Twentieth century urban planning policies systematically neglected the bioclimatic parameter in the conception and realisation of open and semi-open spaces. The negative effects of such practices ...relate, but are not limited, to the increasing duration and intensity of thermal discomfort in the public and semi-public realm. Considering the significance of improved microclimate, this research focuses on the summer thermal comfort conditions of three shopping arcades. The study is undertaken in the context of a research on semi-open spaces as a means of excessive discomfort moderation. The adjoining streets, were examined to compare the thermal performance of arcades with other urban typologies. The research is carried out in the historic centre of Nicosia which experiences an intense Mediterranean climate. On-site environmental monitoring has allowed a detailed thermal comfort analysis, using the PET thermal index scale which is applicable to warm climates. Compared to open streets, shopping arcades were found able to mitigate extreme thermal comfort conditions, although they remained above acceptable thermal comfort limits for most of the monitoring time. Arcades are associated with less intense heat stress levels which give evidence to their thermal advantages over completely exposed open streets and highlight their bioclimatic potential in the Mediterranean climate. Arcades may thus be re-considered and re-introduced as beneficial microclimate control elements in sustainable urban planning agendas.
The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) main campus is characterized mainly by its building volume, the energy fluxes serving campus needs and resulting from campus operations, and the local ...climatic conditions. In an effort to investigate the effects of the existence and operation of the AUTh main campus to the local climate of the Greater Thessaloniki Area (GTA), we applied a heat island effect related methodology to identify its subareas that belong to specific urban climate zones. This identification was supported by meteorological observations that identified specific characteristics of the urban heat island effect within the campus. As a next step, we investigated the influence of the air conditioning (AC) operation in AUTh to the local climate. For doing so we firstly estimated the actual AC cooling power installed in the campus. Then we employed the cooling degree days method to identify the overall AC operational profile during the summer period. On this basis, we calculated the total volume of heated air produced by the external AC units in the campus. Overall, we were able to identify three climate zones within the AUTh campus, and to estimate that local heat production from AC can affect urban climate. These findings are among the first to quantify the impact of specific urban structures and operations (AUTh campus) to the local climate in the GTA. The results of our study can be used for planning interventions at the urban web aiming at levering the burden of campus operation to the microclimate of the city center. The method used in our paper can be applied to wider urban areas in order to identify microclimate profiles and local heat island effects.
In urban environments, human exposure to air pollutants is expected to be significantly increased, especially near busy traffic streets, street canyons, tunnels, etc. where urban topography and ...microclimate may additionally cause poor air conditions giving rise to pollution hotspots. As a practical and cost-effective approach, active moss biomonitoring survey of some major and trace element air pollution was performed in the Belgrade street canyons and city tunnel in 2011 with the aim to evaluate possibility of using
Sphagnum girgensohnii
moss bags for investigation of the small-scale vertical and horizontal distribution patterns of the elements. In five street canyons, the moss bags were hung at heights of about 4, 8 and 16 m, during 10 weeks, and also, for the same time, the moss bags were exposed in the tunnel, in front of and out of it. After the exposure period, the concentrations of Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr, V and Zn in the moss were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. According to the results, in all street canyons, the vertical distribution patterns of the moss elements concentration (Al, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sr, V and Zn) showed statistically significant decrease from the first to the third heights of bags exposure. In the tunnel experiment, from inner to out of the tunnel, for Al, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K and Zn, decreasing trend of concentrations was obtained. Significantly higher concentration of the elements was pronounced for the tunnel in comparison with the street canyons. The results indicate that the use of
S. girgensohnii
moss bags is a simple, sensitive and inexpensive way to monitor the small-scale inner city spatial distribution of airborne major and trace element content.
Fourteen healthy male subjects slept from 13:30 to 15:30 under ambient temperature and relative humidity maintained at 15 °C and 60%, respectively. They slept under two conditions: in a sleeping bag ...on wooden flooring (Wood) and in a sleeping bag with corrugated cardboard between the bag and the flooring (CC). Polysomnography, skin temperature (Tsk), microclimate, bed climate, and subjective sensations were obtained. The number of awakenings in the CC had significantly decreased compared to that in the Wood. The mean, back, and thigh Tsk, and bed climate temperature were significantly higher in the CC than that in the Wood. Subjective thermal sensations were warmer in the CC than in the Wood. These results suggest that using corrugated cardboard under a sleeping bag may reduce cold stress, thereby decreasing the number of awakenings and increasing subjective warmth; the mean, back, and thigh Tsk; and bed climate temperature.
•We compared usage of sleeping bags on corrugated cardboard or flooring during naps.•Using corrugated cardboard decreased the number of awakenings.•Skin temperature and subjective warmth increased in the corrugated cardboard group.•Increasing the thermal insulation under the body reduces cold stress.•Results can be used for practical application in future disaster circumstances.
This research aimed to address health and food security challenges affecting Los Angeles and beyond in our own backyard. One possible way to combat these challenges is through biotechnology. The ...purpose of this research was to characterize the arable soils at Los Angeles Pierce College and their potential uses. The methods employed were collection of soil physical and chemical properties, cultivation of soil microorganisms, and 16S rDNA sequencing with a citizen science platform. Statistical analysis in R revealed associations between field conditions and life in the soil. The testing of plant-based antimicrobial agents on antibiotic-resistant bacteria revealed that plant oils could be more efficacious for control than common antibiotics. We found evidence of plant growth-promoting, antibiotic-producing, and bioremediating bacteria in different fields with distinct microclimates based on the 16S rDNA taxonomy results and inferred functional profiles. The major findings included an abundance of Streptomyces, Bacillus, Methylobacteria, and others with desirable functions. Numerous Streptomyces isolates cultivated on selective media demonstrated the ability to reduce nitrate. These results will empower future trials and product development by identifying target soil microorganisms and the most viable fields.
This paper proposes an innovative duel strategy for campus water landscape engineering combining environmental construction and regulation of pollutant concentration to counteract atmospheric ...pollution, as simulated by the AERMOD model. By integrating elements of fountains, falling water and mist, the campus can create a comfortable microclimate environment for students during regular atmospheric conditions. During pollution events, these features can ameliorate atmospheric pollution resulting from prevailing winds and specific wind speeds to ensure the ecological safety of the campus.
The annual solar gains in public buildings with large percentage of glazing can be shaped by different kinds of shading constructions and by glazing with proper spectral radiative properties. These ...properties can be obtained by covering panes with special spectral selective coatings or by use of tinted glass. Spectral selective panes enable control of solar gains in summer, reduce heat loss in winter, and reduce electric energy for cooling. These elements, except obvious influence on the annual heat balance of the building, have an impact on thermal and visual comfort parameters. The article presents selected results of the influence of horizontal overhangs and glazing with special spectral radiative properties on the annual thermal balance of analyzed buildings (computer simulations) and on thermal and visual comfort of the users (measurements). The measurements of the microclimate parameters show that it is impossible to maintain thermal comfort conditions during hot summer in natural ventilated buildings with high percentage of glazing without any additional appliances.
Urban Heat Island (UHI) has been detected in Bandung since 2001 and it can be mitigated by planting trees such as Pterocarpus indicus (angsana), Swietenia macrophylla (mahogany), and Samanea saman ...(trembesi). This research was conducted to measure temperature reduction by those road side trees at seven locations. Parameters were tree characteristics including shape and area of canopy, Plant Area Index (PAI), and leaf morphology (shape and arrangement), air temperature, relative air humidity, transmissivity, and surface temperature. Microclimate and edaphic data were measured in sunny day or partly cloudy. Data were analyzed using One-way ANOVA (Kruskal-Wallis test) to clarify significance differences among parameters in each tree species and measured reduction of discomfort index (dDI%). Air temperature in open area is 33.81±2.32°C, while surface temperature is 37.29±6.63°C. Result shows that trees have varies ability to decrease air and surface temperature. The highest reduction of air (A) and surface (S) temperature is shown by S. saman (A=3.80±1.21°C and S=10.49±2.84°C), then followed by S. macrophylla (A=3.10±1.94°C and S=5.64±5.51°C), and P. indicus (A=2.28±1.73°C and S=5.26±4.30°C). S. saman which has wide canopy with moderate leaf density can reduce air and surface temperature effectively, followed by S. macrophylla with narrow canopy and high leaf density; and P. indicus with narrow canopy with low leaf density. Thus, tree character with broad canopy and dense leaves such as S. saman can be recommended as shading tree to mitigate UHI in urban areas.
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