Human thermal sensation and modeled thermal exposure in a realistic urban environment

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F67985807%3A_____%2F25%3A00638187" target="_blank" >RIV/67985807:_____/25:00638187 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://dach2025.oeschger.unibe.ch/unibe/portal/fak_naturwis/g_dept_kzen/micro_dach/content/e1562085/e1565486/e1708047/Abstracts_DACH_2025-06-12.pdf" target="_blank" >https://dach2025.oeschger.unibe.ch/unibe/portal/fak_naturwis/g_dept_kzen/micro_dach/content/e1562085/e1565486/e1708047/Abstracts_DACH_2025-06-12.pdf</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

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Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Human thermal sensation and modeled thermal exposure in a realistic urban environment

Original language description

ZÁKLADNÍ ÚDAJE: Abstracts. D·A·CH 2025 Conference. Bern: University of Bern, 2025. s. 62-62. [DACH 2025: Meteorology Conference (Weather and Climate in Focus). 23.06.2025-27.06.2025, Bern]. ABSTRAKT: One of the specific manifestations of climate change in the urban environment is heat waves, during which urban residents are exposed to heat stress. Discomfort caused by the worsening thermal environment further negatively impacts human physical health and mental well-being. These challenges are often evaluated using thermal comfort indices, typically UTCI or PET. However, their methodological aspects are not easily adaptable to outdoor conditions, the urban microclimate can be defined as extremely complex and spatiotemporally variable. Shortwave and longwave radiation, key factors of most biometeorological indices, represent particularly challenging issues. In this contribution, we introduce outcomes combining two methods: i) high-fidelity simulation of the urban environment modeled by the PALM model reflecting a realistic spatial and temporal setup (1 min and 1 m), ii) 3-hour long thermal walks (aka ‘heat-walk’) of tens of respondents conducted during an episode of a hot summer day in Prague, Czech Republic. Combining accurate fine-scale model simulations with a real-time, on-site, human-oriented approach provides comprehensive information about the realistic human thermal environment at the pedestrian level and reveals causes of thermal discomfort. Both methods precisely and consistently identify hotspots that should be improved in terms of thermal comfort. Vulnerable areas are typically open spaces and arterial streets with a lack of greenery and a high proportion of impervious surfaces, unshaded northern parts of streets (typically E-W oriented), or parts of boulevards with inappropriate tree spacing. Moreover, these vulnerable locations play a role in human decision—despite the path being longer, dwellers prefer a shaded part of the street. The results also emphasize the significance of accurately positioned blue-green infrastructure in mitigating urban heat effects. Although both approaches are demanding in terms of obtaining input data, the results are unique in time and spatial scale. The findings of these types of studies can enhance our understanding of the complex spatiotemporal dynamics of human thermal comfort in urban environments. They also support effective urban planning and urban heat mitigation by implementing participative approaches.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

O - Miscellaneous

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

10509 - Meteorology and atmospheric sciences

Project

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Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů