01 The understanding of the climatic context is important in urban and architectural

design. The Mahoney’s Table provides an easy-to-use, yet comprehensive

understanding of climatic strategies that could be adapted to specific cases.

The following table indicates average climate data for HAMBANTOTA.

(06°12′N 81°13′E, Elevation 16m) (Data source – Department Meteorology, Sri
Lanka)

Using the Mahoney’s Table, generate General and Detailed Recommendations.

Air Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
temperature
°C
Monthly 30.9 31.45 31.92 31.92 31.17 31.15 31.59 30.95 30.47 30.7 30.52 30.39
mean max.
Monthly 23.31 23.56 24.31 25.25 25.94 25.55 25.19 24.97 24.9 24.6 24.1 23.71
mean min.

Relative Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
humidity %
Monthly 86.04 86.25 86.94 88.23 85.5 88.69 87.77 88.55 88.99 89.1 90.53 88.65
mean max.
Monthly 73.64 72.96 73.37 76.77 76.86 77.71 74.14 76.87 79.41 78.4 79.25 77.73
mean min.

Rain Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Rainfall mm 81.3 55.6 57.2 97.8 91.4 58.4 54.9 49.3 66.8 141 193.3 126.7

(100/100 marks)

Understanding of the climatic context of a city is important for future urban planning and
design. For the following questions - use your Mahoney’s Table analysis and meteorological data
provided to make informed design decisions.
Location Hambant ota
Longitude 06°12′N °
Latitude 81°13′E °
Altitude 16 m
(annual mean temp)
Air temperature °C Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec High AMT
Monthly mean max. 30.9 31.45 31.92 31.92 31.17 31.15 31.59 30.95 30.47 30.7 30.52 30.39 31.92 27.62
Monthly mean min. 23.31 23.56 24.31 25.25 25.94 25.55 25.19 24.97 24.9 24.6 24.1 23.71 23.31 8.61

Monthly mean range 7.59 7.89 7.61 6.67 5.23 5.6 6.4 5.98 5.57 6.1 6.42 6.68 AMR (annual mean range)

Relative humidity % Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Monthly mean max am 86.04 86.25 86.94 88.23 85.5 88.69 87.77 88.55 88.99 89.1 90.53 88.65 1 <30%

Monthly mean min pm 73.64 72.96 73.37 76.77 76.86 77.71 74.14 76.87 79.41 78.4 79.25 77.73 2 30–50%

Average 79.84 79.61 80.16 82.5 81.18 83.2 80.96 82.71 84.2 83.75 84.89 83.19 3 50–70%

Humidity group 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 >70%

Rain and wind Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total
Rainfall mm 81.3 55.6 57.2 97.8 91.4 58.4 54.9 49.3 66.8 141 193.3 126.7 1073.7

Wind, prevailing N, NE, E, SE,

Wind, secondary S, SW, W, NW

Diagnosis °C Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec AMT
Monthly mean max 30.9 31.45 31.92 31.92 31.17 31.15 31.59 30.95 30.47 30.7 30.52 30.39 27.62
Day comfort, upper 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27
Day comfort, lower 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22
Thermal stress, day H H H H H H H H H H H H
Monthly mean min 23.31 23.56 24.31 25.25 25.94 25.55 25.19 24.97 24.9 24.6 24.1 23.71 H = Hot
Night comfort, upper 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 O = Comfort
Night comfort, lower 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 C = Cold
Thermal stress, night H H H H H H H H H H H H

AMT >20°C AMT 15–20°C AMT <15°C

Comfort limits Day Night Day Night Day Night
Humidity group Lower Upper Lower Upper Lower Upper Lower Upper Lower Upper Lower Upper
1 26 34 17 25 23 32 14 23 21 30 12 21
2 25 31 17 24 22 30 14 22 20 27 12 20
3 23 29 17 23 21 28 14 21 19 26 12 19
4 22 27 17 21 20 25 14 20 18 24 12 18

Meaning Indi- Thermal stress Rainfall Humidity group Monthly mean range
cator Day Night
Air movement essential H1 H 4
H 2–3 <10°C
Air movement desirable H2 O 4
Rain protection necessary H3 >200mm
Thermal capacity necessary A1 1–3 >10°C
Outdoor sleeping desirable A2 H 1–2
H O 1–2 >10°C
Protection from cold A3 C

Indicators Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total
H1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12
H2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
H3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
A1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
A2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
A3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Indicator totals from data sheet

H1 H2 H3 A1 A2 A3
12 0 0 0 0 0

General recommendations
Layout
0–10 Orientation north and south (long axis east–west)
5–12
11-12
0–4 X Compact courtyard planning
Spacing
11–12 Open spacing for breeze penetration
2–10 X As above, but protection from hot and cold wind
0–1 X Compact layout of estates
Air movement
3–12 Rooms single banked, permanent provision for air
1-2 0–5 movement
6–12 X Rooms double banked, temporary provision for
2–12 air movements
0 0–1 X No air movement requirement
Openings
0–1 0 Large openings, 40–80%
11–12 0–1 X Very small openings, 10–20%
Any other conditions X Medium openings, 20–40%
Walls
0–2 Light walls, short time-lag
3–12 X Heavy external and internal walls
Roofs
0–5 Light, insulated roofs
6–12 X Heavy roofs, over 8h time-lag
Outdoor sleeping
2–12 X Space for outdoor sleeping required
Rain protection
3–12 X Protection from heavy rain necessary
Detailed recommendations
Size of opening
0 Large openings, 40–80%
0–1
1–12
2–5
X Medium Openings 25 – 40%
6–10 X Small openings, 15–25%
0–3 X Very small openings, 10–20%
11-12
4–12 X Medium openings, 25–40%
Position of openings
3–12 In north and south walls at body height on windward
1-2 0–5 side
6–12
0 2–12 X As above, openings also in internal walls
Protection of openings
0–2 Exclude direct sunlight
2–12 X Provide protection from rain
Walls and floors
0–2 Light, low thermal capacity
3–12 X Heavy, over 8h time-lag
Roofs
10–12 0–2 Light, reflective surface, cavity
3–12
X Light, well insulated
0–5
0-9
 6–12 X Heavy, over 8h time-lag
External features
1–12 X Space for outdoor sleeping
1–12 X Adequate rainwater drainage