Climate and Urban Planning

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

The teaching methods involve the active participation of students in the analysis and discussion of the topics of the syllabus.
Students will be assessed on the basis of the following:
- Problem solving report
- Research work
- Exam.

Learning Outcomes

The fundamental aim of this course is to lead students to understand the interrelationships between climatic variables, climatic factors and occupation of urban space, on a large scale, in a dynamic perspective applied to town planning, to adaption to climate change and to the mitigation of climate hazards.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Introduction. Relations between climate and urban planning. The specificity of the urban topoclimate.
2. The energy balance of the urban atmosphere. Thermal consequences.
3. The thermal field and the urban heat island. Intervening factors. The importance of topography.
4. Wind and air circulation in urban areas. The urban effect on synoptic wind. The circulations induced.
5. Atmospheric humidity and precipitation in urban areas.
6. The urban influence on the human bioclimate. Air quality and bioclimatic comfort.
7. The climate in urban planning. The importance of topoclimatic mapping.
8. Urban planning, climate change and climate-meteorological hazards. Urban influence on global and local climate change. Urban Influence on heat and cold waves, episodes of strong winds and heavy rainfall.

Head Lecturer(s)

Nuno Ganho Gomes da Silva

Assessment Methods

Assessment
In accordance with the Rules of Assessement of the Faculty of Arts for Master’s programs (Regulamento de Avaliação de Conhecimentos do 2º ciclo): 100.0%

Bibliography

ALCOFORADO, M. J. et al. (2008), Estudos Sobre Cidades e Alterações Climáticas. Centro de Estudos
Geográficos, Universidade de Lisboa, Relatório nº 8, Lisboa, 108p.
ATKINSON, B. W. (1985), The Urban Atmosphere. UPDATE, London, 89p.
ESCOURROU, G. (1978), Climatologie Pratique. Masson, Paris, 176p.
ESCOURROU, G. (1981), Climat et Environnement. Les Facteurs Locaux du Climat. Masson, Paris,
182p.
ESCOURROU, G. (1991), Le Climat et la Ville. Nathan, Paris, 190p.
FERNÁNDEZ GARCÍA, F. (1995), Manual de Climatología Aplicada. Clima, Medio ambiente y
Planificación. Ed. Sintesis, Madrid, 285p.
GEIGER, R. (1961), Manual de Microclimatologia. O Clima da Camada de Ar Junto ao Solo (trad. port.
4ª ed). Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisboa, 556p.
LAMARRE, D.; PAGNEY, P. (1999), Climats et Sociétés. Armand Colin, Paris, 272p.
LANDSBERG, H. E. (1981), The Urban Climate. Academic Press, New York, 275p.
OKE, T. R. (1987), Boundary Layer Climates. Routledge, London, 435p.