BIOCLIMATOLOGICAL RESEARCH: THE ISSUE OF CLIMATIC SENSITIVITY

Abstract

This essay discusses the issue of climatic sensitivity and the problems inherent in its evaluation within the general context of bioclimatological research. Bioclimatologists subscribe to two general approaches when evaluating the climatic sensitivity of biota. The more conventional approach implies that repeated minor perturbations of climate have a significant impact on organism range and success. The extreme-event approach suggests that a few unique events have the greatest impact. A review of the literature seems to indicate a movement of bioclimatologists toward the extreme-event approach. It is suggested that the use of mean climatological variables probably represents an inadequate approach to explain organism success or ecotone boundaries. Rather, a small number of stressful events seems to exert a much greater influence on humans and other organisms. [Key words: bioclimatology, climatic sensitivity, synoptic approach, acclimatization.]