Abstract
The study shows the effect of urban structures on human thermal comfort indices in the extreme climate region of the Russian Far East, with an annual temperature range of . The study examines different urban zones in Birobidzhan, the capital city of the Jewish Autonomous Region (JAR). The climate of this region can be characterized as continental monsoon climate. The difference of thermal values for three zones with different vegetation and build-up density shows the influence of urban planning on the local microclimate. The moderating effect of dense build-up and inner city vegetation on extreme thermal conditions becomes clear when comparing all zones. Through the analysis of daily and monthly timelines it was possible to determine preferable times of the day for inner city outdoor activities. From the results derived from PET with a total of 170 days per year with PET values below Birobidzhan can be considered a region of extreme cold stress. This means that an adaptation based solely on behaviour and clothing is not sufficient, but an adaptation of the urban surroundings and therefore the identification and choice of preferable urban structures is necessary.
Highlights
Since the last decades of the 20th century and due to the challenges of climate change, climatological and meteorological parameters have been in the focus of urban planning
From the results derived from physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) with a total of 170 days per year with PET values below 0∘C Birobidzhan can be considered a region of extreme cold stress
For the purpose of this study two of these indices haven been applied to the meteorological conditions and the urban structures of Birobidzhan, the capital city of the Jewish Autonomous Region (JAR), at the Russian Far East
Summary
Since the last decades of the 20th century and due to the challenges of climate change, climatological and meteorological parameters have been in the focus of urban planning Most of those studies assess the standard meteorological parameters associated with human thermal comfort such as air temperature, global radiation, wind velocity, relative humidity, or precipitation. In the course of a year this region experiences all facets of extreme meteorological conditions from arid cold to humid warm (Figure 1) This makes the region of the JAR extremely suitable for the purpose of analysing the impact of urban structures on the human thermal comfort assuming an intensification of extreme meteorological conditions in presently moderate climate areas, due to the global climate change. As a result of this development regions that are already under the influence of harsh climates are very interesting for analysis of climate change results
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