Measurement and prediction of vertical temperature distribution above urban building roofs at an ultra-microenvironment scale

Abstract

Microenvironment is critical for building thermal performance. Heat transfer through building envelope (such as roof and window) and mass transfer through building mechanical systems that are adjacent to building surfaces (such as roof-top unit) are influenced directly by the air conditions near the surfaces (e.g., within 1.5 m). These air environments are within the sublayer of the air thermal boundary layer around the buildings – here defined as ultra-microenvironments, to be distinct from the conventional microenvironment scale of 2–5 m from building surfaces. This study particularly investigates the vertical temperature profiles within the ultra-microenvironments above urban building roofs. Field tests were conducted on two roof tops in Wuhan, China and Boulder, US, respectively. Consistent vertical air temperature profiles above the roofs were observed for both days and nights. The study further identifies one recent above-roof air temperature model and validates it with the field test data, which can effectively predict the vertical air temperature at various heights within the ultra-microenvironment above the roof. Applications of this model using different local and climate data including weather station data are analyzed and discussed, along with their performance on prediction accuracy.