The aim of this paper was to assess the impact of heat-waves on mortality in ten Czech cities, using data recorded during the summers of 2015 and 2016. Temperature-related mortality during heat-waves was investigated by comparing mortality figures on heat-wave days and those on other days by means of the Mann-Whitney U test. Results for all-cause mortality, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases (CVD+R) mortality, as well as for mortality in the over-65 age group, show statistically significant differences (p <0.05) during heat-waves compared with other days in seven of ten cities investigated. The effect of heat-waves on mortality did not reach statistical significance in Olomouc, Plzeň and Liberec. The results suggest that further studies addressing spatial patterns of mortality during heat-waves in urban areas are required to assess the vulnerability of the urban populations in particular cities and types of neighbourhood.

The paper summarizes the results of wind velocity measurement in differentdistances from windbreak in combination with optical porosity (OP) determination indifferent periods. Experimental data were obtained by direct measurement of wind speedand OP analyses of images of four windbreaks in Southern Moravia (part of Czech Republic).Wind speed at 2 m above the soil surface in a defined distance from windbreakhad been measured since 2006. Thirty images of different phenological stages of selectedwindbreaks from 2006 to 2010 were analyzed. Windward or leeward images were convertedinto black and white spectrum. All available measurements were used for a mapcreation. The highest values of OP (up to 50%) are achieved in non-vegetation period.Due to the high OP variability in height of terminal tree branches “OP reduced” wasalso assessed (just squares to 2/3 height of windbreaks were evaluated). The wind speedreduction on the leeward side relatively strongly correlated with OP value. The highestcorrelation was found out when the wind speed measurement at 50 m on leeward side wasused. The dependence decreases with increasing distance. Full foliage in summer (10%OP) reduces a wind speed about 60% at 50 m and about 30% at 150 m on the leeward.These values for non-foliaged windbreaks decrease to 80 and 90%. Maximum distanceof windbreak effect on wind speed reduction was found out by the extrapolation of thecurves constructed using the regression equation of wind speed reduction in dependenceon OP and different distances from the windbreak. Regardless of OP value, the reductioneffect disappears at a distance of 250 m. The quietest zone of evaluated windbreak withan average height of windbreaks 15–18 m was detected in the area about four times theheight (4H). The effect of windbreaks decreases with increasing porosity.

Air temperature and humidity conditions were monitored in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic, by a network of meteorological stations. Meteorological sensors were placed across a representative variety of urban and suburban environments. The data collected over the 2011–2014 period are analysed in this paper. The data from reference standard meteorological stations were used for comparison and modelling purposes. Air temperatures at the points of interest were successfully modelled using regression relationships. The spatial expression of point measurements of air temperatures was provided by GIS methods in combination with CORINE land cover layer, and satellite thermal images were used to evaluate the significance of these methods. The use of standard climate information has low priority for urban planners. The impact of the urban heat island on city residents and visitors was evaluated using the HUMIDEX index, as it is more understandable for urban planners than temperature conditions as such. The aim of this paper is the modification, description and presentation of urban climate evaluation methods that are easily useable for spatial planning purposes. These methods are based on comprehensible, easily available but quality data and results. This unified methodology forms a theoretical basis for better urban planning policies to mitigate the urban heat island effects

The current application of local climate zones (LCZs) often ends with (inter)zonal comparation of land surface temperature (LST) or air temperature (AT). LST evaluation employs an enhanced concept of LCZs together with cluster analysis for LCZs grouped based on LST. The paper attempts to combine them into a complex approach derived from the case study on a medium-sized Central European city (Hradec Králové, the Czech Republic). In particular, the paper addresses the following. (i) The relation of LST and AT, when the daily course of temperature profile ranging clear off the surface up to 2 m was fitted by a rational 2D function. The obtained equation enables derivation of the AT from LST and vice versa. (ii) The differences in thermal response of LCZs based on LST or AT, where the highest average LST and average maximum LST show LCZs 10, 2, 3 and 8, i.e., with a significant proportion of artificial surfaces. The cluster of LCZs with a significant representation of vegetation, LCZs 9, B, D, A and G, have significantly lower LST. (iii) The contribution of LCZs to understanding of LST/AT relation and whether their specific relation could be expected in particular LCZs, when subsequent interaction assessment of LST and AT revealed statistically their significant correlation in LCZs for certain cases.

Forest ecosystems are faced with a variety of threats, including increasingly prolonged droughts and other abiotic stresses such as extreme high temperatures, very strong wind, invasive insect outbreaks, and the rapid spread of pathogens. The aim of the study was to define crucial abiotic stressors affecting Central Europe forest ecosystems and, with regard to their possible simultaneous effect, develop a universal method of multi-hazard evaluation. The method was then applied to the particular area of interest represented by part of the Czech Republic with forest land cover (12–19 ° E, 48–51 ° N). Based on National Threat Analysis, the most significant threats of natural origin with a close relationship to forest stability were identified as drought, high temperature, and wind gusts. Using suitable indicators, a level of their risk based on occurrence and consequences was estimated. The resulting combined level of risk, divided into five categories, was then spatially expressed on a grid map. The novelty of our paper lies in: (i) all relevant climatic data were combined and evaluated simultaneously with respect to the different level of risk, (ii) the developed methodological road map enables an application of the method for various conditions, and (iii) multiple hazards were estimated for the case study area.

Despite all the complications that arise with root research, such as?slow, laborious, and unclear genetics, roots are a?promising object of?interest for breeders because many root traits are compatible with high yield potential. It?is a?great ...