Evaluating the Spatial Distribution of Thermal Comfort Conditions in a High-Elevated Cold City Centre, Erzurum

Altered characteristics of urban microclimates elongating the daily and seasonal exposure periods to heat stress and enlarging the size of the thermal uncomfortable urban surfaces. This situation is human thermal comfort conditions negatively which in turn affect public health and wellbeing. The aim of this study is to determine the spatial distribution of thermal comfort conditions in the neighbourhood of Yakutiye, the center of Erzurum city over the hottest 2 months of the year (July and August) based on long term (2004-2020) meteorological data to show the impact of urban areas on thermal comfort conditions where structured surfaces are dominant. PET index was used to calculate thermal comfort conditions through RayMan model and ArcGIS 10.5 software for their spatial distribution. It was seen as the result of the study that solar radiation and wind are two effective factors on thermal comfort contrarily to each other depending on the characteristics of the city in the mentioned period. Overheating by solar radiation due to concrete structured urban surface is tolerated by north-easterly cool winds. However, lack of moisture source (i.e. green areas) to moderate heat and cold stress is one of the main causes of thermally uncomfortable periods and areas in the city center. In order to improve such negative conditions, mitigating efforts should be focused on creating city parts that comply with spatial planning and design principles, taking into account all natural and human factors from a geographical perspective.

Journal

PURE AND APPLIED GEOPHYSICS

Year

2024

Volume

181

Issue

4

Pages

1363-1380

ISSN

0033-4553

eISSN

1420-9136

DOI

10.1007/s00024-024-03446-8

WoS UID

WOS:001190243300002