{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,23]],"date-time":"2026-10-23T19:11:48Z","timestamp":1792782708010,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":23,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,22]],"date-time":"2026-09-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790035200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,22]],"date-time":"2026-09-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790035200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"name":"University of the Witwatersrand","id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/03rp50x72","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Int J Biometeorol"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Over the past four decades, a plethora of biometeorological indices has emerged. These are enabling the quantification and spatiotemporal comparison of climatic suitabilities and risks for a wide range of activities across indoor and outdoor settings. The relative mathematical simplicity of many of these indices, and the increasing availability of high-quality gridded data, mean that human biometeorological conditions can be computed rapidly and at scale. This is reflected in the literature, with considerable increases in quantitative biometeorological studies over the same period. However, with this computational ease comes a risk of the inadvertent output of spurious results; if the indices have not been carefully selected for their appropriate use for a given location, set of activities, and inherent assumptions. Where these biometeorological index outputs are used in informing policy, which ideally they should be, this risk of misinformation feeding maladaptation needs to be carefully mitigated through a thorough assessment of index applicability, suitability and validity. This paper sets out a conceptual selection framework that is guided by these three variables, following application of this approach in a range of settings, advocating for careful pre-assessment evaluation of indices in their selection.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Clinical trial registration<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Not applicable.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1007\/s00484-026-03328-9","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,22]],"date-time":"2026-09-22T06:39:08Z","timestamp":1790059148000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Critical engagement on the selection and reporting of biometeorological indices"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"70","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0854-1720","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jennifer M.","family":"Fitchett","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"3328_CR1","first-page":"101072","volume":"45","author":"CA Craig","year":"2023","unstructured":"Craig CA, Ma S, Feng S (2023) Climate resources for camping: A resource-based theory perspective. Tour Man Pers 45:101072","journal-title":"Tour Man Pers"},{"issue":"3","key":"3328_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"487","DOI":"10.1007\/s00484-016-1228-6","volume":"61","author":"CR de Freitas","year":"2017","unstructured":"de Freitas CR, Grigorieva EA (2017) A comparison and appraisal of a comprehensive range of human thermal climate indices. Int J Biometeorol 61(3):487\u2013512","journal-title":"Int J Biometeorol"},{"issue":"1","key":"3328_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2","DOI":"10.1186\/s40322-016-0034-y","volume":"3","author":"G Dubois","year":"2016","unstructured":"Dubois G, Ceron JP, Dubois C, Frias MD, Herrera S (2016) Reliability and usability of tourism climate indices. Earth Persp 3(1):2","journal-title":"Earth Persp"},{"issue":"4","key":"3328_CR4","first-page":"359","volume":"64","author":"JM Fichett","year":"2016","unstructured":"Fichett JM, Hoogendoorn G, Robinson D (2016) Data challenges and solutions in the calculation of Tourism Climate Index (TCI) scores in South Africa. Tour: Internat Interdisc J 64(4):359\u2013370","journal-title":"Tour: Internat Interdisc J"},{"issue":"1","key":"3328_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"91","DOI":"10.1080\/03736245.2018.1541022","volume":"101","author":"JM Fitchett","year":"2019","unstructured":"Fitchett JM, Hoogendoorn G (2019) Exploring the climate sensitivity of tourists to South Africa through TripAdvisor reviews. S Afr Geog J 101(1):91\u2013109","journal-title":"S Afr Geog J"},{"key":"3328_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100619","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jort.2023.100619","volume":"42","author":"JM Fitchett","year":"2023","unstructured":"Fitchett JM, Meyer CA (2023) The applicability and suitability of the Camping Climate Index for South Africa. J Outdoor Rec Tour 42:100619","journal-title":"J Outdoor Rec Tour"},{"issue":"1","key":"3328_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.1007\/s00704-024-05237-6","volume":"156","author":"JM Fitchett","year":"2025","unstructured":"Fitchett JM, Roffe SJ, Prinsloo AS (2025) Evaluating sunshine hour approximation for biometeorological indices. Theor Appl Clim 156(1):13","journal-title":"Theor Appl Clim"},{"issue":"15","key":"3328_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"822","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2020-102920","volume":"55","author":"A Grundstein","year":"2021","unstructured":"Grundstein A, Vanos J (2021) There is no \u2018Swiss Army Knife\u2019of thermal indices: the importance of considering \u2018why?\u2019 and \u2018for whom?\u2019 when modelling heat stress in sport. Br J Sports Med 55(15):822\u2013824","journal-title":"Br J Sports Med"},{"issue":"7\u20138","key":"3328_CR9","first-page":"1","volume":"118","author":"H Havenga","year":"2022","unstructured":"Havenga H, Coetzee B, Burger RP, Piketh SJ (2022) Increased risk of heat stress conditions during the 2022 Comrades Marathon. S Afr J Sci 118(7\u20138):1\u20135","journal-title":"S Afr J Sci"},{"issue":"10","key":"3328_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2489","DOI":"10.1007\/s00484-025-02965-w","volume":"69","author":"CK Kganane","year":"2025","unstructured":"Kganane CK, Fitchett JM (2025) A Questionnaire-based examination of the validity of the tourism climate index for application in South Africa. Int J Biometeorol 69(10):2489\u20132500","journal-title":"Int J Biometeorol"},{"issue":"5\u20136","key":"3328_CR11","first-page":"1","volume":"122","author":"D Kristensen","year":"2026","unstructured":"Kristensen D, Fitchett JM (2026) Applying the Holiday Climate Indices to South Africa through critical engagement with index suitability. S Afr J Sci 122(5\u20136):1\u20139","journal-title":"S Afr J Sci"},{"issue":"4","key":"3328_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"365","DOI":"10.3390\/tourhosp2040024","volume":"2","author":"S Ma","year":"2021","unstructured":"Ma S, Craig C, Scott D, Feng S (2021) Global climate resources for camping and nature-based tourism. Tour Hosp 2(4):365\u2013379","journal-title":"Tour Hosp"},{"issue":"1","key":"3328_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"93","DOI":"10.1177\/0309133311417942","volume":"36","author":"GR McGregor","year":"2012","unstructured":"McGregor GR (2012) Human biometeorology. Prog Phys Geog 36(1):93\u2013109","journal-title":"Prog Phys Geog"},{"key":"3328_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/13683500.2025.2512396","author":"Z Mnguni","year":"2025","unstructured":"Mnguni Z, Fitchett JM (2025) Hot nights on holiday: advocating for caution when excluding night-time thermal comfort from tourism climate indices. Curr Iss Tour. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/13683500.2025.2512396","journal-title":"Curr Iss Tour"},{"issue":"6","key":"3328_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"959","DOI":"10.1080\/21568316.2024.2412060","volume":"21","author":"D Mokgehle","year":"2024","unstructured":"Mokgehle D, Fitchett JM (2024) Efficacy of automating the analysis of TripAdvisor data in tourism and climate studies. Tour Plan Dev 21(6):959\u2013979","journal-title":"Tour Plan Dev"},{"key":"3328_CR16","unstructured":"Mushawemhuka WJ (2021) A comprehensive assessment of climate change threats and adaptation of nature based tourism in Zimbabwe. PhD Thesis submitted to the University of Johannesburg (South Africa)"},{"issue":"4","key":"3328_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"443","DOI":"10.1080\/03736245.2020.1835703","volume":"103","author":"WJ Mushawemhuka","year":"2021","unstructured":"Mushawemhuka WJ, Fitchett JM, Hoogendoorn G (2021) Towards quantifying climate suitability for Zimbabwean nature-based tourism. S Afr Geog J 103(4):443\u2013463","journal-title":"S Afr Geog J"},{"issue":"11","key":"3328_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2453","DOI":"10.1007\/s11629-019-5725-z","volume":"16","author":"K Noome","year":"2019","unstructured":"Noome K, Fitchett JM (2019) An assessment of the climatic suitability of Afriski Mountain Resort for outdoor tourism using the Tourism Climate Index (TCI). J Mt Sci 16(11):2453\u20132469","journal-title":"J Mt Sci"},{"issue":"9","key":"3328_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1717","DOI":"10.1007\/s00484-024-02700-x","volume":"68","author":"AS Prinsloo","year":"2024","unstructured":"Prinsloo AS, Fitchett JM (2024) Quantifying climatic suitability for tourism in Southwest Indian ocean tropical islands: applying the holiday climate index to R\u00e9union Island. Int J Biometeorol 68(9):1717\u20131728","journal-title":"Int J Biometeorol"},{"key":"3328_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100608","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cliser.2025.100608","volume":"40","author":"AS Prinsloo","year":"2025","unstructured":"Prinsloo AS, Fitchett JM (2025) Leveraging the benefits of a multi-index approach in quantifying and classifying climatic suitability for tourism. Clim Serv 40:100608","journal-title":"Clim Serv"},{"key":"3328_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4324\/9781003102618","volume-title":"Climate change and tourism in southern Africa","author":"J Saarinen","year":"2022","unstructured":"Saarinen J, Fitchett J, Hoogendoorn G (2022) Climate change and tourism in southern Africa. Routledge, London"},{"issue":"2","key":"3328_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"282","DOI":"10.1080\/09669582.2022.2137729","volume":"32","author":"D Scott","year":"2024","unstructured":"Scott D, Knowles N, Steiger R (2024) Is snowmaking climate change maladaptation? J Sustain Tour 32(2):282\u2013303","journal-title":"J Sustain Tour"},{"key":"3328_CR23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Simpson CH (2024) Comment on Havenga (2022): Standard heat stress indices may not be appropriate for assessing marathons. S Afri J Sci120(1\u20132):1\u20135","DOI":"10.17159\/sajs.2024\/16445"}],"container-title":["International Journal of Biometeorology"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s00484-026-03328-9.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s00484-026-03328-9","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s00484-026-03328-9.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,22]],"date-time":"2026-10-22T09:30:50Z","timestamp":1792661450000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s00484-026-03328-9"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,22]]},"references-count":23,"journal-issue":{"issue":"10","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]}},"alternative-id":["3328"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00484-026-03328-9","relation":{},"ISSN":["0020-7128","1432-1254"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0020-7128","type":"print"},{"value":"1432-1254","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,22]]},"assertion":[{"value":"12 May 2026","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"14 September 2026","order":2,"name":"revised","label":"Revised","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"14 September 2026","order":3,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"22 September 2026","order":4,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"Not applicable.","order":1,"name":"Ethics","label":"Ethics approval","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"Not applicable.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","label":"Consent for participation and publication","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"Not applicable.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","label":"Abbreviations","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"Jennifer Fitchett is a field editor of the International Journal of Biometeorology, but has had no involvement in the processing of this manuscript. There are no competing interests, financial or otherwise, to declare.","order":4,"name":"Ethics","label":"Competing interests","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}}],"article-number":"261"}}