Planning with urban climate in different climatic zones

Abstract

The main climatic changes induced by settlements are discussed first, in order to introduce the main objectives of this paper: to show the importance of urban climate information for planning and to emphasize that adequate measures “to plan and to build with climate”vary according to the macroclimate of the urban area. The urban radiation and energy balances, heat islands, wind conditions, air pollution and thermal comfort are dealt with in detail. Studies of the last decades that consider the economic and health benefits of using climatic information are also reviewed., Urban climates should be a routine consideration of land use planning processes in order to attain a better “climatequality” in settlements. We suggest measures that can reduce the negative effects or take advantage of the positive consequences of urbanizationon climate in different climate zones (cold, warm and humid, warmand arid, contrasting seasons’ climate).