Bioclimatology: Thermal Comfort in Different Urban and Rural Environments

Abstract

Atmospheric factors are a fundamental part of the environment, and it is therefore important to understand the changes that occur when the conditions of each climatic element vary. All these environmental factors obviously influence human well-being and, under extreme conditions, may affect the health of the population, a tendency that becomes more pronounced in urban areas.

The purpose of this study is to compare the behavior of the meteorological elements that determine different levels of comfort in urban and rural environments, based on a bioclimatic index.

Temperature and relative humidity data were obtained from one meteorological station located in the city center and another located in an area with rural characteristics near the city. The spatial distribution of thermal and hygrometric values was determined through mobile measurements carried out along transects using vehicles.

The monthly distribution of comfort categories in the urban and rural sites shows the urban effect, since from October to March days categorized as “very hot” appear in the urban area, whereas this category was not recorded in the rural sector in any month. Comfort sensations show the greatest contrasts between siesta time and night during the summer season, establishing important differences among urban, suburban, and rural environments. These differences result from the orographic effect and from differences in soil structure, which play an important role in reducing the thermal effect.