THE SIGNIFICANCE OF AN URBAN HEAT ISLAND IN THE REGULATION OF MICRO- AND ECO-CLIMATES

Abstract

This article determines the most significant features of the urban climate – heat islands – which are cha-racterized by higher air temperatures and thermal regime of the active surface compared to the countryside. Differences in temperature and thermal conditions are noticeably manifested in cities of southern geographic latitudes. The study identifies the role of the urban heat island in the regulation of micro- and eco-climates and provides a classification of urban winds. A mathematical model of the urban heat island and its transformation has been compiled. Possible me-thods for the formation of architectural planning, and the volumetric and compositional organization of the urban land-scape, which contribute to the wind’s natural ventilation of urban areas at the meso- and micro-climate levels, are de-termined. The importance of the urban heat island in the formation of micro- and eco-climates has been established. A model of air circulation has been created: macro-aeration – local air circulation occurring in a large geographical landscape, between the city and the suburbs, water areas and forests; meso-aeration – local winds that develop within a densely built-up area, alternating urban areas and green areas; micro-aeration – local winds in the interval of green and non-green zones, in the space between insolated and shaded facades; nano-aeration – local winds between small patches of warm and cold islands in an urban area. The study give suggestions for further research on identifying transforma-tional changes on the heat islands of cities at the macro-, meso-, micro- and nano-scale and possible methods for includ-ing them in architectural and construction planning and construction of buildings and structures.