Page 355 - Çevre Şehir İklim İngilizce - Sayı 4

Süleyman Toy - Zeynep Eren

solar radiation. In addition to this extra warming from solar energy in the urban
environment, there is also the emission of heat generated during human
activities (Oke et al. 2017; Dai et al. 2022).
The effect of city size: The size of the urbanised (built-up) area in terms
of surface area, the density of the urban built-up area (lack of green spaces,
density of covered and built surfaces) and the high density of the population
per unit area (individual body temperature) are among the factors that disrupt
the urban heat balance. In addition to the areal size of surfaces, the structure
and thermal characteristics of the materials forming these surfaces cause
them to have higher heat retention and conduction capacity (Bernabé et al.
2015). Since these surfaces mentioned in urban environments are also water-
impermeable covered surfaces, the falling precipitation water flows away very
fast through the surface flow. Moreover, since the urban environment lacks
green areas which are another source of moisture, the moisture resulting from
evapotranspiration from these areas is also less (Najah 2023; WMO 2023).
The effect of geographical characteristics on the urban climate: The
topography of the areas where the cities are situated (plain, mountain slope,
etc.), the location of cities in a cold or temperate climate zone (winter city,
maritime climate zone, etc.) and their vegetation (surrounded by forest or
steppe zone) are effective in the differentiation of urban climates more or less
based on their surroundings.
As a result, the characteristics described above cause the climatic
characteristics prevailing in cities to differ according to their surroundings.
Among these factors, changes in the global climate system, geographical and
local meteorological conditions are considered as relatively non-intervenable
conditions. Since other factors directly depend on the physical and socio-
economic characteristics of cities, they can be improved through direct
intervention by acting in accordance with planning and design principles.
Therefore, the classification and parameterization of these characteristics
for their monitoring and evaluation purposes, and production of standard
data are important for cities to become resilient to climate change, develop
mitigation and adaptation measures, and become more livable.

344 The Journal of Environment, Urban and Climate