MICRO-CLIMATE

SEM V CLIMATOLOGY

58_ROSHANI_TIWARI
NIDHI_SALAGARE
 INTRODUCTION |

The climate of earth consists of a series of interlinked physical

systems powered by the sun. Climate is the composite or generally
prevailing weather conditions of a region, as temperature, air
pressure, humidity, precipitation, sunshine, cloudiness, and winds,
throughout the year, averaged over a series of years.

1. MACRO-CLIMATE: The climate of a larger area such as a region

or a country.
2. MICRO- CLIMATE: The variations in localized climate around a
building.

vs
 INTRODUCTION |

MICRO-CLIMATE is the suite of climatic

conditions measured in localized areas near
the earth's surface. These environmental
variables include temperature, light, wind
speed, and moisture
The study of the scientific investigation of
microclimate is microclimatology.

The microclimate scale may be at the level of a

settlement (urban or rural), neighborhood,
cluster, street or buffer space in between
buildings or within the building itself.

TYPES OF MICRO-CLIMATE
1. Upland regions
2. Coastal regions
3. Forests
4. Urban regions
 INTRODUCTION |

USES
A microclimate can be used for the following:

● Plant phenology: the observation of growth, flowering, fruiting, and the death of a plant
● Water balance: the calculation of the evaporation and transpiration of water from plants
● Climatic studies: the comparison of a microclimate with the seasonal climate of a region
● Plant selection: the placement of plants that have specific needs for microclimate
● Design: the specification of a structure in terms of space usage
● Air quality and air pollution: the reduction of harmful gasses, like carbon dioxide and
nitrous oxide
 FACTORS AFFECTING MICROCLIMATE |
Factors affecting local deviation are:

1. Topography: Slope, orientation, exposure, elevation, hills or valleys at or near the ground.
 FACTORS AFFECTING MICROCLIMATE |
Factors affecting local deviation
are:

2. Ground surface: (whether

natural or man-made) : Affect in
terms of reflectance, permeability
and the soil temperature as these
effects the vegetation and this in
turn affects the climate. ( woods,
shrubs, grass, paving, water, etc.)

3. Three dimensional objects: Such

as trees, tree belts, fences, walls
and buildings as these may
influence air movement, cast a
shadow, etc.
 TYPES OF MICRO-CLIMATE |
1. Upland regions: These areas are places where the land
in one area is higher than in the surrounding areas.
Upland micro climates tend to be cooler and windier
than the areas around them. Eg., the difference
between standing in a low, damp valley and standing
on the cool, windy edge of a nearby hill.

2. Coastal regions: These are the areas between the land

and the sea. The temperature in places near the sea
tends to be constant throughout the year.

3. Forests: These are the areas within the forests. The

horizontal distribution of microclimates within forests and
open habitats is driven by vegetation, topography, soil,
the water balance, prevailing meteorological conditions,
and their interactions.
 TYPES OF MICRO- CLIMATE & URBAN HEAT ISLAND |
4. Urban regions: The local climate observed in
urban areas, which can be significantly
different from the climate of surrounding rural
areas. It simulates the (complex) environmental
interactions of urban geometry, soil,
vegetation, pollutants, and atmospheric
processes in a single model.

An urban heat island is created when an urban

area becomes warmer than the surrounding
area.

Causes of urban heat islands:

● Albedo - the darker surfaces reflect less energy, so the surfaces warm up
● High buildings - wind reduction
● Buildings in general - change in drag and shear
● Lack of vegetation - leads to increase in evaporative and evapotranspiration so potentially
leading to more atmospheric moisture in the urban area
● General human activities: "Anthropogenic heat" - the extra heat generated by heating (or
cooling) buildings, engines, etc.
 URBAN HEAT ISLAND |
Factors affecting urban heat islands:
- size of urban area
- building density
- canyonisation
- building form
- albedo
URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT |
 CONCLUSION |

MICROCLIMATIC FACTORS INFLUENCE W.R.T DESIGN

OUTSIDE DESIGNERS CONTROL WITHIN DESIGNERS’ S CONTROL

Area and local climate Spacing and orientation of buildings

Site surroundings Location of open spaces

Site shape Form and height of buildings

Topographic features Fenestration

Surrounding Buildings Tree cover

Ground profiling
Wind breaks
Surrounding surfaces( paving, grass, etc)
THANK YOU

58_ROSHANI_TIWARI
NIDHI_SALAGARE