that have led to an increase in mortality, as was the case in June 1981 [10], with regard to jurisdictional claims in July 1991 [10], and during the European-wide heatwave in 2003 [11,12]. In this study, a published maps and institutional affil- more in-depth analysis of heatwaves in the southernmost Portuguese region (Algarve) was iations. conducted using the Excess Heat Factor (EHF). This index was established primarily for assessing Australian heatwaves [13] and combines both the statistical and human-impact features of the identified heatwaves [14]. More recently, studies from other countries, such as the Czech Republic [15] and Greece [14], have provided additional and useful information on the impact of these extreme heat conditions on human health. Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. During a heatwave, the affected population may suffer as a result of exposure to This article is an open access article heat stress and also due to air quality deterioration, as air pollutant concentrations, such 3 distributed under the terms and as PM10 (particulate matter < 10 µg/m ) and ozone, are frequently exacerbated under conditions of the Creative Commons anticyclonic weather conditions, increased temperatures, and light winds [5]. Recent stud- Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// ies have shown the relationship between temperature, ozone, and particulate matter in creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ premature mortality and morbidity. Therefore, it is important to reduce the concentra- 4.0/). tions of these pollutants during heatwaves [16]. The Sahara Desert is a major source of Atmosphere 2021, 12, 1090. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12091090 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/atmosphere Atmosphere 2021, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 16 these pollutants during heatwaves [16]. The Sahara Desert is a major source of dust intru- sions into the Mediterranean Sea and neighbouring countries, causing health impacts that have been demonstrated in cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, and Athens (e.g., [17,18]). However, African dust from the Sahara and Sahel regions has also been observed Atmosphere 2021, 12, 1090 in other global locations, for example, the Caribbean and Southern United2 of 16States [19]. Some studies have shown that PM10 and ozone concentrations during hot summer weather, and particularly during the most extreme heatwaves, can lead to an increase in mortalitydust intrusions [4,16,20,21]. into the Several Mediterranean authors Sea state and that neighbouring in some European countries, causingcities, heatwave health effects areimpacts more thatrelated have to been respiratory demonstrated diseases in cities than such to cardiovascular as Madrid, Barcelona, problems, Rome, e.g., and in the sum- Athens (e.g., [17,18]). However, African dust from the Sahara and Sahel regions has also mer of 2003 (June–August), around 1460 deaths were attributable to ambient PM10 expo- surebeen and observed 1400 indeaths other globalto ambient locations, ozone for example, exposu there in Caribbean the Netherlands and Southern [20]. United Stedman [21] States [19]. Some studies have shown that PM10 and ozone concentrations during hot alsosummer estimated weather, that and between particularly 225 and during 593 the addition most extremeal deaths heatwaves, were the can result lead toof anozone expo- sureincrease and in207mortality due to [PM4,1610,20 in,21 the]. Several United authors Kingdom state thatduring in some the Europeansame heatwave cities, heat- episode. waveDust effects transport are more from related the to respiratorySahara Desert diseases is one than of to cardiovascularthe most significant problems, sources e.g., of par- ticulatein the summer matter ofin 2003the southern (June–August Mediterranea), around 1460n [22]. deaths From were April attributable to September to ambient (warm sea- son),PM10 theexposure Faro district and 1400 (Algarve, deaths to ambient Portugal) ozone is exposurefrequently in theaffected Netherlands by heatwaves [20]. Sted- and dust man [21] also estimated that between 225 and 593 additional deaths were the result of ozone intrusions [23]. Its proximity to the African continent and the Sahara Desert, the latter a exposure and 207 due to PM10 in the United Kingdom during the same heatwave episode. sourceDust of dust transport emission from the and Sahara hot Desertand dry is one cont ofinental the most air significant mass formation, sources of particu- leads to greater exposurelate matter of in the the population southern Mediterranean to these phenomen [22]. Froma. April During to September these months, (warm season),there is a signifi- cantthe population Faro district (Algarve,increase Portugal)across the is frequentlyAlgarve du affectede to the by domestic heatwaves and and dustinternational intru- influx ofsions tourists. [23]. ItsAs proximity a region to characterized the African continent by beach and the and Sahara sun Desert,tourism, the latterthe Algarve a source ofis currently thedust main emission tourism and hotdestination and dry continental in Portugal, air mass recording formation, 30.9% leads of to the greater total exposure overnight of stays in the population to these phenomena. During these months, there is a significant population 2017,increase followed across theby Algarvethe Lisbon due toMetropolitan the domestic andArea, international with 25.5% influx [24]. of tourists.In view As of a these im- portantregion characterizedseasonal changes by beach in and the sun demography tourism, the Algarveof the isAlgarve, currently it the is maincrucial tourism to assess and studydestination the occurrence in Portugal, of recordingheatwaves 30.9% and ofSaharan the total Du overnightst Events stays (SDE), in 2017, as both followed are potentially responsibleby the Lisbon for Metropolitan the negative Area, effects with on 25.5% health [24]. [25–27]. In view ofNo these scientific important study seasonal has been con- ductedchanges to in date the demography to assess the of thesimultaneous Algarve, it is oc crucialcurrence to assess of heatwaves and study the and occurrence SDE in Portugal byof means heatwaves of a and systematic Saharan Dustanalysis. Events Therefore, (SDE), as both this are study potentially aims to responsible (i) identify for heatwaves the in negative effects on health [25–27]. No scientific study has been conducted to date to assess thethe Faro simultaneous (Algarve) occurrence district using of heatwaves the EHF and me SDEthod in Portugal and ascertain by means whether of a systematic their frequency, duration,analysis. Therefore,and EHF thisload study trends aims increased to (i) identify in heatwavesFaro between in the 1973 Faro (Algarve)and 2019; district (ii) analyse an inventoryusing the EHFof North method