Spatial-Temporal Characteristics of Arctic Summer Climate Comfort Level in the Context of Regional Tourism Resources from 1979 to 2019

In the context of global warming, a key scientific question for the sustainable development of the Arctic tourism industry is whether the region’s climate is becoming more suitable for tourism. Based on the ERA5-HEAT (Human thErmAl comforT) dataset from the European Center for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), this study used statistical methods such as climatic tendency rate and RAPS to analyze the spatial-temporal changes in Arctic summer climate comfort zones from 1979 to 2019 and to explore the influence of changes in climate comfort on Arctic tourism. The results showed the following: (1) With the increase in the Arctic summer temperature, the universal thermal climate index (UTCI) rose significantly from 1979 to 2019 at a rate of 0.457 °C/10a. There was an abrupt change in 2001, when the climate comfort changed from “colder” to “cool”, and the climate comfort has remained cool over the past decade (2010–2019). (2) With the increase in Arctic summer temperatures, the area assessed as “comfortable” increased significantly from 1979 to 2019 at a rate of 2.114 × 105 km2/10a. Compared with the comfortable area in the 1980s, the comfortable area increased by 6.353 × 105 km2 over the past 10 years and expanded to high-latitude and high-altitude areas, mainly in Kola Peninsula, Putorana Plateau, and Verkhoyansk Mountains in Russia, as well as the Brooks Mountains in Alaska. (3) With the increase in Arctic summer temperatures, the number of days rated comfortable on 30% of the grid increased significantly from 1979 to 2019 (maximum increase: 31 days). The spatial range of the area with a low level of comfortable days narrowed and the spatial range of the area with a high level of such days expanded. The area with 60–70 comfortable days increased the most (4.57 × 105 km2). The results of this study suggest that global warming exerts a significant influence on the Arctic summer climate comfort level and provides favorable conditions for further development of regional tourism resources.

Breathing Artifacts of Urban BioClimatic Layers for Post-Anthropocene Urban Environment

This article seeks the qualitative synthesis of schools of thought from extreme climate regions that could support urban biodiversity and climate change adaptation through architectural design. It proposes that climate comfort and biodiversity are closely related. This article suggests a possible systemic urban metabolism within a built environment that can support a transition to post-Anthropocene, where humans and other species live together in synergy. This article exemplifies and seeks systemic relations and reflections of gathered field studies documentation of case studies of breathing walls, envelopes, and screens generating bioclimatic layers in the cultural landscape, selected for their penetrability and performance. The samples from diverse study journeys that were codesigned through vernacular cultures and the author’s research by design speculations on the responsive screen ‘Ray’ are investigated and speculated upon through gigamapping (visual complexity mapping). This gigamapping is not to present any hard data model but to relate, inform and speculate on the investigated field that is grounded in research by design on cross-species coliving. This is approached through possible architectures and architectural and urban design parasites, transitioning towards synergetic landscapes of our envisioned colived and cocreated futures.

Research on Evaluation of Climate Comfort in Northwest China under Climate Change

Based on the monthly observation data of major surface meteorological observatories in Northwest China from 1960 to 2019, this paper uses the temperature and humidity index (THI), wind efficiency index (WEI), and clothing index (ICL) to construct a comprehensive climate comfort index evaluation model. This model was used to quantitatively evaluate the change characteristics of climate comfort in Northwest China against the background of climate warming. The results show that the overall climate comfort index in Northwest China is on the rise. In terms of space, an increase in the climate comfort index means an increase in the comfort zone, with the largest increase in the southeastern part of Gansu Province and the southern part of Shaanxi Province. The trend of change is that the increase in the north is greater than that in the south, and the higher the latitude, the greater the change. The space range of the comfort zone and the sub-comfort zone is generally expanding, and the climate is gradually becoming more comfortable. In terms of time, an increase in the climate comfort index means an increase in the climate comfort period, and the annual comfort index shows an increasing trend. The comfort period is mostly distributed in summer, with the most suitable cities in May and September, followed by June.

Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Prediction of Tourism Comprehensive Climate Comfort in Henan Province, China

The tourism comprehensive climate comfort index (TCCI) was used to evaluate the tourism climate comfort in Henan Province in the last 61 years, and its future development trend is predicted. The results showed that the temporal variation of the TCCI had a “double peak” type (monthly variation), and an overall comfort improvement trend (interannual variation). The change of tourism climate comfort days was similar to the change of the index, especially in the months with a low comfort level. In space, the distribution of the TCCI gradually increased from northeast to southwest, and the area with a high comfort level also increased over time. Meanwhile, it also showed the spatial distribution of months with a low comfort level, which provides reliable information for tourists to use when choosing tourist destinations across all periods of the year. The TCCI was classified by hierarchical classification, and principal components were extracted to explore the main climate factors controlling different types of TCCIs and the relationship between them, and large-scale atmospheric–oceanic variability. According to the temporal change trend and correlation, the long-term change trend of tourism climate comfort was predicted, which will provide a scientific basis for tourism planners to choose tourist destinations.

Climate Adaptability of Old and New House in Bushehr's Historical Texture

The port of Bushehr, with its valuable and unique historical texture, completely matches with its unbearable climate conditions. Over hundreds of years, the port has provided an appropriate ground for human life as no air conditioner is needed there. Unfortunately, this valuable old texture has been destroyed inadvertently. New buildings in the port are just superficial copies of the old buildings’ external surfaces, with no attention to their goal, i.e., the provision of thermal comfort for inhabitants. The new buildings are dramatically increasing without considering the historical texture and climate. As a result, the inhabitants have to use air conditioners in most months continuously; hence, there would be an increase in energy consumption and a disruption in climate balance. This study has been conducted to compare the compatibility of such architecture with the climate and its success in providing climate comfort for the inhabitants. According to the information obtained from the study, the old houses built more than 100 years ago using traditional design had better performance in adaptability with climate. Accordingly, the exploitation of traditional instructions and patterns in a new format would largely reduce energy consumption in hot seasons and eliminate the need for heating in cold seasons. In this regard, a huge amount of energy is saved, resulting in less damage to the environment.