Definition of Terms Climatic Elements Required in Design MODULE 02 a Phone: 09289860077 Office: College of Architecture and ine Climatic Design Factors ane Definition of Terms BASIC CONCEPT: + "Weather" is the set of atmospheric conditions prevailing at a given place and time. * "Climate" can be defined as the integration in time of weather conditions, characteristics of a certain ‘geographical location. * At the global level climates are formed by the differential solar heat input and the uniform heat emission over the earth's surface. * The movement of air masses and of moisture-bearing clouds is driven by temperature differentials and strongly influenced by the Coriolis force. CLIMATE ‘+ oFigin: from the Ancient Greek word “Kiima’ meaning inclination ‘+ Climate is the characteristic condition of the atmosphere near the earth's surface at a certain place on earth. It is the long-term weather of that area (at least 30 years). This includes the region's general pattern of weather conditions, seasons and weather extremes like hurricanes, droughts, or rainy periods. Two of the most important factors determining an area's climate are air temperature and precipitation. * encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and numerous other meteorological elements in a given region over long periods of time. * affected by the location's latitude, terrain, altitude, ice or snow cover, vegetative cover as well as nearby water bodies and their currents. ‘+ Macroclimate ~ climate of the entire region or country. + Microclimate — climate of the immediate environments which are affected by site features such as hills, rivers, streams, lakes, position of buildings, trees etc. + Monsoon ~ a seasonal prevailing wind which lasts for several months, ushering in a region's rainy season. ‘SEASONS * As the Earth rotates on its tilted axis (23°30') around the sun, different parts of the Earth receive higher and lower levels of radiant energy. The sun emits rays that hit the earth's surface at different angles. These rays transmit the highest level of energy when they strike the earth at a right angle (90 °). Temperatures in these areas tend to be higher. Other locations, where the sun's rays hit at lesser angles, tend to be cooler. This ‘creates the seasons. CLASSIFICATION OF CLIMATES: EQUATORIAL = Example: Those countries lying just above or below the equator, Southeast Asian Countries, Central ‘America and the Amazon Basin in South America COOL TEMPERATE Example: N.W. Europe, Canada, and parts of North America ‘TD 323, Tropical Design 4WARM TEMPERATE "Example: Mediterranean Countries ARCTIC + Example: Iceland, Greenland, Northern Russia, and China For the purposes of building design a simple system based on the nature of the thermal problem in the particular ‘location is often used. FURTHER CLASSIFICATION OF TROPICAL, SUB-TROPICAL & EQUATORIAL CLIMATES: ‘A. WARM HUMID (Tropical Island) overheating is not as great as in hot-dry areas, but it is aggravated by very high humidity, restricting the evaporation potential. The diurnal temperature variation is small. B. HOT DRY (Arid/Maritime Desert) main problem is overheating, but the air is dry, so the evaporative cooling mechanism of the body is not restricted. There is usually a large diurnal (day - night) temperature variation. C. COMPOSITE (TROPICAL UPLANDS) Warm Humid: * High temp during the day, low diurnal change; Relatively high humidity: monsoon season; Cloudy and glaring sky; lesser ground vegetation leavy rains especially during Hot Dry: * Very high temp during the day; large diumal range; can be quite low in winter; Low and very low humidity; fairly constant throughout the year; Often low or very low precipitation; little or no cloud. Cold and non- glaring sky; Sparse and often bare ground vegetation. Very high glare from ground. Rich soil which only requires water Composite: ‘+ Mixture of warm/humid and hot/dry.; 1/3 to 2/3 ratio of monsoon period +The general imate (macroclimate) is influenced by the topography, the vegetation and the nature of the environment on a regional scale (mesoclimate), or at a local level within the site itself (microclimate) ‘TROPICAL CLIMATE + Atropical climate is a kind of climate typical in the tropics * Prevailing conditions: a. Temperature average mean temperature (dbt): 20 - 30 deg small diurnal temperature change/range: 2-5 deg b. Humidity Levels 50% - 100% RH (Relative Humidity) Wind Conditions Average wind speed: 2 m/s d. Prevailing Wind (Philippines) —_Amihan (NE) ~ November to April Habagat(SW) - May to October fe. Sky Conditions predominantly overcast; with considerable reflected heat/ solar gain f. Precipitation average rainfall: 1,000mm/year Urban Climate: + Almost every city in the world today is hotter - usually between 1 to 4 deg C hotter - than its surrounding area. This difference between urban and rural temperatures is called the "urban-heat-island” effect", and it has been intensifying throughout this century. TROPICS '* origin: from the Ancient Greek word “tropos”meaning "turn", "TD 323. Tropical Design 3+ The tropics are the geographic region of the Earth centered on the equator and limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere, at approximately 23°30’ N latitude, and the Tropic of Capricorn in the ‘southern hemisphere at 23°30’ S latitude. region is also referred to as the tropical zone and the torrid zone. ~ Tropic of Cancer — This parallel marks the farthest point north at which the sun can be seen directly ‘overhead at noon; north of the parallel the sun appears less ~ Tropic of Capricorn — This parallel marks the farthest point south at which the sun can be seen directly ‘overhead at noon; south of the parallel the sun appears less * The sun is directly overhead at lat. 23°30' N on June 21 or 22, the summer solstice, and at lat. 23°30' S on Dec. 21 or 22, the winter solstice. Since the entire tropical zone receives the rays of the sun more directly than areas in higher latitudes, the average annual temperature of the tropics is higher and the seasonal change of temperature is less than in other zones. ‘TROPICAL DESIGN + an art and science of designing a building that uses tropical climate as basis upon which design evolves. Applicable to tropical, sub-tropical and equatorial climates where discomfort due to heat and humidity are dominant problems. IMPORTANCE OF CLIMATIC DESIGN Climate has a major effect on building performance and energy consumption. ‘The process of identifying, understanding and controlling climatic influences at the building site is perhaps the ‘most critical part of building design. ‘The key objectives of climatic design include: + To reduce energy cost of a building ‘+ To.use "natural energy” instead of mechanical system and power + To provide comfortable and healthy environment for people CLIMATE MODELS ‘+ Climate models use quantitative methods to simulate the interactions of the atmosphere, oceans, land surface and ice. They are used for a variety of purposes from study of the dynamics of the weather and climate system to projections of future climate. Factors Affecting Climate DISTANCE FROM THE SEA (CONTINENTALITY) © Areas near the coasts generally have lower temperature but higher humidity level. They have greater cloud cover as due to the formation of clouds as warm inland air meets cooler sea air. Landlocked areas experience a wider range of temperatures reaching the maximum in summer because the moisture from the sea evaporates before reaching this distance. DIRECTION OF PREVAILING WINDS TOPOGRAPHY (ALTITUDE) ‘+ Areas with higher altitude have lower temperature than areas near the sea level. Mountains also receive more rainfall than low-lying areas. The air is also thinner in higher altitudes which make it less able to absorb and retain heat. PROXIMITY TO THE EQUATOR (LATITUDE) ‘+The equator receives greater solar exposure than any other part of the earth because it is positioned directly to the heat of the sun, and the heat is received by a smaller area. The temperature decreases in the areas approaching the north and south poles as the sun heats up a bigger area and the heat is more spread out. HUMAN INFLUENCE * Human activities have been affecting the climate for millions of years. However, before the Industrial Revolution (starting at the end of the 19" century), the effect human had on climate was quite small. With the invention of the motor engine and the increase in burning of fossil fuels, the amount of carbon dioxide ‘TD 323. Tropical Design 6released into the atmosphere also increased. The depletion of forests also meant that the extra carbon dioxide produced cannot be changed into oxygen, and only contributed in warming up the earth. Climatic Elements Required in Design a. TEMPERATURE ‘+ usually considered is Dry Bulb Temperature (DBT), it is a measurement of air temperature taken within a shaded area using a silvered thermometer; expressed in °F or °C b. RELATIVE HUMIDITY ‘+ Is the amount of water in the air usually measured by hygrometer (in %) or sling psychrometer or Wet Bulb ‘Temperature (WBT) expressed in °F or °C. ¢. PRECIPITATION ‘+ amount, frequency and intensity of rainfall (may also include hail, snow, dew) in the locality; usually measured by rain gauge, can be expressed in mm or inches per unit time (day, month, year). d. WINDS ‘* direction, frequency and movement of air throughout the year. ‘instrument - vane anemometer for high speeds ‘+ kata thermometer for low speeds e. SKY ‘© measured in hours of sunshine or cloud cover expressed in ratio and percentage. The measurement of cloud. cover is based on visual observation and expressed as a fraction of the sky hemisphere (tenths, or ‘octas’ = eights) covered by clouds ‘+ Sunshine duration- the period of clear sunshine (when a sharp shadow is cast), measured by a sunshine recorder which burns a trace on a paper strip, expressed as hours per day or month. f. SOLAR RADIATION © amount of visible light, ultraviolet light and radiant heat; measured by a pyranometer, on an unobstructed horizontal surface and recorded either as the continuously varying irradiance (W/m2), or through an electronic integrator as irradiance over the hour or day. Four environmental variables directly affecting thermal comfort are temperature, humidity, solar radiation and air movement, these are the four constituents of climate most important for the purposes of building design. Rainfall data may sometimes be needed, such as for designing drainage systems and assessing the level of precipitation. Four environmental variables directly affecting thermal comfort are temperature, humidity, solar radiation and air movement, these are the four constituents of climate most important for the purposes of building design. Rainfall data may sometimes be needed, such as for designing drainage systems and assessing the level of precipitation. |- monthly mean of daily maxima (deg C) | monthly mean of daily minima (deg C) ndard deviation of ributic ~ early morning relative humility (in %) early afternoon relative humidity (in %) ind speed (m/s) and direction |Rainfalt __~ monthly total (in mm) ‘TD 323. Tropical DesignFactors Affecting Climatic Design ‘The local micro-climate and site factors will affect the actual environmental conditions of the building. The important site-related factors should be considered when making the climate analysis: ‘+ Topography - elevation, slopes, hills and valleys, ground surface conditions. + Vegetation - height, mass, silhouette, texture, location, growth patterns. + Built forms - nearby buildings, surface conditions. Major thermal design factors to be studied include: ‘+ solar heat gain ‘+ conduction heat flow and ‘+ _ ventilation heat flow ‘The design variables in architectural expression that are important will include: ‘+ Shape - surface-to-volume ratio; orientation; building height. + Building fabric materials and construction; thermal insulation; surface qualities; shading and sun control. + Fenestration - the size, position and orientation of windows; window glass materials; external and ternal shading devices. + Ventilation - air-tightness; outdoor fresh air; cross ventilation and natural ventilation. ‘TD 323. Tropical Design