The objective of this study was to determine acute effects of SO₂ and simultaneous exposure to SO₂ and heat on plasma glucocorticoids and thyroxine levels. Male mice (160) were divided into four treatment groups: control, heat, SO₂, SO₂ and heat. These groups were further divided into four time exposures, 30 min, 1, 12 and 24 hours. The effect of heat and SO₂ as compared to heat or SO₂ alone appears to be a more rapid and prolonged elevation of glucocorticoids, while thyroxine levels showed a more rapid depression compared to heat and a greater depression as compared to the SO₂ treatment group.

The gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, is a non-native species that continues to invade areas in North America. It spreads generally through stratified dispersal where local growth and diffusive spread are coupled with long-distance jumps ahead of the leading edge. Long-distance jumps due to anthropogenic movement of life stages is a well-documented spread mechanism. Another mechanism is the atmospheric transport of early instars and adult males, believed to occur over short distances. However, empirical gypsy moth population data continue to support the possibility of alternative methods of long-range dispersal. Such dispersal events seemed to have occurred in the mid- to late-1990s with spread across Lake Michigan to Wisconsin. Such dispersal would be against the prevailing wind flow for the area and would have crossed a significant physical barrier (Lake Michigan). The climatology of the region shows that vigorous cyclones can result in strong easterly winds in the area at the time when early instars are present. It is hypothesized that these storms would enable individuals to be blown across the Lake and explain the appearance of new population centers observed at several locations on the western shore of Lake Michigan nearly simultaneously. A synoptic climatology model coupled with population dynamics data from the area was parameterized to show an association between transport events and population spread from 1996 to 2007. This work highlights the importance of atmospheric transport events relative to the invasion dynamics of the gypsy moth, and serves as a model for understanding this mechanism of spread in other related biological invasions.

 Numbers of high and moderate pollution days across the Sydney area were greater in number in the early and mid 1980s than in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The New South Wales Environment Protection agency (EPA) thought this was caused by a decrease in pollutants emitted due to more stringent emission controls. However, an examination of forecast pollution potential showed a similar decrease. The question therefore arose as to what extent the observed pollution decrease was a function of the synoptic situations and whether there were any identifiable long-term changes in these synoptic patterns. Among the results are included:

1. Identification of the main synoptic situations covering the eastern Australian region associated with moderate to high pollution events in Sydney. The major contributors were those synoptic situations which resulted in a light to moderate north-westerly airstream over the Sydney region. Charts are presented showing synoptic situations which lead to significant pollution events.

2. Possible reasons why pollution events lessened during the late 1980s and early 90s.

3. Relationships between number of pollution days and the amount of time anticyclones are located in a region (anticyclonicity). Maps are presented showing anticyclonicity anomalies for 4 months (one for each season), for which a large number of pollution days were registered. Correlations between anticyclonicity with moderate and high pollution registrations for winter and summer for the years 1978 to 1992 are discussed. In areas of significant correlations, the anticyclonicity time series for the duration 1965 to 1993 are examined. With two minor exceptions these time series show no identifiable trends during the 1978–1992 period.

Eight days of September 1985 were spent in a Swiss high-altitude meteorological station. The main facts apparent in this study at the end of summer are a great cold, with a long duration of below zero; sometimes, a severe dryness, decreasing to 1% of relstive humidity but also nearing 99%; a very high wind, blowing to 17 m/s at the maximum; and a considerable variability of these parameters in a very short time. A comparison is made with two nearby, lower altitude stations. The consequences for human confort are also considered.

The height increment of seven tree species during the vegetation period was correlated with air temperature and rainfall over 3 years. The species were divided into 2 groups according to their growth pattern: a) growth period of 7–12 decades with culmination in the middle (Larix Polonica R., Taxus Baccata L.), b) growth period of 5–9 decades with culmination at the beginning (Abies Alba M., Ulmus Montana H.).The first group was greatly, the second only slightly dependent on air temperature and rainfall. Pseudotsuga Taxifolia B.had a short growth period and the height increment was greatly weather dependent.

An environmental chamber with associated control equipment for the study of possible effects of electric fields on biological objects (small mammals) is described in detail. Temperature is controlled within 0.4‡ C, relative humidity within ± 1.5 % and pressure below or above ambient is regulated to ± 1.0 mm Hg.Sound and electrical noise absorption by the chamber insulation is better than 90%.

Given the accumulating evidence that people with underlying heart disease are a particularly vulnerable group for triggers like changing meteorological parameters, the objective of this longitudinal study was to analyze the influence of weather parameters on blood pressure, arrhythmia and ischemia in cardiovascular patients. A panel study with repeated measurements was conducted in a rehabilitation clinic in Timmendorfer Strand (Baltic Sea, Germany) with 872 cardiovascular patients. Heart rate, blood pressure and electrocardiography changes were measured during repeated bicycle ergometries. Generalized Estimating Equations were used for regression analyses of immediate, delayed and cumulative influences of the daily measured meteorological data. For men, a decrease in air temperature and in water vapor pressure doubled the risk of ST-segment depression during ergometry [odds ratio (OR) for 1 day delay: 1.88 (1.24; 2.83) for air temperature] with a delay of 1–2 days. For women, an increase of their heart rate before the start of the ergometry [same day: 4.36 beats/min (0.99; 7.74) for air temperature] and a 2- to 3-fold higher risk for ventricular ectopic beats [1 day delay: OR 2.43 (1.17; 5.05) for air temperature] was observed with an increase in temperature and water vapor pressure in almost all analyzed time-windows. The study indicates that meteorological parameters can induce changes in heart function which may lead to adverse cardiovascular events especially in susceptible, diseased individuals. The observed effect on ST-segment depression could be a link between the association of weather changes and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Studies were carried out in 29 healthy young adults in the Indian Army stationed in the plains and posted at an elevation of 3500 m for more than 6 months. After exposure to a low elevation in Delhi (260 m) for 3 weeks they were reinduced to a height of 3500 m. The subjects were divided into three groups, each of which was treated with either placebo or acetazolamide or spironolactone. The drug treatment was started immediately after their landing at high altitude and continued for 2 days only. Total body water, extracellular fluid, intracellular fluid, plasma volume, blood pH, PaO₂, PaCO₂ and blood viscosity were determined on exposure at Delhi and on re-induction to high altitude. Plasma volume was increased after the descent from high altitude and remained high for up to 21 day's study. This increased plasma volume may have some significance in the pathogenesis of pulmonary oedema. Total body water and intracellular fluid content were increased at 260 m elevation, while extracellular fluid decreased. On re-induction there was a decrease in total body water with no change in the extracellular fluid content.