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ELEMENTS OF
CLIMATE

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• An Architect needs those aspects of

climate which affect human comfort
and use of buildings.
• These aspects of climate can be
changes and extremes of temperature,
difference between day and night
temperature, humidity, sky
conditions, rainfall, incoming and out
going radiations, air movements etc.
• Our job is to analyse climatic
information and analyse its impact on
the occupants of the building in
future.

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ELEMENTS OF CLIMATES CLIMATOLOGY 3.7-

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There are several elements that make up the weather and 

climate of a place. 
•Temperature‐ averages, changes and extremes
•Humidity
•precipitation
•Sky conditions
•Solar Radiation‐incoming and out going
S l R di ti i i d t i
•Air moment (wind)
•Vegetation
•Special characteristics

Temperature CLIMATOLOGY 3.7-

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• In a qualitative manner, we can describe the 
temperature of an object as that which 
determines the sensation of warmth or coldness 
felt from contact with it.

• Measured in Celsius mostly with a mercury 
thermometer.

• Reading can be taken at specified time of day to 
measure maximum, minimum or momentary 
temperature reading.
p g STEVENSON SCREEN

• Dry bulb temperature (DBT) – value of 
temperature taken in shade shielded from 
radiation and moisture , is measured using a 
Stevenson screen. 
• Can be measured using a thermograph THERMOGRAPH

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Temperature Data CLIMATOLOGY 3.7-

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• Monthly mean temperatures can be 
taken  (each days maximum and 
minimum average and average for 30
minimum average and average for 30 
days and average of the same month 
for as many years)

• Similarly monthly mean of diurnal 
temperature differences

• Establish a monthly mean range of 
temperatures for each month

Derives a reasonably accurate picture of 
temperature conditions for design

Humidity CLIMATOLOGY 3.7-

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The amount of moisture air can hold at any given point of time depends on 
the temperature

• Absolute
Absolute Humidity (AH) 
Humidity (AH)
▫ The amount of moisture, actually present in unit mass or unit volume 
of air. 
3    
▫ It measured in g\Kg or g\m

• Saturation point Humidity (SH)
▫ Amount of moisture air can hold at a given temperature.

• Relative Humidity (RH)
▫ Ratio of actual amount of moisture present in air to the amount of 
moisture air could hold at the given temperature
▫ Measured in percentage  RH = AH/CH  x  100(%)

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CLIMATOLOGY 3.7-
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•Humidity is measured by Wet & Dry Bulb 

Hygrometer. It consists of 2 thermometer 

mounted side by side.

•First one measures air temperature – Dry‐bulb 

thermometer

•Second one : The wet bulb temperature(WBT)
•The Wet‐bulb Temperature of air is measured by 
a thermometer whose bulb is covered by a muslin 
sleeve which is kept moist with distilled and clean 
water, freely exposed to the air and free from 
radiation
•the wet‐bulb temperature will be lower than the 
dry‐bulb temperature because of evaporative 
cooling (assuming less than 100% RH). 

The difference between the dry‐bulb temp and the wet‐bulb temp is known as 
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the "depression”, is a function of  RH. Having made the 2 readings the RH can be 
found from psychometric chart .
The larger the depression (larger difference between wet‐ and dry‐bulb), the 
lower the RH. 

Dry Climates : Reading has a huge difference 

hence RH is less.

Humid climates: Reading will be lesser 

d ff
difference, hence RH is more.
h

Incase of 100% RH reading will be the same.

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Vapour Pressure (Pv) CLIMATOLOGY 3.7-

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• It is partial pressure of water  vapour present in air.

• Atmospheric Pressure (P)

▫ Sum of partial pressure of dry air (Pa) and the partial vapour pressure (PV)

▫ P = Pa + Pv

• Relative humidity is also expressed as  the ratio of the actual to the saturation 
vapor pressure. 
• RH = (Actual Vapor Pressure) 
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ X 100%
X 100%
(Saturation Vapor Pressure)
• Vapor pressure is measured  as N/M2
▫ Rarely used for practical purposes.

Precipitation CLIMATOLOGY 3.7-

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• Rain, snow, hail, dew, frost i.e. all forms of water

precipitated from the atmosphere.
• It is measured by rain gauges.
• Measured in mm/time unit.
• Driving Rain
▫ Rain with strong winds.
▫ Measured in m2/s.

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Precipitation CLIMATOLOGY 3.7-

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• It is measured by rain gauges.

• Measured in mm/time unit.
• Driving
D i i Rain
R i : Rain
R i with
ith strong
t winds,
i d
measured in m2/s.
Relevance to Design
• Indicates a pattern of wet and dry
periods in the year
• Confirms reliability of rains and
deviations
• Useful guide for design of flooding
• Useful in design of paving, roofs, gutters
and down pipes

Sky Conditions CLIMATOLOGY 3.7-

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• Presence or absence of clouds.

• Measured in %
• Two
T observations
b ti are made
d per
day of proportion of sky covered
by clouds.

Clear skies for a predominant

period of the year will affect the
design of roofs, over hangs and
shading devices.

Also helps analyze amount of

daylight available in buildings

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CLIMATOLOGY 3.7-
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Cloud Cover Term Meaning

Clear 10% of the sky is covered by clouds

Scattered/Partly 10%-50% of the sky is covered by clouds

Cloudy
Broken/Mostly Cloudy 50%-90% of the sky is covered by clouds

Overcast >90% of the sky is covered by clouds

Obscured sky is covered by fog

fog, smoke
smoke, blowing snow
snow, or
smog

Solar Radiation CLIMATOLOGY 3.7-

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• Measured by sunshine recorder which measures the duration of 
sunshine
sunshine .
• A variety of instruments –solarimeter, heliometers etc are use for 
quantitative recording.
• Expressed in no. of hours per day.
• Solar Radiation Intensity is also measured which is total radiation 
received over a long period.
• It is measured in W/m2  = J/m2s (incident energy measured in joules)

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Wind CLIMATOLOGY 3.7-

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•Wind velocity is measured by Anemometer.
•Wind direction is determined by wind vane.
•Free wind velocities are recorded in open fields 
at a height of 10m.
•In urban areas at a height of 10‐20m to avoid 
obstructions.
Considerations for the Architect
▫ Prevailing wind directions and any predictable daily or seasonal shifts.
Prevailing wind directions and any predictable daily or seasonal shifts.
▫ The calm periods, any incidences of hurricanes, tornadoes, storms, etc.
▫ Wind patterns can also be of discomfort to occupants, hence architect needs to 
design to their comfort
▫ Care to be taken about the structural stability in windy areas

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Digital Anemometer. Wind Vane.

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Vegetation CLIMATOLOGY 3.7-

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The picture of climate is incomplete without plant life‐its character and abundance.
Vegetation can influence the local or site climate.
It is an important element in designing out door spaces, providing sun shading and 
protection from glare.

SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS CLIMATOLOGY 3.7-

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Most regions experience thunder storms, earthquakes etc. although such 
events may be rare , it is important to know their frequency, likely durations 
and nature.
Structural safety must be guaranteed however infrequent the danger
Structural safety must be guaranteed however infrequent the danger.

It is not easy to understand the nature of climate by merely looking at the vast 
data available. It is important to sort, summarize and simplify the available 
data. this is best accomplished by adopting standardized method of  graphic 
presentation.
climate graph, temperature isopleths etc., can be used

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Climatic Data CLIMATOLOGY 3.7-

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Climatic data can be recorded in the 
form of graphs like the climate 
graph, psychrometric
h h t i charts, 
h t
hydrographs, etc.. Various charts 
provide various levels of 
information about the site .

THANK YOU
CLIMATOLOGY 3.7-
BMSSA-AK-SHK_2015

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