RAG 121

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 1
TROPICAL CLIMATES & CLIMATIC ANALYSIS

By:
DR. MUHAMAD AZHAR GHAZALI
Architecture Program
Renewable Energy, Sustainable Building Design, Passive and Active
Architecture, Low-Carbon Building

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DIFFERENT TYPE OF CLIMATES FORMED THROUGH THE
INTERACTION OF:
I. ATMOSPHERIC LAYERS
II. SUN – EARTH RELATION:
• Rotation around the Sun
• Earth Circulation

THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN THESE CLIMATES ARE NOT

CLEAR.

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 KÖPPEN CLIMATE CLASSIFICATION MAP
The major climatic types are based on patterns of average precipitation, average
temperature, and natural vegetation. This map depicts the world distribution of
climate types based on the classification originally invented by Wladimir Köppen in
1900.

M.C. Peel, B.L. Finlayson, and T.A. McMahon (2007), updated world map of the
Köppen-Geiger climate classification, Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 11,
1633-1644.

https://www.britannica.com/science/Koppen-climate-classification

http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/

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Group A: Tropical/megathermal climates:
• Tropical rainforest climate (Af)
• Tropical monsoon climate (Am)
• Tropical wet and dry or savanna climate (Aw)

Group B: Dry (arid and semiarid) climates:

• Desert climate BW: Hot desert (BWh), Cold desert (BWk)
• Steppe climate (Semiarid) BS: Hot steppe (BSh), Cold steppe (BSk)

Group C: Temperate/mesothermal climates:

• Dry-summer or Mediterranean climates (Csa, Csb, Csc)[9]
• Temperate or subtropical hot summer climates (Cfa, Cwa)
• Maritime temperate climates or Oceanic climates (Cwb, Cwc, Cfb, Cfc)
• Maritime subarctic climates or subpolar oceanic climate (Cfc)
• Temperate highland climates with dry winters (Cwb, Cwc)

Group D: Continental/microthermal climates

• Hot summer continental climates (Dsa, Dwa, Dfa)
• Warm summer continental or hemiboreal climates (Dsb, Dwb, Dfb)
• Continental subarctic or boreal (taiga) climates (Dsc, Dwc, Dfc)
• Continental subarctic climates with extremely severe winters (Dsd, Dwd, Dfd)

Group E: Polar and alpine climates:

• Tundra climate (ET)
Ice cap climate (EF)
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Type A climates - Wet equatorial climate

1st 2nd 3rd criterion

A temperature of coolest month 18 °C or higher

f precipitation in driest month at least 60 mm

precipitation in driest month less than 60 mm but

m
equal to or greater than 100 – (r/25)1

precipitation in driest month less than 60 mm and

w
less than 100 – (r/25)

• consistently high temperatures (around 30 °C [86 °F])

• plentiful precipitation (150–1,000 cm [59–394 inches])
• heavy cloud cover
• high humidity
• very little annual temperature variation
• Wet equatorial regions lie within about 12° latitude of
the Equator
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 4.2105° N, 101.9758° E
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 OVERVIEW OF MALAYSIAN CLIMATE
CONDITION

Malaysian weather condition is almost foreseeable and sunshine duration is

more than 10 hours daily with roughly 6 hours of direct sunlight with solar
radiation between 800 W/m2 and 1000 W/m2
(Amin et al. 2009).

Solar radiation in Malaysia (average value throughout the year)

Source: Mekhilef et al. (2012)

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 Location and Sun Path

Figure 2.11: Geographical Coordinate and sun path diagram over Kuala Lumpur,
Penang, Johor Bahru, Kota Bahru, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.
Source: Tang & Chin (2013)

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 Sunshine and Solar Radiation Level.
Figure 2.13: Average daily radiation in Malaysia.

Source: Tang & Chin (2013)

Based on TRY analysis, the average horizontal global radiation in

Malaysia is almost symmetry between morning and evening hours
with its peak close to the noon hours
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Cloud cover has the substantial impact on the
solar radiation environment directly as the
cloud cover cuts off a significant amount of
solar radiation (MMD 2016)
Figure 2.14:
Source:
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Cloud Cover
the cloud cover in Malaysia is high as it
reflects the tropical climate condition
and almost consistent during day and
night throughout the year
Cloud cover in Malaysia.
Tang & Chin (2013)
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 Wind Flow
Wind flow pattern in Malaysia distinguished by four seasons; the south-west
monsoon (middle of May or early June and ends in September), northeast monsoon
(early November and ends in March) and two shorter periods of inter-monsoon
seasons (the winds are light and variable) (MMD, 2016).

Figure 2.15: Wind speed in Malaysia.

Source: Tang & Chin (2013)

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HOT-HUMID TROPICAL CLIMATE
• COVERS AN AREA BETWEEN LATITUDE 150 N & S.
• SMALL ANNUAL SEASONAL VARIATIONS, WET & DRY SEASONS, STORM.
• AIR TEMPERATURE (DBT)
• day mean maximum – 270c to 320c
• night mean minimum – 220c
• low diurnal range 6 to 8 deg.c
• HIGH HUMIDITY
• high relative humidity  75%
• can ascend up from 55% to 100%
• SKY CONDITION
• cloudy/ diffused almost all the year round
• cloud cover – 60 to 90%
• ANNUAL RAINFALL
• heavy 200 to 1500mm
• the heaviest month exceed 500mm
• SOLAR RADIATION
• arrived at the earth surface after diffused by cloud - strong & glaring
• outward radiation blocked by the present of cloud & water vapour.
• WIND
• low speed
• calm period – frequent & long
• there are cases of driving rain
• VEGETATION
• green and easy to grow
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CLIMATIC ELEMENT
&
BUILDING DESIGN

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 DEFINE
a climate responsive architecture where
the buildings are specifically designed to
achieve comfort at the tropical region.

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 KEY POINTS
SOLAR AIR CIRCULATION THERMAL
CONTROL EFFECTS OF
MATERIAL

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Passive
VS
Active
Design
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 Passive VS Active
Passive design is a system or structure Active design is a system or
that directly uses natural energy such as structure that uses or produces
sunlight, wind, electricity
temperature differences or gravity to
achieve a result without electricity or fuel

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 ENCOURAGE MAKE USE
NATURAL OF NATURAL
VENTILATION LIGHT

CREATE
AVOID HEAT COOL
GAIN principles of OUTDOOR
passive AREAS
design for
buildings in
the tropics

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 ENCOURAGE MAKE USE OF
NATURAL NATURAL
VENTILATION LIGHT

CREATE COOL
AVOID HEAT
OUTDOOR
GAIN principles of
passive
AREAS
design for
buildings in
the tropics

AVOID HEAT GAIN

• Orient the building to reduce exposure to midday sun.
• Use materials with low thermal mass (as a general rule).
• Shade walls and windows, particularly any walls with high
thermal mass.
• Use double-glazing on windows that cannot be effectively
shaded.
• Use insulation, light colours and heat reflective surfaces.
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 ENCOURAGE MAKE USE OF
NATURAL NATURAL
VENTILATION LIGHT

CREATE COOL
AVOID HEAT
OUTDOOR
GAIN principles of
passive
AREAS
design for
buildings in
the tropics

ENCOURAGE NATURAL VENTILATION

• Orient the building and windows towards prevailing easterly winds.
• Include operable windows and ceiling vents that enable the building
to naturally ventilate.

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 ENCOURAGE MAKE USE OF
NATURAL NATURAL
VENTILATION LIGHT

CREATE COOL
AVOID HEAT
OUTDOOR
GAIN principles of
passive
AREAS
design for
buildings in
the tropics

MAKE USE OF NATURAL LIGHT

• Install shaded windows.
• Install shaded skylights, light tubes and other natural lighting
devices.

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 ENCOURAGE MAKE USE OF
NATURAL NATURAL
VENTILATION LIGHT

CREATE COOL
AVOID HEAT
OUTDOOR
GAIN principles of
passive
AREAS
design for
buildings in
the tropics

CREATE COOL OUTDOOR AREAS

• Use verandahs and deep balconies to shade and cool incoming air.
• Use landscaping to provide shade without blocking cooling breezes
and use planting to reduce ground temperature and minimise
reflected heat.

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 ORIENTATION

PASSIVE VENTILATION SOLAR

CONTROL
LANDSCAPING FOR
A COOL BUILDING

THERMAL MASS AIR CIRCULATION

INSULATION

SUN SHADING DEVICES

THERMAL
NATURAL LIGHTING EFFECTS OF
MATERIAL
WINDOWS
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ORIENTATION
• Understanding the daily and seasonal
movements of the sun and the wind
assists in orientating a building for
optimal efficiency and comfort.

• Orientation concerns the position of

the building on the site as well as the
arrangement of the rooms within it.

• In the tropics, a building should be

oriented so that the majority of walls
and windows can easily be shaded
from direct sun, while allowing
maximum airflow and input of natural
light

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ORIENTATION Orientation for minimal solar heat gain

• The path of the sun changes gradually http://andrewmarsh.com/apps/staging/sunpat

throughout the year between summer h3d.html
and winter.

• Generally the best approach in the

tropics is to design so that all walls are
shaded from the sun all year round
(morning – noon – evening).

• Depending on the building use, it may

be desirable to admit some northern
(mid-day) sun in the period May-July,
which can be done by planning the
width of eaves and awnings

• It is also important to remember that in

the Malaysian region the sun is in the
south during summer months and so
shading is also needed on the south of
buildings.
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ORIENTATION Orientation to maximise air flow

Malaysia prevailing winds are southeasterly in the winter months and north to
north-easterly during the summer months.

The lack of breeze during the hottest days can pose challenges for achieving
effective natural ventilation and designing to encourage convection flow is very
effective at these times.
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PASSIVE VENTILATION
Designing a building in a way that maximises natural ventilation will greatly reduce the need for
energy-intensive air conditioning.

Air movement over the body, even if the air is not much cooler, creates a feeling of cool due to
the evaporation of moisture from the skin.

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PASSIVE VENTILATION Maximising breezes

Orient the building to make the

most of prevailing winds.

Align vents, windows and doors

to allow air flow through the
building – these should be aligned
in a reasonably straight line for
maximum effectiveness.

Minimise internal obstacles or

blockages such as internal walls in
major flow through areas to allow
for unimpeded ventilation.

Raise the building off the ground to

catch breezes.

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PASSIVE VENTILATION Maximising breezes
Wind doesn’t blow through a building — it is sucked towards areas of lower air pressure.

To draw the breeze through, use larger openings on the leeward (low pressure or
downwind) side of the house and smaller openings on the breeze or windward (high
pressure or upwind) side.

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PASSIVE VENTILATION Maximising breezes
Consider installing a louvre
window above doors to let
breezes pass through the
building while maintaining
privacy and security. In
climates requiring cooling
only, consider placing
similar panels above head
height in internal walls to
allow cross-ventilation to
move the hottest air.

Position windows (vertically

and horizonally) to direct
airflow to the area where
occupants spend most time
(e.g. dining table, lounge or
bed).

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PASSIVE VENTILATION Maximising breezes

In rooms where it is not possible to place windows in opposite or

adjacent walls for cross-ventilation, place projecting fins on the
windward side to create positive and negative pressure to draw
breezes through the room

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PASSIVE VENTILATION Removing hot air
Design for convection air flow to remove hot air from the building.

Convection air flow is created by hot air rising and exiting at the highest point, which naturally
draws in cool air from outside.

This natural cycling of air can be created by placing low window openings across a space from
high window openings. This will be even more effective at cooling if incoming air is being drawn
from a shaded area where plants are growing.

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PASSIVE VENTILATION Roof Ventilation for removing hot air

Ventilating the ceiling cavity of a building is an effective way of replacing accumulated hot air
with cool air from outside using convection. It also reduces heat radiated from the ceiling cavity
to the inner parts of the building.

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PASSIVE VENTILATION Solar Chimneys
Solar chimneys enhance stack ventilation by providing additional height and well-
designed air passages that increase the air pressure differential.

Warmed by solar radiation, chimneys heat the rising air and increase the difference in
temperature between incoming and out-flowing air.

The increase in natural convection from these measures enhances the draw of air
through the building.

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LANDSCAPING FOR A COOL BUILDING
The hard surfaces of streets, driveways, parking areas and paving around buildings, absorb heat
and then re-radiate it, creating a hotter microclimate. The combined effect of hard surfaces in
our cities is known as the urban heat island effect. It is responsible for noticeable increases in
temperature in cities compared to surrounding areas.

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LANDSCAPING FOR A COOL BUILDING

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Factors affecting naturalazhar.ghazali@usm.my
ventilation in a typical high-rise building 38
within an urban area in hot-humid climate
LANDSCAPING FOR A COOL BUILDING

Planting areas around the building creates a cooler environment due to a plant’s ability to
transpire, or lose moisture, which cools the air.

External temperatures can be reduced by over 5°C by using ground cover or lawn instead of
paving. Planting areas with dense vegetation and creating shaded areas will achieve even
greater temperature reductions. Air that is drawn into buildings via planted areas
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THERMAL MASS
Thermal mass refers to the ability of
building materials to absorb, store and
release heat.

In tropical climates, the use of

lightweight construction materials
with low thermal mass is preferable,
particularly on walls that are exposed
to the sun.

This is because lightweight

construction materials such as timber,
respond quickly to cooling breezes
allowing the building to cool faster.

These materials still require insulation

to prevent direct heat transfer and to
improve the efficiency of mechanical
cooling if used.

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INSULATION
Insulation is one of the most effective ways to reduce heat input to a building
and can be installed in the roof, ceiling and walls of the building.

In the tropics, reflective insulation installed under roof sheeting is highly effective as
it does not trap heat inside the building.

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NATURAL LIGHTING
Buildings should be designed to
maximise the amount of natural light
that enters the building, particularly
workplaces. This can lead to significant
energy savings by reducing the need
for artificial lighting.

natural light must be balanced with

strategies to manage glare and
heat gain. For this reason, all glass
should be shaded from direct sun

The effectiveness of natural light can

be improved by using light colours on
walls, floors and horizontal surfaces,
and by aligning internal walls and
ceilings to maximise light reflection
from light sources.

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NATURAL LIGHTING

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SUN SHADING DEVICES
Direct sun can generate the same heat as a single bar radiator over each square
metre of a surface, but effective shading can block up to 90% of this heat. By shading
a building and its outdoor spaces we can reduce indoor temperatures, improve
comfort and save energy. A variety of shading techniques can help, from fixed or
adjustable shades to trees and vegetation, depending on the building’s orientation as
well as climate and latitude.

reduce amount of radiation

by reflection and absorption

improve distribution of light

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SUN SHADING DEVICES

retractable
shutters, roller blinds, louvers

fixed redistribution device

overhangs, fins, light shelves

fixed reduced transmission

devices

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SUN SHADING DEVICES

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SUN SHADING DEVICES

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SUN SHADING DEVICES

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SUN SHADING DEVICES

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WINDOW
• aid the circulation of air in the building;
• provide light (and warmth, in the daytime);
• provide a view of the outside.

Well-placed louvres or windows, at floor

level and at the highest point of the room,
create convection air flow which draws air
into the building and creates breezes to
cool occupants.

windows should ideally be shaded from

direct sunlight all year round and should
open to allow air flow.

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WINDOW
Where effective shading cannot be
achieved, insulating windows against heat
transfer can reduce cooling costs.

Measures that can help reduce heat input

through glass:

Tinted glass

Reflective coatings

Advanced glazing
technologies

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 ENCOURAGE MAKE USE
NATURAL OF NATURAL
VENTILATION LIGHT

CREATE
AVOID HEAT COOL
GAIN principles of OUTDOOR
passive AREAS
design for
buildings in
the tropics

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 ANY QUESTION
Group Assignment

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 ANY QUESTION

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