Recent trajectories of biometeorology in the Global South: a systematic review of biometeorology research in the International Journal of Biometeorology
Literature reviews have become increasingly prominent in scientific discourse; however, few have critically examined the geographic distribution of research, particularly in the field of biometeorology, where studies remain disproportionately concentrated in the Global North. Building on previous regional reviews and special issues, this paper critically examines geographic disparities in publication trends, authorship, and methodological approaches to aid in identifying challenges and opportunities for equitable and justified future research. Using a PRISMA-style framework, 591 empirical studies conducted across 147 Global South countries were identified from a total of 3,046 publications in the International Journal of Biometeorology (IJBM) between 2000 and 2024. The review reveals a steady increase in contributions from the Global South over time, but highlights persistent gaps in representation, especially in author affiliation and research leadership. Thematic and methodological analyses highlight the diversity and innovation present in Global South contexts, while also revealing structural barriers to equitable participation in the field. This work advocates for more inclusive research practices and enhanced institutional support to bridge the divide between the Global North and South, fostering a more representative and collaborative future for biometeorology.
Authors
- A Van der Walt
- Alexi M. Marinaki
- Lebohang Molefe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7378-8489)
- Jennifer M. Fitchett (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0854-1720)
- Raghid Shehayeb (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3683-3912)
- Shreya Banerjee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6405-7917)
- Claire Gallacher (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8355-1753)
- Ariel Prinsloo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0020-6191)
- Mukhtaar Waja (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0102-0594)
- P. Pryor (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6947-6187)
- Thea J. Earnest
- Mahdieh Saed
- Michael J. Allen
- Amanda Ndiweni (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2192-5681)
- Cassia Holtz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5658-9905)
- Felix F. Adebayo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0235-6700)
- Peter J. Crank (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6694-9268)
- Leonardo B. Prado (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0763-7114)
- Sarah J. Roffe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3683-8377)
- Betty Adegebo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6749-5525)
- Ogone Motlogeloa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2939-4296)
- Carmen Kganane (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9763-8087)
- Elizabeth Carr (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0360-693X)
- Adnan Arshad (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8755-5281)
- Chanice Mavudzi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3513-4038)
- Nkosi Muse (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3453-0862)
Institutions
- Harvard University (US)
- University of Waterloo (CA)
- Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur (IN)
- The University of Queensland (AU)
- University of the Witwatersrand (ZA)
- University of Lagos (NG)
- University of the Free State (ZA)
- Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (DE)
- Agriculture and Food (AU)
- Agricultural Research Council of South Africa (ZA)
- Towson University (US)
- Arizona State University (US)
- Lanzhou University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- International Journal of Biometeorology
- Published
- 2026-05-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-026-03213-5
- Primary Topic
- Climate Change and Health Impacts
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Research Foundation
- University of Waterloo