CLIMATIC CONCEPTS

Climatic Concepts, Elements, and Factors

Introduction

In architecture, one of the main factors to be considered when designing a structure is

the weather and climate conditions of the area where the structure is built. For thousands of
years, humans built variations of houses and dwellings in order to protect themselves from
the harsh climatic conditions of their surroundings. In order for us to fully understand these
concepts, here are some of the terms that will be discussed:

Weather
Refers to short term atmospheric conditions such as precipitation, humidity,
wind speed and direction, temperature and atmospheric pressure. As conditions in the
atmosphere are always fluctuating, it subjects our weather condition to constant
change.

Climate
Refers to the changes in atmospheric conditions over a long period of time.
Climate is the averaged weather conditions of a specific area usually spanning and
defined by 30 years or more. Basically, weather takes place over the course of a few
days while climate is an overall change in condition spanning over decades.

Climate Change
The global climate has been changing at a much faster rate than it has been in
the past. This is the result of harsh human activities such as burning of fossil fuel for
production and energy resources. With the burning of fossil fuel, large amounts of
carbon dioxide are being released into our atmosphere together with other chemicals
called the greenhouse gasses. These gasses trap the heat from the sun into our
atmosphere resulting in the continued overall increase in global temperature, a
phenomenon called global warming. Already having devastating effects on our
planet, global warming is responsible for the melting of the arctic and the rising of
sea levels
Climatic Systems

Climate is not constant; it is continuously changing, and to further understand, there

are climate systems that need to be tackled as well. There are five climate systems which are
the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, and biosphere.

1. The atmosphere is the thin layer of gases that surrounds the Earth. This climate
system is responsible for regulating the temperature in the surrounding. In addition,
many types of gases regulate the heat on Earth and they can make it pass through or
trap it in the atmosphere. These gases are called greenhouse gases that commonly
include methane and carbon dioxide. Thus, this is connected to climate change due to
human activities. Humans burn fossil fuels that contribute to the gases in the
atmosphere and it increases the amount and makes the climate warmer.
2. The lithosphere is where humans live. These are the land surfaces that we can step on
like the soil, rocks, and even roads and buildings. The surface absorbs heat and energy
from the sun. The mountains, on the other hand, which are part of the lithosphere, can
affect the direction of the wind and rainfall.
3. The hydrosphere is the liquid part of Earth. These are the oceans, sea, lakes, rivers,
and other bodies of water including the underground. The ocean also affects the
temperature of Earth because it can also absorb and release heat that came from the
sun. The hydrosphere is connected to the atmosphere because the water vapors in the
atmosphere wherein came from the bodies of water.
4. The cryosphere is the frozen part of the Earth like the frozen water in snow and ice. It
is usually made of sea ice that can be seen in the Arctic and Southern Oceans but
there are also in Greenland and Antarctica which are land-based ice sheets. The
cryosphere helps regulate the climate because ice and snow are close to white, it
reflects the energy from the sun. And since ice melts, it also helps me circulate the
water around the world.
5. The biosphere is the living thing on Earth. It also plays a big part in Earth's climate
whether seasonal or long time scales. Like how the plants perform photosynthesis it
also helps in absorbing gases like carbon dioxide and reduces heat from the
atmosphere.
Micro and Macro Climates
Climate conditions can be separated into two classifications based on the scale of its
affected area which can be differentiated as Micro and Macro climates. Microclimate mainly
pertains to the climatic conditions that are localized on the surrounding of a structure. On the
other hand, Macroclimate covers a larger area which can be observed on a global and
regional scale.

Philippine Climatology
Based on Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services
Administration, the PAGASA, the Philippines has a tropical and maritime climate. The
climate consists of several factors which are temperature, humidity, and rainfall are the main
elements that contribute to the climate of the Philippines. On the other hand, the Philippines
also has dry and rainy seasons. The rainy season occurs from June to November while the dry
season is divided into the cool dry which is from December to February then the hot dry,
from March to May.
In terms of climate, the Philippines determine the climate whether by the topography
or the rainfall distribution. For the topography classification, the Philippines has tropical
rainforest, tropical monsoon, tropical savanna, humid subtropical, and oceanic that are also
affected by the rainfall, humidity, and temperature of the location.
● Tropical Rainforest is a wet, hot, and very humid climate. In addition, it only
experiences a short time of the dry season or not at all. The provinces that experience
this climate are usually near the equator and heavy rainfall is expected throughout the
year.
● Tropical Monsoon is known as being in between Tropical Rainforest and Tropical
Savanna climates. This has a rainfall occurrence and a dry season too.
● Tropical Savanna is the opposite of Tropical Monsoon. This climate has a more dry
season than rainfall. Furthermore, the dry season can be very severe in this climate.
● Humid Subtropical usually appears in a location near the coastal areas. This type of
climate is a hot and humid one during the summer, and cold during the cool season.
● Oceanic, the last one, is a climate that is cool during summer but not that cold during
the cool season. This also experiences a vast amount of cloud or overcast conditions
due to the evenly distributed rainfall on the location. Thus, this rarely experiences a
dry season.
 Aside from the topography classification, the
Philippines has also a rainfall classification of climate.
These are specified as Type I, Type II, Type III, and Type
IV.
● Type I is considered to have two seasons which are
the dry and rainy seasons. The dry season happens
from November to April while the rainy season can
be experienced throughout the year. On the other
hand, from June to September, the maximum rain
period happens.
● Type II climate has no dry season at all and rainfall
occurs from November to January.
● Type III is not very pronounced with its season
because the dry season can last for one to three
months which is usually from March to May, and
wet can happen at any time of the year.
● Type IV climate has an even distribution of climate for the entire year. Thus, this
climate has no dry season at all.

Philippine Climatic Elements

Before proceeding to the climatic elements of the Philippines. Let us first define what are
climatic elements. Climatic elements are any measurable observable meteorological
parameters that help to specify the climate of a specific location or region. Examples of these
are atmospheric pressure and temperature.

● Solar Radiation

The first element is solar radiation. It is electromagnetic radiation that provides light and heat
for the Earth and energy for photosynthesis, as well as other radiation given off by the Sun.
Much solar radiation is absorbed by air molecules, reflected into space, or refracted as it
passes through the atmosphere. It can be measured by a pyrheliometer that measures the
direct solar radiation that passes through the atmosphere unimpeded. It consists of an
enclosed radiation sensing element with a small aperture through which the direct solar rays
enter. The other one is the pyranometer measures the combined incoming direct solar
radiation and diffuse sky radiation. It is mounted such that it views the entire sky. Both
instruments can be connected to electronic recording devices to collect the measurements.
Our country is located just right above the equator. Hence, it is blessed with a good potential
for solar energy. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the average solar
radiation in the Philippines ranges from 128 - 203 W/m2 which is equivalent to around 4.5 -
5.5 kWh/m2/day.

● Cloudiness

Clouds are suspended water in the atmosphere. It gives us a clue about what is going on in
our atmosphere and how the weather might change in the hours or even days to come. Cloud
cover has an appreciable role in weather description and forecasting and is measured in oktas.
A cloudless or overcast sky is usually a clear indication of weather conditions. Each type of
cloud forms in a different way, and each brings its own kind of weather. Cloud type can also
signal potentially fair or bad weather. There is a fairly detailed system for determining cloud
types but they all fall into three basic categories of high, medium and low level clouds. The
instrument for measuring cloud height is called a ceilometer

● Precipitation

The next element is precipitation. It is the term given to moisture that falls from the air to the
ground. Precipitation includes snow, hail, sleet, drizzle, fog, mist, and rain. Precipitation is
simply any water form that falls to the Earth from overhead cloud formations. When and
where precipitation falls is determined by the climate system, especially by the patterns of
atmospheric and ocean circulation, and how much water returns to the atmosphere. As an
element of weather, precipitation determines whether outdoor activities are suitable or if the
water levels of lakes and rivers will rise. As an element of climate, precipitation is a
long-term, predictable factor of a region's makeup. For instance, a desert may experience a
storm (weather) though it remains a typically dry area (climate). Moreover, in the case of our
country, precipitation is in the form of rain. According to PAG-ASA, average annual rainfall
is approximately 2,348 millimeters (mm), but this varies geographically, from 960 mm in
southeast Mindanao to over 4,050 mm in central Luzon. Temperatures are generally high,
particularly in the valleys and plains, averaging 27°C throughout the year. Humidity levels
are high, averaging around 82% due to the warm moist trade winds that flow through the
archipelago, as well as sea surface temperatures, a rich and vibrant vegetative cover, and
abundant rainfall. Rainfall is governed by the southwest monsoons in the summer months,
and by the northeast monsoon and tropical cyclones in the winter.

● Air Pressure

The air around you has weight, and it presses against everything it touches. That pressure is
called atmospheric pressure, or air pressure. It is the force exerted on a surface by the air
above it as gravity pulls it to Earth. Atmospheric pressure is commonly measured with a
barometer. In a barometer, a column of mercury in a glass tube rises or falls as the weight of
the atmosphere changes. Meteorologists describe the atmospheric pressure by how high the
mercury rises. Pressure systems have a direct impact on the precipitation. In general, places
dominated by low pressure tend to be moist, while those dominated by high pressure are dry.
Atmospheric pressure is an indicator of weather. When a low-pressure system moves into an
area, it usually leads to cloudiness, wind, and precipitation. High-pressure systems usually
lead to fair, calm weather.

● Temperature

The sensation of heat or cold is a direct result of the quantity of kinetic energy in the air,
which is quantified by the temperature.The temperature varies during the day as a result of
Earth's rotation, and throughout the year as a result of the planet's translational motion in its
orbit around the sun.

The scales of Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin are the most frequent
ones that are used to measure temperature. The instrument that is used to
measure temperatures is called a thermometer. In order to get an accurate
reading of the temperature, a thermometer must be utilized. The earliest
examples date to 1714 and occur in a wide variety of sizes and forms. The
mercury thermometer, the bimetal thermometer, and the digital thermometer
are the three most used devices for detecting temperature.
In the Philippine context, the average annual temperature of the Philippines, excluding
Baguio, is calculated to be 26.6 degrees Celsius. January is the coldest month, with an
average temperature of 25.5 degrees Celsius, while May is the hottest, with an average of
28.3 degrees Celsius. Temperature differences at different altitudes are more pronounced than
those caused by differences in latitude. With an elevation of 1,500 meters, Baguio has an
annual mean temperature of 18.3 degrees Celsius. That's why Baguio is the summer capital of
the Philippines—its average high temperatures are on par with those in a temperate
environment.

● Humidity

The quantity of water vapor that is contained inside the atmosphere at any one instant is
referred to as the humidity.It refers to the evaporation of water that occurs in the atmosphere.
The quantity changes from one region to another depending on the amount of rainfall and sun
radiation that occurs in that area. There is always a certain amount of water vapor in the air,
even in the hottest parts of the earth. The increased likelihood of having water vapor in the air
is directly proportional to the degree to which the temperature has increased.

The hygrometer is the device that is used in the process of

determining the wind speed.It employs human hair from
which the oil has been extracted using ether, and then utilizes
the hair. As the relative humidity of the air rises, the hair will
begin to grow longer. It is possible for this adjustment to be
performed to move an indicator needle that travels along a
scale with graduations that read from 0% to 100%.

The Philippines has a high relative humidity because of its high temperature and the
abundance of water nearby. March typically has the lowest relative humidity (71%) and
September has the highest (85%) on average per month. Heat and high relative and absolute
humidities cause an increase in sensible temperature over the archipelago. Particularly
unpleasant are the months of March through May, when both temperature and humidity peak.

● Wind Speed and Direction

The flow of air on a wide scale in the atmosphere from a region of high pressure to an area of
low pressure is what we refer to as wind. The distance that separates regions of low pressure
and high pressure, in addition to the difference in air pressure, is one of the primary factors
that determines the speed and force of the wind.

A cup or propeller anemometer, an instrument having three

cups or propellers on a vertical axis, is often used to determine wind
speed. On the other hand, a wind vane is a device used to determine
wind direction by rotating in the same direction as the wind. To
determine how fast the wind is blowing, an anemometer must be
utilized.

The direction of the wind may be determined by

using a device called a wind vane. It has a flat, circular
shape and can rotate freely around a central axis.
Sometimes it takes the form of an arrow or a cockroel and
is perched atop a weather station or other tall structures.

The Philippines experiences three major wind systems during the year. These systems affect
the weather. The prevailing wind systems in the Philippines are as follows:

● Northeast (NE) monsoon - The northeast monsoon, or "amihan" in Filipino, is a dry,

cold wind that flows down from Siberia and China into Southeast Asia. Light to
moderate rain is typical, and a cool breeze blows in from the east throughout this
 season. Although its exact timing varies from year to year, the monsoon typically lasts
from late October to late March.

● Southwest (SW) monsoon - When the habagat blows from the southwest, it brings
persistent downpours and sticky conditions. The Southwest monsoon, also known as
the hanging Habagat, is characterized by a high-pressure region over Australia and a
low-pressure area over North China, Mongolia, and Siberia. Wild gusts from the west
and deluges of rain often evolve into life-threatening typhoons. It is the period from
late June to early October during which the southwest monsoon is felt across the
nation (occurrence may also vary each year). Since heavy downpours and stifling
humidity characterize the habagat season, it is considered a low season in the
Philippines. Throughout the course of this season, we have seen many landslides and
flash floods.

● Trade winds - winds in the tropics. They tend to originate in the east. If the northeast
monsoons are weak, the trade winds will be more prevalent throughout the remainder
of the year. No longer does the monsoon occur between the months of December and
May. The "trade wind" blows from the northeast and produces very little precipitation.

CLIMATIC FACTORS
Distance from the sea
Ocean heats up and cools down much slower than land, since the temperature not
only lowers and rises on the surface. Places near the shore is neither too hot nor too
cold. (BBC, n.d.) In example, Quezon province is closer during the summer compared
to places in the National Capital region since it is near the shore. People tend to go to
areas near the shore during hot seasons to cool off and have fun.

Ocean currents
The ocean currents are also known as the global conveyor belt, not only it brings
different climates in different parts of the world, it also becomes a path for certain
species of aquatic creatures that dwell in and different other factors that affect
 livelihood of those who are dependent on the ocean. Ocean currents affect climates on
their neighboring land masses. The continuous, purposeful movement of ocean water
is known as a current. This happens via force exerted on the water. Things such as
differences in salinity, the waves breaking, temperature, the wind or even the Coriolis
effect. Many things contribute to the direction of a current. Things such as depth, the
nature of the shoreline and interaction with certain other currents.(blue planet
aquarium, 2017)
Direction of prevailing winds
There are different kinds of prevailing winds in different parts of the world, there are
also different regions that winds are constant. The direction of prevailing winds are in
certain areas of the Earth; Hemispheric prevailing winds are the 3 from the figure 1 is
the polar cell, where in the prevailing winds rises, travel and diverges in the poles.
While 2 is the Ferrel cell where in the direction of the wind is circulating from the
pole towards the Hadley cell. Lastly, the Hadley cell which the air flows from Ferrel
cell and diverges in the intertropical-divergence zone where in it is near the equator,
although the wind is diverging in the same direction, it does not merge nor be mixed
to each other since it forms a convection cell where in the hot and cold air of certain
regions cycle (Flight environment, 2019).

Figure 1
 Topography

According to Merriam Webster, topography is a process that involves depicting on

maps the relative positions and elevations of a location's natural and man-made
elements using lines and other forms of graphic representation. From that definition,
there are topographical features of landforms, elevation, latitude and longitude.

· Landforms- Basically, the landforms have two: natural and man-made. In natural
we have the mountains, lakes, valleys, hills, and oceans or in Filipino ‘Natural na
Anyong Lupa at Tubig.On the other hand, the man-made are the forms like roads,
cities, and dams in which they created through the process of some industrial
methodology.

Elevation- Another feature is the elevation that describes the height of the
landforms and It is usually recorded in reference to sea level (the surface of the
ocean). For example, the surface of the ocean up to the apex of the mountain is
the considered elevation if measured.

Latitude- It is the equator that has a horizontal line drawn around the middle of
the Earth that is the same distance from the North Pole and the South Pole. In
terms of one’s location, this latitude in topography can use to determine the
distance of your location to equator in which will help you in some aspects at the
latter part of this research.

Longitude is basically, a longitude is the opposite of the latitude in which it is

measured east to west in degrees from the Prime Meridian.

From there, these four features can find in topographical maps in which is very
important in the study of topography, because Natural Resources Canada proves that
contours, elevation, forest cover, wetlands, pipelines, power transmission lines, structures,
and various types of boundary lines, including international, provincial, and administrative
boundary lines, are all depicted on topographic maps.
 Figure 1.1 The situation of Topography to Climate

In relation to climate, this topography affects the climate specifically in the feature of
landforms in a certain place. For example, the landform of a mountain. A mountainous area
affects the amount of precipitation. In a situation (Figure 1.1) ocean at the left, mountain at
the middle and land there on right. Now the uneven distribution of wind will pass at the ocean
part and as the air goes up it will get colder and will start to form clouds that eventually will
release water from the ocean at the windward side and will pass through the other side of the
mountain known as the leeward side; from that side the possibility of the flow of air to dry
can occur due to the fact that the colder and wetter situation of windward side will only place
since that side is near from the source of water/ ocean. To identify, windward and leeward are
basically the direction of the wind. From the ocean to water, it becomes windward because
the air flows from the ocean’s surface up to the mountain; while, the leeward’s concept is the
downward way or flow of air.

Distance from the Equator

Another factor that affects the climate is the location distance from the equator. It contributes
to some circumstances in the earth’s climate. Calculating the distance from a specific location
to the equator:
Distance of Equator = Latitude * 69 (approximately miles)
Example:
Mindanao’s Coordinates
8.4961° N, 123.3034°E
DE= 8.4961 * 69
=586. 2309 miles ≈ 586 miles is the distance from one’s location to equator

The sun's rays reach the Earth's surface directly, passing through a thin layer of atmosphere at
the equators and a thicker layer of atmosphere at the poles. Aside from that, places near the
equator receive more sunlight for a longer amount of time. As a result, the climate near the
equator is hotter than the climate at the poles.

Human influences
 One of the common influences or factors that earth has is the human influence in
which they intend to affect the climate in terms of the technological and other innovations
they have. Basically, humans require some of the basic lifestyles of fossil fuels in order to
have the power in their mechanical, and other technological commodities. Therefore, they
intend to collect and provide supplies and more demand in order for those fuels and other
chemical substances to be extracted. From there, it affects how carbon dioxide burns to the
atmosphere and traps the hot, humid and warm air within. Moreover, in terms of the human
action towards the environment; some of the human’s practices are to provide their needs
through some of the basic natural resources such as trees and others. Now, somehow
deforestation occurs a large portion of the stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere
as Carbon Dioxide. Climate scientists agree that Carbon Dioxide from tropical deforestation
now accounts for less than 10% of global warming pollution in which it technically affects
the climate.

CLIMATIC DATA & BUILDING DECISION MAKING

What comes next is an examination of weather records and the development of policy
suggestions. Precipitation, temperature, wind speed, and humidity are all examples of
meteorological conditions that may be monitored and used to describe a region's climate. The
direction and velocity of the wind are additional aspects of weather data.

According to Biket (n.d.), in regards to selecting choices in architectural planning. It

is important to identify, analyze, and control the climatic factors at the building's site even
before design decisions are made. An area's typical weather depends on its latitude,
longitude, altitude, and topography, as well as the kinds of plants and animals that thrive
there. This variety of factors establishes distinct climatic zones, each with its own set of
requirements for climatic design. Moreover, climate conditions influence the layout of
building designs, the determination of requirements, the selection of equipment and building
methods, consequently, the formation. Now, planning and shaping the building in line with
regional climatic data is based on allowing the building to receive the least amount of heat
during the hottest season of the year and lose the least amount of heat during the coldest
season of the year. Therefore, Climatic comfort in a building should be accomplished by the
efficient use of construction materials and mechanical systems. To achieve this goal, actual
climate conditions should be used as data, and a solution should be created to exploit the
good effects of the climate in building shape and building structure while eliminating the
negative effects of the climate. Therefore, this data should be used in urban planning to make
decisions about the building's position, direction, form, interior planning, and building shell
design, and then put those decisions into action.

Conclusion:
The Philippines as an archipelago is surrounded by different bodies of water such as the
Philippine Sea, Celebes sea, South China sea and the biggest body of water, the Pacific
ocean; It is also a part of the pacific ring of fire and is near the equator. There are a lot of
Natural calamities that occur and considering the climate of it. Houses are built to withstand
these climate and other natural occurrences to make sure the people who stay are safe.
Climate is a big factor in Architecture since it affects our day to day living and also to the
surroundings that all the human’s resources are found. Since it is a big factor, the buildings,
structures and constructions should be built according to the climate of the certain area. Using
data from different tools that are collected to determine the climate of an area it is essential to
know what building structures, forms and elements are needed and appropriate for the
necessary living comfort and softness of those who will utilize the structures. Different
building codes are mandated in different regions of the world so that the sturdiness of
structures are known to be safe and livable not only for a short period of time but also to
withstand the natural calamities that are predicted and are common to the region.