Influence of urban development on meteorological elements influencing the microclimate in Prague-Suchdol

Bunthorn Thet

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Urban development usually involves the replacement of natural features with physical infrastructure and there is a perception that urbanization influences microclimate. In order to understand the extent to which such development affects microclimate, there is need to quantify meteorological elements such as air temperature, air humidity, air pressure, daily precipitation totals, global radiation, wind speed and wind direction for a specified period of time. The objectives of the study were to investigate the microclimate patterns between 2013 and 2020 within the urban and rural areas of CZU campus, represented by Meteostation of the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, operated by the Department of Agroecology and Crop Production (further denoted as CZU station), and Experimental Terrain Station of Soil Moisture Dynamics, operated by the Department of Water Resources (further denoted as DWR station), respectively. Data of the above-mentioned meteorological variables were evaluated, specifically the month June, in which the biggest differences were expected. Data were collected mostly in 10 or 15 min interval and then compared and statistically evaluated on hourly or daily basis. The result showed that, for most variables the differences were not significant, when combined the effect of year and station, but separately there were differences. Thus, air humidity was slightly higher at CZU, temperature was slightly higher at DWR, daily precipitation was slightly higher at CZU. Therefore, the climate record showed that the air temperature in hourly average in 2019 was much higher than other years (22.18 °C, SD 5.16 °C from CZU and 22.60 °C, with SD 5.19 °C from DWR), it was above normal average because of heat wave event. Daily precipitation totals in 2013 illustrated the highest amount 5.78 mm/day, SD 14.51 mm/day from CZU and 4.76 mm/day, SD 9.31 mm/day from DWR, due to heavy rain and flooding event in that year. For these reasons, both stations CZU and DWR indicated that air humidity was lower in 2019 about 56.36 %, SD 19.91 % and 54.71 %, SD 20.65% and higher in 2013 71.07 %, SD 17.07 % and 69.34%, SD 17.72%. For overall, the result showed that the comparison between CZU and DWR were statistically significant (P_value < 0.05). Urban development has a great impact on wind speed and wind direction variable due to higher roughness of the area.

Keywords

microclimate, urban heat island, weather variables, meteorological station

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 27. 4. 2021

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Ing. Markéta Miháliková, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources

Master programme / field:
Natural Resources and Environment / Natural Resources and Environment