Comparing simple and data-intensive bioclimatic indices: the pros and cons under different geographical and Climatic...

Bioclimatic comfort is an important area of research that focuses on the impact of climatic conditions on human health, comfort and performance. This study examines the differences between simple and complex bioclimatic indices, highlighting their advantages and limitations in different geographical and climatic conditions.In this context, three main bioclimatic indices used namely the Discomfort Index (DI), Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) and Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). DI is a simple method that can be calculated using only remote sensing data and has advantages for rapid assessment and planning. PET and UTCI are indices that take into account more environmental parameters and therefore provide more complex but more detailed results.In stable climatic conditions, simple indices may be sufficient for general assessments. However, in regions with rapid climate change or extreme weather events, complex indices are more effective.Considering the topographical and climatic variability of Turkiye, this study evaluated the performance of each index under different geographical and climatic conditions. To better understand the relationship between the three indices, comfort levels were assessed in 11 common classes. In this context, the comfort class includes areas where 18-23 °C is recorded for PET, 9-26 °C for UTCI and 15-20 °C for DI. The study results show that PET values tend to be higher in coastal and lowland areas, but lower in inland areas with continental climates. UTCI generally remains within the comfort range at all altitudes, especially between June and August.The annual average DI value is 23.8 °C, indicating that most of Turkiye experiences warm thermal comfort conditions.