Microclimate Variation and Estimated Heat Stress of Runners in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Marathon
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will be held in July and August. As these are the hottest months in Tokyo, the risk of heat stress to athletes and spectators in outdoor sporting events is a serious concern. This study focuses on the marathon races, which are held outside for a prolonged time, and evalu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-05-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/9/5/192 |
| _version_ | 1818305610391748608 |
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| author | Eichi Kosaka Akiko Iida Jennifer Vanos Ariane Middel Makoto Yokohari Robert Brown |
| author_facet | Eichi Kosaka Akiko Iida Jennifer Vanos Ariane Middel Makoto Yokohari Robert Brown |
| author_sort | Eichi Kosaka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will be held in July and August. As these are the hottest months in Tokyo, the risk of heat stress to athletes and spectators in outdoor sporting events is a serious concern. This study focuses on the marathon races, which are held outside for a prolonged time, and evaluates the potential heat stress of marathon runners using the COMFA (COMfort FormulA) Human Heat Balance (HBB) Model. The study applies a four-step procedure: (a) measure the thermal environment along the marathon course; (b) estimate heat stress on runners by applying COMFA; (c) identify locations where runners may be exposed to extreme heat stress; and (d) discuss measures to mitigate the heat stress on runners. On clear sunny days, the entire course is rated as ‘dangerous’ or ‘extremely dangerous’, and within the latter half of the course, there is a 10-km portion where values continuously exceed the extremely dangerous level. Findings illustrate which stretches have the highest need for mitigation measures, such as starting the race one hour earlier, allowing runners to run in the shade of buildings or making use of urban greenery including expanding the tree canopy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T06:29:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-493827fb70af49d28bef7bbf285e5dcb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T06:29:19Z |
| publishDate | 2018-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-493827fb70af49d28bef7bbf285e5dcb2022-12-21T23:56:39ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332018-05-019519210.3390/atmos9050192atmos9050192Microclimate Variation and Estimated Heat Stress of Runners in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic MarathonEichi Kosaka0Akiko Iida1Jennifer Vanos2Ariane Middel3Makoto Yokohari4Robert Brown5Department of Urban Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, JapanDepartment of Urban Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, JapanClimate, Atmospheric Science & Physical Oceanography, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USADepartment of Geography and Urban Studies, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USADepartment of Urban Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, JapanDepartment of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, College of Architecture, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USAThe Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will be held in July and August. As these are the hottest months in Tokyo, the risk of heat stress to athletes and spectators in outdoor sporting events is a serious concern. This study focuses on the marathon races, which are held outside for a prolonged time, and evaluates the potential heat stress of marathon runners using the COMFA (COMfort FormulA) Human Heat Balance (HBB) Model. The study applies a four-step procedure: (a) measure the thermal environment along the marathon course; (b) estimate heat stress on runners by applying COMFA; (c) identify locations where runners may be exposed to extreme heat stress; and (d) discuss measures to mitigate the heat stress on runners. On clear sunny days, the entire course is rated as ‘dangerous’ or ‘extremely dangerous’, and within the latter half of the course, there is a 10-km portion where values continuously exceed the extremely dangerous level. Findings illustrate which stretches have the highest need for mitigation measures, such as starting the race one hour earlier, allowing runners to run in the shade of buildings or making use of urban greenery including expanding the tree canopy.http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/9/5/192urban microclimateheat stressCOMFA Human Heat Balance ModelTokyo 2020 Olympic Gamesmarathon games |
| spellingShingle | Eichi Kosaka Akiko Iida Jennifer Vanos Ariane Middel Makoto Yokohari Robert Brown Microclimate Variation and Estimated Heat Stress of Runners in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Marathon Atmosphere urban microclimate heat stress COMFA Human Heat Balance Model Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games marathon games |
| title | Microclimate Variation and Estimated Heat Stress of Runners in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Marathon |
| title_full | Microclimate Variation and Estimated Heat Stress of Runners in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Marathon |
| title_fullStr | Microclimate Variation and Estimated Heat Stress of Runners in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Marathon |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microclimate Variation and Estimated Heat Stress of Runners in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Marathon |
| title_short | Microclimate Variation and Estimated Heat Stress of Runners in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Marathon |
| title_sort | microclimate variation and estimated heat stress of runners in the 2020 tokyo olympic marathon |
| topic | urban microclimate heat stress COMFA Human Heat Balance Model Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games marathon games |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/9/5/192 |
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