THE IMPORTANCE OF AIR-QUALITY IN HUMAN BIOMETEOROLOGY

Often we encounter a misunderstanding based on the assertion that the criterion of air quality is excluded from studies into meteorology and climatology. In contrast to this, it must be stressed that the admixt ures and pollutants pertaining to air quality criteria belong to the a tmosphere and therefore, of course, to the field of meteorology, and d ue to their possible effects also to human biometeorology. A normal we ather forecast should include data concerning the concentrations of oz one, nitrogen dioxide, and other substances. Biometeorological weather classifications should also include mention of air quality rather mor e than previously. For instance, the classification after Bucher used in Germany is referred to and supplemented with respect to air quality . Analogous relationships hold true for the global classification of c limates. As an example, the well-known classification after Koeppen is supplemented according to air quality.