Thermic comfort in western São Paulo state middle cities: case study of Presidente Prudente and Marília

• Grant number: 14/26119-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2015
• End date: December 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Physical Geography
• Principal Investigator: João Lima Sant'Anna Neto
• Grantee: Paulo Lopes Rodrigues
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Identification and analysis of urban microclimates, concentrating in the heat islands and extreme events of precipitation has been the focus in Brazil's urban climatology researches. Increases in the city temperatures are followed by deterioration of thermal comfort conditions. However, these issues were not prioritized by Geographical Climatology. In this sense, an investigation of thermal comfort analysis in western São Paulo state's medium-sized cities is proposed by two case studies: Presidente Prudente and Marilia. Urban forms and construction materials used derived from different land use and space occupation processes will be analyzed in different neighborhoods by variables income standards. Two techniques will be applied. The first one is a thermal chart from satellite Landsat 7, with ETM+ sensor band 6, with spatial resolution of 60 meters and spectral resolution from 10.4 to 12.5 micrometers with 183x183 scene composition. Urban landscape representative spots will be monitored by digital thermos hygrometers installed in appropriated locations to measure variations in different urban ambient. Questionnaires to identify thermal comfort and Thom's effective temperature index will be applied. Comfortable/uncomfortable areas in the two cities are expected to identification, such as the levels of population's health commitment.