Microclimate Characteristics Research Articles

Study of energy balance components at different growth stages of green gram grown in new alluvial zone of West Bengal

An experiment was conducted in the experimental farm of Bidhan Chandra KrishiViswavidyalaya, Nadia, West Bengal to study the radiation pattern and its balance over green gram (Vignaradiata var. Samrat). The BREB method was used to determine the sensible heat flux and latent energy. The net radiation was measured through net radiometer and the ground heat flux was measured using Fourier's law. Both the diurnal and seasonal variation of net radiation were studied. Similarly, the energy balance components were studied regularly for different crop growth stages as well as on diurnal basis. It is observed that the net radiation varies from 6.32 Wm-2 to 606.43 Wm-2. The latent heat flux constitutes more than 50% of the net radiation for all growth stages as depicted by energy balance partitioning. The sensible heat flux is partitioned into 10% to 20% of total net radiation throughout the growth stages of green gram, which is the lowest in magnitude among all three energy fluxes. The relationship between Bowen ratio and Vapour pressure deficit (VPD), Bowen ratio and Canopy air temperature difference (CATD) was studied. It was found that Bowen ratio is negatively correlated with VPD but positively correlated with CATD. This study enables to monitor ET pattern through latent heat flux and microclimatic characteristics through sensible and ground heat flux.

A Study on Microclimate characteristics and energy balance within near-river riparian systems

Riparian microclimate studies are gaining increasing attention due to their close ecological, climatologic and aesthetic interactions with lives in both natural and urban areas. Historically, many researchers studied thermal regimes of rivers and river temperature responses to different management strategies. Near-river microclimate characteristics and relevant energy balance were not fully understood. This review documents recent research on near-river microclimatic features and energy exchanging processes, roles of macroclimate, rivers, riparian vegetation and topography play in microclimate mitigation, their ecological importance in terms of biodiversity support and human thermal comfort promotion. It also emphasizes potentials of studies on integration of rivers and plants, as well as their controls on heat exchanging. This study is hopefully useful for river scholars to strengthen the comprehension for further research, as well as for river designers and managers to make informed decisions of sustainable urban development.

Prediction model for sap flow in cacao trees under different radiation intensities in the western Colombian Amazon

In this study, we measured diurnal patterns of sap flow (Vs) in cacao trees growing in three types of agroforestry systems (AFs) that differ in the incident solar radiation they receive. We modeled the relationship of Vs with several microclimatic characteristics of the AFs using mixed linear models. We characterized microclimatic variables that may have an effect on diurnal patterns of sap flow: air relative humidity, air temperature, photosynthetically active radiation and vapor pressure deficit. Overall, our model predicted the differences between cacao Vs in the three different AFs, with cacao plants with dense Musaceae plantation and high mean diurnal incident radiation (HPAR) displaying the highest differences compared to the other agroforestry arrangements. The model was also able to predict situations such as nocturnal transpiration in HPAR and inverse nocturnal sap flows indicative of hydraulic redistribution in the other AFs receiving less incident radiation. Overall, the model we present here can be a useful and cost-effective tool for predicting transpiration and water use in cacao trees, as well as for managing cacao agroforestry systems in the Amazon rainforest.

Relative importance of tree species richness, tree functional type, and microenvironment for soil macrofauna communities in European forests.

Soil fauna communities are major drivers of many forest ecosystem processes. Tree species diversity and composition shape soil fauna communities, but their relationships are poorly understood, notably whether or not soil fauna diversity depends on tree species diversity. Here, we characterized soil macrofauna communities from forests composed of either one or three tree species, located in four different climate zones and growing on different soil types. Using multivariate analysis and model averaging we investigated the relative importance of tree species richness, tree functional type (deciduous vs. evergreen), litter quality, microhabitat and microclimatic characteristics as drivers of soil macrofauna community composition and structure. We found that macrofauna communities in mixed forest stands were represented by a higher number of broad taxonomic groups that were more diverse and more evenly represented. We also observed a switch from earthworm-dominated to predator-dominated communities with increasing evergreen proportion in forest stands, which we interpreted as a result of a lower litter quality and a higher forest floor mass. Finally, canopy openness was positively related to detritivore abundance and biomass, leading to higher predator species richness and diversity probably through trophic cascade effects. Interestingly, considering different levels of taxonomic resolution in the analyses highlighted different facets of macrofauna response to tree species richness, likely a result of both different ecological niche range and methodological constraints. Overall, our study supports the positive effects of tree species richness on macrofauna diversity and abundance through multiple changes in resource quality and availability, microhabitat, and microclimate modifications.

Autecology of Begonia in Several Locations of Flores Island

Human activities in forest areas such as over-harvesting of Begonia species without being balanced with their cultivation activities can threaten the existence of Begonia in nature. Autecological studies of species in their natural habitat are the initial activities for the conservation of plant species. The purpose of this study was to study the distribution of Begonia on Flores and environmental/ microclimate characteristics in several locations on Flores Island. The 10x10 m plots were placed with purposive sampling with a minimum interval of 50 m. Multivariate analysis using Canonical Corespondence Analysis (CCA) was employed to determine the effect of microclimatic factors on the composition of vegetation. Begonia kelimutensis is endemic in Kelimutu National Park, Flores lives at an altitude of 1,527 asl, at soil pH 5,8 and soil moisture of 75%, with a slope of 10 ° on the forest floor and light intensity 4,640 klux. In addition, five types of Begonia that we estimate have not been identified and two of them are identified as Begonia sumbawaensis Girm. and Begonia brangbosangensis Girm. Begonia kelimutuensis is distributed at a higher altitude than Begonia brangbosangensis. B. sumbawaensis is influenced by the slope factor while B. longifolia tends to be related to the air humidity factor. B. kelimutuensis is also often found living with Macaranga sp., and Litsea sp. B. brangbosangensis, also found near Homalanthus sp. and Calliandra callothyrsus.

Microclimate characteristics in the famous dwellings: A case study of the Hakka Tulou in Hezhou, China

Hakka Tulou is a famous local earth construction, which is included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage buildings. To the best of our knowledge, there is a lack of thorough research into the microclimate characteristics of Hakka Tulou. In this study, we investigated the microclimate characteristics in the Hezhou Hakka Tulou. The indoor thermal sensation of the enclosure in warm circumstances was approximately equal to that of cool circumstances. However, the indoor thermal environment of Hakka Tulou could be improved by outer guard structures. In summer, the corridor structure allows for cooling down of the indoor air temperature, while the patio structure has the advantage of dehumidification. However, in winter, the building envelope has the advantages of thermal insulation and moisture-proofing. The location of higher wind speed in summer was mainly orientated from the center of the Hakka Tulou; however, this center appeared in the patio space. Such special environmental factors may be useful for the purpose of warmth in winter and coolness in summer. Furthermore, the patios of the Hakka Tulou effectively improved the lighting coefficient and illumination in the courtyard. However, the daylighting capacities of the inner rooms were considerably lower than those in the outer rooms.

Soil Humus, Iron, Sulphate and Magnesium Content Affect Nectar Traits of Wild Garlic (Allium ursinum L.).

Recent studies revealed that from various ecological factors influencing nectar yield and quality of a plant, soil properties can be as important as microclimatic features. To date, few studies have investigated the relationship of soil characters to nectar traits of bee pollinated plants growing in natural associations. Our study intended to reveal which soil properties had the most powerful impact on nectar variables of wild garlic (Allium ursinum L.). Specimens were collected from fourteen habitats in two different years, and were potted in their original soil under the same climatic conditions. Nectar volumes and sugar concentrations were measured and soil samples were analysed for fourteen parameters. Statistical analyses revealed that the number of nectar producing Allium flowers, as well as the nectar volume and sugar content of nectar in individual flowers were influenced by both year and habitat. The humus, iron and sulphate content of soil showed negative correlation with the number of flowers producing nectar; total nectar volumes were negatively correlated with humus and iron content, but positively affected by magnesium content of the soil. Our results suggest that in addition to the effect of microclimatic factors, certain soil properties can have significant impact on nectar traits.

Analysis of microclimate characteristics in solar greenhouses under natural ventilation

The solar greenhouse is a typical greenhouse type in northern China. It provides a favorable environment for the growth of various plants and extends cultivation periods for almost a whole year to achieve a high yield. However, indoor environmental control is primarily based on growers’ experience, and the objective test data required for the complex climate control and management of greenhouses are lacking. The present study used three greenhouses in northwest China as research objects: one greenhouse with mature plants (GH-M), one greenhouse with young plants (GH-Y) and one greenhouse without plants (GH-E). Field tests were performed to investigate microclimate characteristics, such as indoor air temperature, relative humidity, and solar radiation under natural ventilation. The results showed that the maximum temperature difference reached approximately 8.2 °C in the vertical direction, and semiempirical equations for the normalized temperature distribution were obtained. The soil temperature remained constant at a certain depth (0.4 m). The distribution of the relative humidity and solar radiation was analyzed. The current study is helpful for growers to develop better greenhouse climate control strategies for management practices.

Study of microClimate Characteristic in Tamansari Yogyakarta as a Heritage Tourism Area

Yogyakarta is known as a Tourism City because there is a lot of tourist destination that exists. One of the uniqueness of the city of Yogyakarta is the royal system that has been part of the government until this day. Tamansari Water Castle is a historic site used by the King and also the royal family for recreation. As one of the main destinations for tourists, it is important to note how the performance of the space formed in providing comfort for visitors. This study aims to determine how the microclimate characteristics in the Tamansari area, which have an impact on the thermal comfort felt by visitors. Observations are made to discover the elements forming the outdoor space such as the building mass layout and composition, the type of surface material, and also the type of vegetation that exists. This study uses simulation method with Envi-met software, using observational data as input. The simulation process will show how the microclimate conditions are formed in the Tamansari area, which includes air temperature, humidity, wind speed, and wind movement. The results represent that the landscape design in Tamansari has considered the thermal comfort through surface material and vegetation they have.

Arabica coffee and cedar tree: integrating biotic and abiotic drivers

Agroforestry systems are important forms of sustainable farming, providing several ecosystem services. However, characterization and management of factors such as thermal and light heterogeneity, as well as interactions between trees and coffee plants, are determinants for achieving the desired sustainability. This study aimed to verify whether different distances between Coffea arabica L. and Australian red cedar can change soil and microclimate characteristics and how they alter morphological and physiological attributes of coffee plants over the rainy season and a prolonged drought period (veranico) in Summer. The trial was carried out in the municipality of Barra do Choça, in an area with Australian red cedar trees (Toona ciliata M. Roem), distributed in two hedges, spaced 19.8 × 3 m apart, in a northeast-southwest direction, and coffee plants var. Catucaí Vermelho (3.3 × 0.5 m). Treatments were defined by the distance between the coffee plants and the first row of the Australian red cedar hedge (3.3 m, T1; 6.6 m, T2; 9.9 m, T3; 13.2 m, T4; 16.4 m, T5). Morphology and physiology of coffee plants, soil temperature, incident light on coffee plants, and the allelopathic potential of Australian red cedar leaf extracts were assessed in the wet and dry season of the 2016–2017 Summer. Temperatures fluctuated less in experimental units close to the hedge. The reduced growth of coffee plants close to the hedges was related to self-shading associated with light restriction by the trees. The experiment showed the allelopathic potential of Australian red cedar leaves.

Structure of AMF Community in an Agroforestry System of Coffee and Macauba Palm

Coffee crop in Brazil is typically grown as a monoculture. However, we hypothesized that agroforestry system is favorable association for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), affecting its community structure and potentially impacting crop productivity and agroecosystem health. This study evaluated how the microclimate, soil depth, macauba field spacing and distance between coffee plants and palms affect the structure of the AMF community. The structure of the AMF community was influenced by the soil depth, microclimate features, soil moisture, maximum air temperature, and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). The distance at which coffee-macauba influences ecological diversity indices of AMF, and higher diversity are related to the proximity between plants. AMF diversity (Richness and Shannon) in the agroforestry system exceeded that observed in the full-sun coffee in the 0-20 soil depth layer. Our results showed that the microclimate, soil depth, plant density, and distance between coffee from macauba affected the AMF community structure.

Digitalisation effect on the microclimate and functional characteristics of the artificial insemination point for mobile sheep

Digitalisation effect on the microclimate and functional characteristics of the artificial insemination point for mobile sheep

The resource-climatic potential of urbanized territories (a case study of the city of Irkutsk)

A combination of average conditions for the diffusion of pollutants in the city of Irkutsk and significant volumes of emissions are the chief cause of a very high air pollution index during a long (longer than 20 years) period. In current conditions, the influence of the climate/atmosphere of the city of Irkutsk on the living conditions of the population implies an exceedance of hygiene standards in a year, on the average, for 5–6 pollutants. Furthermore, the composition and concentrations of pollutants are changing but the concentration of suspended material remains stably high (up to 2.4 MPC). Of particular concern is the largest exceedance of MPC for benzo(a)pyrene (up to 7.8 MPC), which is due primarily to a low quality of fuel used by mobile and stationary sources of emissions. The microclimatic characteristics of the city in the winter period were used to identify territories with a different temperature regime. The air temperature in low places is lower by 1.0–3.6 °C than at the Basic Irkutsk Observatory weather station. A large scatter in the deviations is caused by the warming influence of the Angara and by the infrastructural characteristics of the city. On the slopes and in elevated areas in the city center and outskirts, the temperature deviations do not exceed ± 0.5 –2.0 °C, respectively.

АНАЛІЗ ЛОКАЛЬНИХ КЛІМАТИЧНИХ ЗОН МІСТА КИЄВА

According to the WUDAPT protocol which is based on the concept of local climate (LCZ) zones T. Oke and I. Stewart the territory of Kyiv was analyzed and was highlighted by the LСZ in the administrative boundaries of the city and within the built-up area (BUA). A map of the local climate zones of the city has been created. The existence of significant differences in the ratio between LCZs within the administrative boundaries of the city and within the BUA is disclosed. It is shown that the areas of LСZ with built-up territories (LСZ-1 – LСZ-9) cover about 40% within the administrative boundaries of Kyiv and over 65 % in BUA, and green areas (LСZ-A, B, C, and D) and water bodies (LСZ-G) cover 32,6 % within the BUA, which is almost twice less than within the administrative boundaries of the city (59,0 %). The LCZ-A are characterized by the biggest differences (dense trees) – within the administrative boundaries of Kyiv it accounts for 32,6 % of the territory, and within the BUA it accounts only 6,7 %. Thus, it is shown that within the territories where the citizens live and work (BUA) about 2/3 of the area is built-up areas with man-made surfaces which are characterized by a much lower albedo (compared to natural) and low water permeability, and accordingly, they are favorable for the formation of microclimatic features. The obtained results are very important for the study of microclimatic conditions and climate of Kyiv, assessment of the thermal comfort conditions of the urban environment, development of measures of adaptation the city to heat, and for solving a number of other practical problems.

INVESTIGATION OF URBAN TEXTURE AND ENERGY CONSUMPTION RELATIONSHIP IN THE CONTEXT OF URBAN TRANSFORMATION: KADIKÖY CASE STUDY

Turkey is undergoing a major transformation process. This process, also called urban renewal, takes place at neighborhood and building (on-site transformation) scales. The literature focuses on transformation problem of the neighborhood scale; however, the characteristics of the problems associated with building scale transformation differ. One of these is texture differentiation. With the on-site renewal process, the existing urban texture and its micro-climate characteristics change. An existing low-rise building in the street is transformed and built as a high-rise multi-storey building, which shades the neighboring buildings in the texture. In this case, it can be predicted that the energy consumption performance of existing buildings will be affected. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of reconstructed high-rise buildings on existing buildings in the texture in terms of energy performance. The study area is chosen as Suadiye (Kadıköy, Istanbul) because of the high urban renewal activity. Using computer simulation methodology, the energy performance of a reference building was calculated for three texture scenarios: base situation (rural texture), 1960 urban texture and 2019 texture (after renewal). In this study, in which the building envelope is kept constant, the effect of the urban texture on the building energy consumption is clearly observed. According to the results of the study, lighting and heating energy consumption of the reference building increased during the transition from rural to 1960 texture. With the urban transformation law numbered 6306 enacted in 2012, it would be possible to save energy by optimizing the urban texture. However, in practice, it is seen that energy consumption of the reference building is increased more in the transformation from the 1960 texture to the 2019 texture. In other words, texture change has increased energy consumption. One of the goals of this high-cost transformation process, which is necessarily experienced with earthquake risk in the first place, was stated as providing energy savings. For this purpose, envelope insulation is mandatory in reconstructed buildings. However, independent of the building envelope, the characteristics of the urban texture also play an important role in energy consumption. For this reason, the optimization of the urban texture should be evaluated as a part of the transformation process and legal regulations should be implemented to support this. Potential impact analysis should be done before intervening in the urban texture.

INVESTIGATION OF URBAN TEXTURE AND ENERGY CONSUMPTION RELATIONSHIP IN THE CONTEXT OF URBAN TRANSFORMATION: KADIKÖY CASE STUDY

Turkey is undergoing a major transformation process. This process, also called urban renewal, takes place at neighborhood and building (on-site transformation) scales. The literature focuses on transformation problem of the neighborhood scale; however, the characteristics of the problems associated with building scale transformation differ. One of these is texture differentiation. With the on-site renewal process, the existing urban texture and its micro-climate characteristics change. An existing low-rise building in the street is transformed and built as a high-rise multi-storey building, which shades the neighboring buildings in the texture. In this case, it can be predicted that the energy consumption performance of existing buildings will be affected. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of reconstructed high-rise buildings on existing buildings in the texture in terms of energy performance. The study area is chosen as Suadiye (Kadıköy, Istanbul) because of the high urban renewal activity. Using computer simulation methodology, the energy performance of a reference building was calculated for three texture scenarios: base situation (rural texture), 1960 urban texture and 2019 texture (after renewal). In this study, in which the building envelope is kept constant, the effect of the urban texture on the building energy consumption is clearly observed. According to the results of the study, lighting and heating energy consumption of the reference building increased during the transition from rural to 1960 texture. With the urban transformation law numbered 6306 enacted in 2012, it would be possible to save energy by optimizing the urban texture. However, in practice, it is seen that energy consumption of the reference building is increased more in the transformation from the 1960 texture to the 2019 texture. In other words, texture change has increased energy consumption. One of the goals of this high-cost transformation process, which is necessarily experienced with earthquake risk in the first place, was stated as providing energy savings. For this purpose, envelope insulation is mandatory in reconstructed buildings. However, independent of the building envelope, the characteristics of the urban texture also play an important role in energy consumption. For this reason, the optimization of the urban texture should be evaluated as a part of the transformation process and legal regulations should be implemented to support this. Potential impact analysis should be done before intervening in the urban texture.

HouseTalk: A House That Comforts You

Passive building design takes advantage of local micro-climate characteristics in site planning and analysis of house construction. In a ten-year project, we built the Orchid House with the concept of a green core to effectively reduce the energy consumption of the house. We have equipped Orchid House with smart control for passive design using an Internet of Things (IoT) solution called HouseTalk. With HouseTalk, the passive mechanisms of Orchid House are intelligently controlled to offer indoor comforts. HouseTalk integrates all sensors and actuators of the Orchid House through a Graphical User Interface (GUI). This GUI allows the users to easily and directly access all IoT devices installed in the house through graphical icon representations, and conveniently implement smart algorithms for smart home. HouseTalk dynamically adjusts the formula for HVAC operation in the closed private living area, which is appropriate for thermal control. In the open public shared space (the green core of the Orchid House), HVAC will consume much more energy, and the passive design with non-thermodynamic cycle equipment such as mechanical ventilation, evaporative cooling system, or other non-thermodynamic cycle systems are more appropriate for thermal control. HouseTalk enhances passive design by using non-thermodynamic cycle system with low energy-consumption equipment to reduce the CO2 concentration, purifying the air to maintain oxygen concentrations ranging between 18% and 21%. Also, in the green core, HouseTalk can effectively improve the cooling effect by up to 77% without HVAC.The reported thermal sensation indicates that over 90% of tenants are satisfied by HouseTalk’s HVAC control. We demonstrate the potential of enhancing air quality through the photosynthesis by indoor plants. HouseTalk can effectively speed up the reduction of carbon dioxide concentrations by 53%. The oxygen concentration for the HouseTalk scenario ranges between 18% and 21%, which is always higher than that of the baseline scenario.

Balneotherapeutic factors of the North Ossetia — Alanya Republic

The research objective is to determine the prospects for the development of balneology in the Republic of North Ossetia Alania.
 Mineral waters, therapeutic peloids (clay terclites), spa research, statistical methods. Pyatigorsk Scientific Research Institute of Resort Study developed a strategy of balneology development in Republic of North Ossetia Alania. There have been conducted route studies of bioclimatic and microclimatic features of medical and health areas. Their modern landscape, climatic potential and prospects of resort methods of climate treatment and landscape therapy have been assessed. There have also been carried out a full physical and chemical study of samples of mineral waters (21 samples) and medical mud (2 samples) in native form in accordance with the regulatory and technical documents of the Russian Federation. The conducted analysis of mineral waters and peloids showed that in the Republic of North Ossetia Alania there are mineral waters of various physical and chemical composition and mineralization and low-mineralized sulfate magnesium-calcium-sodium therapeutic clays-terclites having a high balneotherapeutic activity.

Environmental Niche Modelling of Globally Threatened Yellow-Throated Bulbul, <i>Pycnonotus Xantholaemus</i> for Conservation Prospects in the Deccan Peninsula, India

Yellow-throated bulbul (YTB), Pycnonotus xantholaemus is an endemic and threatened bird of the Deccan Peninsula which is found in discontinuous populations. We used MaxEnt algorithm to generate environmental niche models for further surveys. We compared the models for current and future scenarios to assess change in the extent of suitable habitat in response to climate change. We used 102 verified presence locations and six environmental variables: four climatic, one topographical and one vegetation layer to generate the final model. Topographic rug-gedness index and precipitation of wettest month were the major predictors of suitable habitat. The predicted distribution amounting to 7% of the Deccan Peninsula was highly fragmented. Only 13.5% of the predicted habitat fell within the Protected Areas. Models pre-dicted 6.5%–42% loss of habitat in different climate change scenarios, with a marginal gain in the western slopes of southern Western Ghats. Microclimatic fea-tures of the habitat may help determine the geographic distribution of YTB. This could serve as a non-traditional flagship species to highlight conservation of rocky outcrops in the Deccan Peninsula.

Thermal comfort and pedestrian behaviors in urban public spaces in cities with warm and dry climates

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to move beyond the stage of analysis of exclusively physical microclimatic phenomena and extending ourselves to the study of the impact of the microclimate environment on the user behavior in public spaces. This paper will open up new opportunities for the development of urban open spaces and facilitate the decision-making for urban decision-makers, city managers and planners to make the right urban planning decision.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology for identifying the links between microclimatic quality of urban routes and behaviors was developed on the basis of the results obtained from field surveys carried out in nine public urban areas of the city of Biskra, three urban space are located in a traditional urban fabric (the medina) and the other five in new urban areas, in the two climatic seasons (winter, summer) of 2019. For this exploratory research, two types of instruments were used to collect data from environmental and human monitoring.FindingsImproving microclimatic conditions in urban spaces can allow people to spend more time outside, with the possibility of increasing their social cohesion. The overall objective of this research is to better understand the impact of microclimatic characteristics on pedestrian behavior of nine selected public urban spaces in the city of Biskra, Algeria. To characterize this impact, the authors developed an approach based on crossing data of field surveys, including structured interviews with a questionnaire and observations of human activities (video recordings), as well as microclimate monitoring, conducted during the two climatic seasons (winter, summer) 2019. The analysis of the results allowed to verify the impact of the two climatic seasons (winter, summer) on the variation in the density of occupancy of the different urban areas studied and the duration of the user stations. The authors also illustrated that the number of individuals higher in the traditional urban spaces of the city of Biskra or the conditions of climate comfort are more comfortable than the urban spaces in the new urban areas of the city of Biskra during the summer, which is the season most problematic.Originality/valueIn recent years, there has been a proliferation of scientific studies on the subject of control of microclimatic characteristics and, in particular, on the consideration of the thermal comfort of persons by qualitative analysis, prediction and representation of the perception of external environments. Improving microclimatic conditions in urban spaces can allow people to spend more time outside, with the possibility of increasing their social cohesion. This study highlights the importance of climate-conscious urban design and design flexibility. Urban environments can be modified in summer and winter to provide a better outdoor thermal environment for users. In addition, this study also shows the importance of harmony between microclimate and urban design. Such harmony can be achieved by including requirements for a climate-conscious urban design in the planning regulations for cities in arid zones.