An Approximation to the Relationship Between Climatic Variables Obtained Through Remote Satellite Sensors and Hospital Admissions: A Case Study on Gran Canaria Island

Abstract

The risk to human health is among the possible consequences of climate change or global warming. In this sense, it is necessary to deepen between climate and health interactions, in order to establish scenarios and policies to mitigate their consequences. The Sahara dust is well known to have an adverse impact on human health. The Canary Islands, due to their vicinity to the Sahara Desert, are frequently affected by the Sahara aerosols carried by the winds. This study analyses the correlation between climatic (Sea Surface Temperature, Aerosol Optical Thickness, Wind Intensity and Wind Direction) and clinical (emergency admissions due to respiratory pathologies) variables in the island of Gran Canaria and for a period of 14 years. The bivariate lineal correlation (Pearson) shows statistical significance between accumulated monthly averaged values of Sea Surface Temperature and the emergency admissions. There is also a significant correlation between the climatic variables Wind Intensity and Aerosol Optical Thickness.