Near-ground air temperature (T _a) and land surface temperature (T _s) are important parameters in studies related to variations in hydrology, biodiversity and climate change. However, complicated mountainous terrain tends to hinder observations in such areas. The scarce observations from mountainous areas can be augmented with data from a 1 km high spatial resolution data set. This data set is obtained from the land surface temperature element of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments installed on the Aqua and Terra Earth observation satellites from NASA. This study used regional monthly mean T _a data for Taiwan as a reference to assess the monthly mean T _s data set. The results showed that the two sets of data had correlation coefficients of 0.91–0.96, and the standard deviations of the differences between the two sets were 1.25–1.77°C. These results could serve as a reference for research related to climate and ecology. Further analysis indicated some possible sources of bias between T _s and T _a: (1) the significant influences caused by soil moisture between wet and dry seasons; (2) the difference between ground-based weather station elevation and 1 km grid-averaged elevation; and (3) interaction among the satellite view, solar zenith angle and terrain gradient. When the T _s product (V005) is used directly in ecological study and application, it is essential to have a clear knowledge of the bias and its possible causes.

Using the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) curve number (CN) procedure for estimating runoff volume on an ungauged forest watershed remains controversial because little guidance has been provided for defining appropriate CN values. In this study, alternative methods for assigning CN values (CNs) were assessed to determine whether these methods provide acceptable estimates of runoff on forested watersheds. The estimated CNs varied between the methods employed, showing the highest CN values when derived from a probabilistic method and lowest when derived from a graphical method. The tabulated CN values in Section 4 of the National Engineering Handbook (NEH-4) had relatively higher bias compared to those derived from measured rainfall-runoff data. The storm runoff volume was predicted using the assigned CNs and compared with the observations. The coefficients of determination and RMSE values between the measured and estimated runoff volumes varied with the methods employed. The highest watershed average RMSE value was obtained by the use of the tabulated CN values in NEH-4 (51.19 mm), while arithmetic mean approach provided the lowest average RMSE value of 24.38 mm, even though this method requires intensive data collection. Among the alternatives, probabilistic method was found to be the most reliable in determining CNs for forest cover with limited data. The estimated runoff largely agreed with the observations. Therefore, the revised CNs can be used for estimating storm runoff from ungauged, mountainous forests.

Soil respiration represents the second largest carbon flux, next to photosynthesis of the terrestrial biosphere, and thus plays a dual role in regional and global carbon cycles. However, soil respiration in Asian monsoon forests with high rainfall has rarely been studied. In this study, we continuously measured soil respiration using a 12-channel automated chamber system in a 61-year-old Japanese cedar forest in central Taiwan with annual rainfall greater than 2500 mm. A 4-year (2011–2014) continuous half-hourly dataset was used to quantify the influences of soil temperature and moisture, especially rainfall events, on both total soil respiration (Rs) and heterotrophic respiration (Rh). The annual mean Rs was approximately 10.8 t C ha⁻¹ (ranging from 10.7 to 10.9) t C ha⁻¹, with Rh contributing approximately 74.6% (ranging from 71.7% to 80.2%). Large seasonal variations in both Rs and Rh were primarily controlled by soil temperature. Over 45.8% of total annual rainfall amounts were provided by strong rainfall events (over 50 mm), and over 40% of rainfall events occurred during summers between 2012 and 2014. These strong rainfall events caused rainwater to enter soil pores and cover the soil surface, which resulted in limited soil microorganism activity and, consequently, restricted CO₂ production. The mean Q₁₀ values were 2.38 (ranging from 1.77 to 2.65) and 2.02 (ranging from 1.71 to 2.34) for Rs and Rh, respectively. The Q₁₀ values in this study, which were lower than in global forest ecosystems, may imply that the interannual Rs values observed in this study that were caused by high rainfall were less temperature-dependent than the Rs levels in global forest ecosystems. Both Rs and Rh were negatively correlated with soil moisture, which indicated that the soil moisture levels in the studied forest were usually under saturated conditions. These results also provide the lack of data for respiration in the Asian monsoon region under high-rainfall conditions.

Little evidence is available about the relationship between ambient temperatures and hypoglycemia in Taiwan. The purpose of the present paper is to investigate whether there is an association between ambient temperatures and hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes. An ecological study was conducted to analyze the type 2 diabetes dataset of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program. Every episode of hypoglycemia diagnosed at emergency department among subjects with type 2 diabetes was identified monthly between 2006 and 2013. Average monthly ambient temperatures in Celsius between 2006 and 2013 were measured according to the database of the Central Weather Bureau in Taiwan. The incidence rates of hypoglycemia were higher during the period of cold ambient temperatures (from December to March) than the period of warm ambient temperatures (from April to November). The peak period of hypoglycemia always occurred in winter months (January and February). Patients with type 2 diabetes in Taiwan are more susceptible to hypoglycemia during the period of cold ambient temperatures, particularly in winter months. Clinicians in Taiwan should remind patients to make a preventive strategy for hypoglycemia during the periods of cold ambient temperatures.

Objective The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between ambient temperature, ultraviolet radiation, and the development of herpes zoster in Taiwan. Methods An ecological study was conducted to analyze the database of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program. Participants aged ≥20 years with newly diagnosed herpes zoster between 2003 and 2012 were selected for analysis. The monthly incidence rate of herpes zoster was measured between 2003 and 2012. Monthly average ambient temperature in Celsius (°C) between 2003 and 2012 was measured according to the official database of the Central Weather Bureau in Taiwan. Monthly accumulated ultraviolet radiation (MJ m^‐2) between 2003 and 2012 was measured according to the official database of the Environmental Protection Administration in Taiwan. Results The overall incidence rates of herpes zoster ranged from 3.21 to 4.47per 10,000 persons per month from 2003 to 2012.The monthly average ambient temperature was higher and the monthly accumulated ultraviolet radiation was stronger from May to October. The incidence rates of herpes zoster seemed to be high during the period of high ambient temperature and strong ultraviolet radiation (from May to October).Whenever ambient temperature increased 1°C per month, the incidence rate of herpes zoster increased 0.072 per 10,000 persons per month. Whenever ultraviolet radiation increased 1 MJ m^‐2 per month, the incidence rate of herpes zoster increased 0.313 per 10,000 persons per month. Conclusion There is a significant association between ambient temperature, ultraviolet radiation, and the development of herpes zoster in Taiwan. The incidence rate of herpes zoster is high during the period of high ambient temperature and strong ultraviolet radiation. Low ambient temperature and weak ultraviolet radiation might be beneficial for the prevention of herpes zoster.