scholarly journals Summer Thermal Conditions in Outdoor Public Spaces: A Case Study in a Mediterranean Climate

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 5348
Author(s):  
Renato Soares ◽  
Helena Corvacho ◽  
Fernando Alves
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Thermal Conditions ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Urban Site ◽  
Thermal Discomfort ◽  
The North ◽  
Typical Summer ◽  
Human Quality ◽  
Radiant Temperature ◽  
The Impact

Comfort in public spaces is essential to their attractiveness and continued role in improving human quality of life. Acceptable thermal conditions are determinant to ensuring users’ comfort. This study undertakes an assessment of three urban sites in Arouca, in the north of Portugal, using ENVI-met software. Simulations test the influence of pavement and façade covering material, vegetation, and site morphology. The climate of the region is classified as Mediterranean Csb, with rainy winters and dry and mildly warm summers. A typical summer day is considered. The results reveal that a combination of factors might lead to thermal discomfort even in this mild climate on an average day, mainly due to heat exchange by radiation. In addition, the impact of alterations to surface properties depends on the morphological characteristics of the site, e.g., high albedo of the pavement may lead to a decrease or an increase in mean radiant temperature, depending on the space. This variability is present in the effects observed at the studied sites. A high façade albedo always contributes, in these cases, to thermal discomfort. The conclusions of the present study highlight the importance of performing a specific study for each urban site whenever an intervention is to be planned.

scholarly journals Planning the Urban Waterfront Transformation, from Infrastructures to Public Space Design in a Sea-Level Rise Scenario: The European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture Case

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 218
Author(s):  
Francesca Dal Cin ◽  
Fransje Hooimeijer ◽  
Maria Matos Silva
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Space Design ◽  
Urban Waterfront ◽  
Mies Van Der Rohe ◽  
The Impact

Future sea-level rises on the urban waterfront of coastal and riverbanks cities will not be uniform. The impact of floods is exacerbated by population density in nearshore urban areas, and combined with land conversion and urbanization, the vulnerability of coastal towns and public spaces in particular is significantly increased. The empirical analysis of a selected number of waterfront projects, namely the winners of the Mies Van Der Rohe Prize, highlighted the different morphological characteristics of public spaces, in relation to the approximation to the water body: near the shoreline, in and on water. The critical reading of selected architectures related to water is open to multiple insights, allowing to shift the design attention from the building to the public space on the waterfronts. The survey makes it possible to delineate contemporary features and lay the framework for urban development in coastal or riverside areas.

scholarly journals Impacts of Large-Scale Circulation on Urban Ambient Concentrations of Gaseous Elemental Mercury in New York, USA

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huiting Mao ◽  
Dolly Hall ◽  
Zhuyun Ye ◽  
Ying Zhou ◽  
Dirk Felton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
North American ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Measurement Data ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Urban Site ◽  
Large Scale Circulation ◽  
Gaseous Elemental Mercury ◽  
The North ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. The impact of large-scale circulation on urban gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) was investigated through analysis of 2008–2015 measurement data from an urban site in New York City (NYC), New York, USA. Distinct annual cycles were observed in 2009–2010 with mixing ratios in warm seasons (i.e. spring–summer) 10–20 ppqv (~ 10 %–25 %) higher than in cool seasons (i.e. fall–winter). This annual cycle was disrupted in 2011 by an anomalously strong influence of the North American trough in that warm season and was reproduced in 2014 with annual amplitude enhanced up to ~ 70 ppqv associated with a particularly strong Bermuda High. North American trough axis index (TAI) and intensity index (TII) were used to characterize the effect of the North American trough on NYC GEM especially in winter and summer. The intensity and position of the Bermuda High had a significant impact on GEM in warm seasons supported by a strong correlation (r reaching 0.96, p 

scholarly journals Thermal Environment Map in Street Canyon for Implementing Extreme High Temperature Measures

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 550
Author(s):  
Hideki Takebayashi ◽  
Mai Okubo ◽  
Hiroki Danno
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Street Canyon ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Detailed Calculation ◽  
Mean Radiant Temperature ◽  
The North ◽  
Environment Map ◽  
Extreme High Temperature ◽  
Typical Summer ◽  
Radiant Temperature

The thermal environment map in street canyon is derived by using GIS building data and more detailed calculation, and its effectiveness is considered for implementing extreme high temperature measures. The influence of mean radiant temperature (MRT) is more dominant than the wind velocity on the distribution of standard new effective temperature (SET*) on the typical summer day in street canyon in the urban area of Kobe city, and the solar radiation shading is more effective in suppressing the rise of SET* in the daytime than improving the land coverage. The following strategy of extreme high temperature measures is derived by considering the thermal environment map in street canyon. Pedestrians may find the shaded places on the north-south road until 10:00 a.m. and after 3:00 p.m., due to the eastern building’s shade in the morning and the western building’s shade in the afternoon.

scholarly journals Evaluation and modelling the micro-bioclimatological conditions of a popular playground in Szeged, Hungary

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. Égerházi ◽  
N. Kántor ◽  
T. Gál
Keyword(s):  
Land Cover ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Meteorological Parameters ◽  
Thermal Sensation ◽  
Thermal Conditions ◽  
Radiation Environment ◽  
Mean Radiant Temperature ◽  
Predicted Mean Vote ◽  
Typical Summer ◽  
Radiant Temperature

Abstract This paper presents a thermal comfort study of a popular playground in Szeged, Hungary in order to find its optimal land cover and vegetation options. For this assessment simulated micro- and bioclimatological conditions recorded on a typical summer day (12th July 2011) were analysed. The thermal and radiation features of the study area were quantified by two biometeorological indices, Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) and Mean Radiant Temperature (Tmrt). For the simulation of the meteorological parameters and the bioclimate indices, ENVI-met microclimate model was used. The results confirmed that the modelled areas with different land cover provide a variety of thermal conditions for the visitors; moreover, human thermal sensation was significantly affected by the change of the radiation environment.

Summer thermal comfort and overheating in the elderly

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 426-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Hughes ◽  
Sukumar Natarajan
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Thermal Conditions ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Climate Projections ◽  
Living Room ◽  
Warm Summer ◽  
Typical Summer ◽  
The Impact

Atypically warm summers such as 2003 and 2018 are predicted to become normal by 2050. If current climate projections are accurate, this could cause heat-related mortality to rise by 257% by 2050, the majority of which will be in vulnerable groups such as the elderly. However, little is known about the temperatures achieved in the homes of the elderly even in typical summers, and even less on whether these are comfortable. This study examines, for the first time, the validity of current thermal comfort models in predicting summer comfort levels in the 65+ demographic over a typical and an atypically warm summer. This was achieved through the first longitudinal study of thermal conditions in homes of the elderly in the South West UK, utilising repeated standardised monthly thermal comfort and health surveys with continuous temperature monitoring in both living and bed rooms. Results show that neither the PMV/PPD model (ISO 7730) nor the adaptive model (ISO 15251) accurately predict true thermal comfort in our sample. Overheating analysis using CIBSE TM59 (based on ISO 15251) suggests significantly more homes (50% living room, 94% bed room = 94% overall) overheated during the atypically warm summer, compared to the typical summer (3% living room, 57% bed room = 57% overall). These are worrying results, especially for the elderly, given the projected increases in both the severity and the frequency of extreme summers in a future, changed, climate. Practical application: This paper provides new data on the performance of the homes of the elderly in both a typical and atypically warm summer. Our results could be considered for building performance evaluation in homes with elderly occupants to mitigate overheating risk. Crucially, we not only examine the impact of CIBSE criteria on these homes but also look at thermal acceptance, which is important to understand the true impact of elevated temperatures in this demographic.

scholarly journals Γεωμορφολογικά και μορφοτεκτονικά χαρακτηριστικά των αλλουβιακών ριπιδίων του βόρειου τμήματος της λεκάνης του Αγγίτη ποταμού

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Χ. Πέννος ◽  
Θ. Ασταράς ◽  
Κ. Βουβαλίδης ◽  
Ε. Παπαφιλίππου-Πέννου ◽  
Σ. Πεχλιβανίδου
Keyword(s):  
Catchment Area ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Deposition Process ◽  
Alluvial Fans ◽  
The West ◽  
The North ◽  
Tectonic System ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Tectonic Movements ◽  
Geomorphological Survey

The catchment area of Aggitis River, which forms a part of the wider catchment area of the Strymon River, constitutes a tectonic graben. In the north of the graben, landforms of complex alluvial fans (bajadas) are found. In the present study, the impact of tectonics on the deposition process and on the geomorphological relief of the northern basin of Aggitis. For this purpose, a quantitative analysis of morphological characteristics of the alluvial fans is carried out. Moreover, the geologic and stratigraphic characteristics of the fans were studied and components of the tectonic movements that took place in the study area identified. Through the geomorphological survey an uplift of 24m with a twisting towards the northeast for the Menikio Mountain was determined that took place in the Upper Pleistocene. While, for the Falakro Mountain, an uplift movement and a minimum torsion of approximately 9m towards the S – SE was calculated. The mountains at the East and at the West of Aggitis River were uplifted with different rates. This result is in agreement with the argument for the existence of a tectonic system of horsts and grabens that formed the Aggitis River basin and influenced its later development.

SEM and TEM observations of sperm development in the testis of the freshwater fish Oreochromis mossambicus

1990 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 58-59
Author(s):  
Daryl A. Cornish ◽  
George L. Smit
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Oreochromis Mossambicus ◽  
Breeding Cycle ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
Sem And Tem ◽  
Sperm Development ◽  
Ultrastructural Characteristics ◽  
The University

Oreochromis mossambicus is currently receiving much attention as a candidater species for aquaculture programs within Southern Africa. This has stimulated interest in its breeding cycle as well as the morphological characteristics of the gonads. Limited information is available on SEM and TEM observations of the male gonads. It is known that the testis of O. mossambicus is a paired, intra-abdominal structure of the lobular type, although further details of its characteristics are not known. Current investigations have shown that spermatids reach full maturity some two months after the female becomes gravid. Throughout the year, the testes contain spermatids at various stages of development although spermiogenesis appears to be maximal during November when spawning occurs. This paper describes the morphological and ultrastructural characteristics of the testes and spermatids.Specimens of this fish were collected at Syferkuil Dam, 8 km north- west of the University of the North over a twelve month period, sacrificed and the testes excised.

Nachhaltigkeit im Wald – vor und hinter der Welle der Globalisierung | Sustainable Forest Management – In Front and Behind the Wave of Globalization

2000 ◽  
Vol 151 (12) ◽  
pp. 502-507
Author(s):  
Christian Küchli
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Cultural Landscape ◽  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Specific Situation ◽  
The South ◽  
The North ◽  
Time Space ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Impact

Are there any common patterns in the transition processes from traditional and more or less sustainable forest management to exploitative use, which can regularly be observed both in central Europe and in the countries of the South (e.g. India or Indonesia)? Attempts were made with a time-space-model to typify those force fields, in which traditional sustainable forest management is undermined and is then transformed into a modern type of sustainable forest management. Although it is unlikely that the history of the North will become the future of the South, the glimpse into the northern past offers a useful starting point for the understanding of the current situation in the South, which in turn could stimulate the debate on development. For instance, the patterns which stand behind the conflicts on forest use in the Himalayas are very similar to the conflicts in the Alps. In the same way, the impact of socio-economic changes on the environment – key word ‹globalisation› – is often much the same. To recognize comparable patterns can be very valuable because it can act as a stimulant for the search of political, legal and technical solutions adapted to a specific situation. For the global community the realization of the way political-economic alliances work at the head of the ‹globalisationwave›can only signify to carry on trying to find a common language and understanding at the negotiation tables. On the lee side of the destructive breaker it is necessary to conserve and care for what survived. As it was the case in Switzerland these forest islands could once become the germination points for the genesis of a cultural landscape, where close-to-nature managed forests will constitute an essential element.

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