WEEK 4 - COMPULSORY EXERCISE: HEAT ISLAND EFFECT - Rijeka; Croatia
FC-02x Livable Future Cities (1st Run) - Compulsory Exercise 2
Uploaded on 2015-10-27 by sanjastimac
On the list of cities my main pick was Washington D.C. in the District of Columbia. Looking throug the provided data, interested fact was that in the city summer heat was up to 21.0° hotter than in the their surrounding rural areas and with average temperature in the city higer for 4.7°F. By the information provided from the website Washington D.C. is number 6 in the list of biggest difference between urban and rural area, with first place belonging to Las Vegas with average temperature in the city higher for 7.3°F and up to 24.0°F hotter in the city area than in their surrounding rural areas. **Q2 Which are the main UHI effects that you can identify in your area?** Rijeka is the principal seaport and the third-largest city in Croatia (after Zagreb and Split). It is located on Kvarner Bay, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea. The terrain configuration, with mountains rising steeply just a few miles inland from the shores of the Adriatic, provides for some striking climatic and landscape contrasts within a small geographic area. ![view from part of the city called Trsat][1] link: ( http://www.loyal-travel.com/blog/destinacii/top-8-na-nai-krasivite-mesta-v-harvatia-3227.html ) ![night view from the sea][2] link: ( http://www.skijanje.hr/slike/binsi/r1/g2015/m02/x18589385507733042717.jpg ) We do not have microclimate measurements available for my city . But upon some research i found few interesting points. There are 25 days a year with a maximum of 30 °C (86 °F) or higher, while on one day a year the temperature does not exceed 0 °C (32 °F). Also there is increased temperatures during the day and night in past 10 years especialy in July and August. Difference in temperature variest up to 10°C from the old records. Because of allready mentioned layout of the area and the city, center has higher levels of temperatures than surrounding village areas in the nearby mountains. by found data; some times it is possible for temperature to go up to 12°C in difference between city and (for exymple small village called Crni Lug arounf 50km from city); especially in the nighttime. **Q3 Which are the measures you would propose?** I personally think that public education is the way to improve future. Public education on sustainable solutions, new urbanism, new architecture, ecosystems is the way of building new community that will develop healthier city. In the mean time, profession in our city should be aware of problems that exists. I would suggest to try to increase green areas in the city as we lack vegetation and parks, especially in strict center of the city. Try to organise construction and orient buildings depending to the climate conditions (wind, sun, rain, ...), as most of buildings are just oriented to south (especially living area) wich in summer results in high temperatures. As a professional i would try to sugest materials, colours and textures for building that absorb less heat and try to organise bether public transport and maybe some recreational bikes paths that will help to eliminate pollution in the city. **Q4 Is UHI effect concerning policy making in your area?** At the moment I know of no policies concerning urban heat island reduction in my home town. I am aware that the Town Planning Institute is working a on new urbanism in which they will hopefullytry to implement bether transport and try to improve the city. [1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14459769545915063.jpg [2]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/1445977045902321.jpg