Chapter 5: Climate

Chapter 5: Climate

“We must begin by taking note of the countries and climates in which
homes are to be built if our designs for them are to be correct. One type of
house seems appropriate for Egypt, another for Spain . . . one still different
for Rome . . . It is obvious that design for homes ought to conform to
diversities of climate.”

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 Chapter 5: Climate

1. Climate
. . . to design in conformity with the climate, the designer needs to understand the microclimate of
the site, since all climatic experience of both people and building is at this level.
- The climate or average weather is primarily a function of the sun …
o Word ‘climate’ comes from Greek ‘klima’ – meaning the slope of the earth to the sun.
o Greeks realized – climate is largely a function of sun angles (latitude) and, therefore, they
divided the world into the tropic, temperate and arctic zones

- Atmosphere is a giant heat machine fueled by the

sun – since atmosphere is largely transparent to
solar energy, the main heating of the air occurs at
the earth’s surface
o Air heated  rises and creates a low-pressure
area at the ground level – since the surface of
the earth is not heated equally, there will be
both relatively low and high pressure areas 
Wind
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 Chapter 5: Climate

- A global north-south flow of air is generated because the equator is heated more than the poles.
This global flow is modified by both the changes in season and the rotation of the earth.

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- Another major factor affecting winds and, therefore, climate is the uneven distribution of
landmasses on the globe
o Because of its higher heat capacity and conductivity, the surface of water does not heat up
or cool down as fast as the surface of land . . .
o Temperature changes over water tend to be more moderate than over land, and the farther
inland one gets form large bodies of water, the more extreme are the temperatures . . .
o These water-land temperature differences also create pressure differences that drive the
winds

- Large heat capacity and conductivity of

water prevents it from heating or
cooling as fast as land :
o Day: air is hotter over land than
over water  Sea Breezes
- Night: the temperatures and air flows
reverse  Land Breezes
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 Chapter 5: Climate

2. Microclimate
- For a number of reasons, the local climate can be quite different from the climate
region in which it is found . . .
- Main factors responsible for making the microclimate deviate from the macroclimate:
o Elevation above sea level
o Form of land
o Size, Shape, and proximity of bodies of water
o Soil Types
o Vegetation
o Man-made structures

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 Chapter 5: Climate

2.1. Elevation above sea level

- The steeper the slope of the land, the faster the temperature will drop with an increase
in elevation;
- For a vertical ascent of every 300m a 2*C cooling (drop in temperature) occurs;

2.2. Form of land

- South-facing slopes are much warmer than north facing slopes because they receive
much more solar radiation;
- South slopes are also protected from the cold winter winds that usually come from the
north;
- West slopes are warmer than east slopes because the period of high solar radiation
coincides with the high ambient air temperatures of the afternoon;
- Low areas tend to collect pools of cold, heavy air – if the air is almost moist, fog will
frequently form  fog, in turn, reflects the solar radiation, so these area remain cool
longer in the morning;

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2.3. Size, shape, and proximity of bodies of water

- Large bodies of water have a significant moderating effect on temperature, they
generate the daily alternating land and sea breezes, and they increase the humidity;

2.4. Soil types

- Heat capacity, color, and water content of soil have significant effect on the micro-
climate
o Evaporation from the soil cools the air above the ground;
o Surface layer of sand, even though light colored, will get very hot because the
absorbed heat cannot easily conduct to lower layers;
o In addition, the sand will reflect much of the solar radiation thereby greatly
increasing the radiant cooling load for people and buildings;
o Rocks have high heat capacity – absorbing heat during the day and then releasing
it at night

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 Chapter 5: Climate

2.5. Vegetation
- By means of shading and transpiration, plants can significantly reduce air and ground
temperatures;
- Evaporation – is the combined effect of evaporation from soil and transpiration from plans;
- For example in hot humid climate, the ideal situation is to have a high canopy of trees for shade
but no low plans that could block the breeze;

2.6. Man-made structures

- Buildings, streets, and parking lots, because of their number, size, mass and color, have a very
significant effect on the microclimate
- Shade of building can create a cold north like orientation on what was previously a warm
southern exposure ;
- Building can also create shade from the hot summer sun and block the cold winter winds;
- Large areas of pavements, especially dark-colored asphalt, can generate temperatures as high as
60*C;
- Large cities – in winter minimum temperature may be 1.7*C higher and in summer 4*C higher
than rural areas  making them heat islands.
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o Solar radiation is however 20% lower because of air pollution – RH 6% less because of the
reduced amount of evapotranspiration.

Assignment: Read the rest of the chapter to understand different

strategies to cope with various types of microclimatic conditions.

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 Chapter 5: Climate

Potential Questions

1) What are the major factors for the deviation of microclimate from its
macroclimate? List all of them and explain four of them?

2) Explain what a sea and land breeze by using an illustrative diagram?

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