A STUDY OF MICROCLIMATE CONDITIONS IN OUTDOOR SPACES OF HIGH-RISE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS

摘要

The urban environment modifies microclimate in numerous ways. In general, urban climates are warmer and less windy than that in rural areas. A review of literature shows that the modification to urban climates is highly variable, and depends on particulars such as topography, regional wind speeds, urban morphology, time of year, and other physical factors. Measurement work around buildings, scale models, and simulation work have been used to try and identify the processes that govern the microclimatic changes. Alteration to temperature, as exemplified by Urban Heat Island Effect (UHI), is a particularly important aspect of microclimatic changes, as this has a direct impact on domestic fuel use: in a sub-tropical climatic region like Hong Kong, warmer temperatures increase air conditioning use substantially, particular during the hot humid summer months. The Urban Heat Island also affects the human comfort levels which can influence human behaviour. Literature reveals a considerable body of research work describing the conditions in cities and how they are different from their more rural surroundings. Most studies are directed at understanding urban climatology, rather than on the impact UHI on urban areas and the lives of urbanites. In order to mitigate the possible adverse effects of UHI, the impact of UHI needs to be investigated. This paper is a study into the extent of UHI in three high-rise high-density residential developments in Hong Kong. The differences in UHI between these developments are then explained in terms of urban design factors.