CLIMATOLOGY
Ar. Deeksha
Asst. Professor
Srinivas School of Architecture
Weather- the momentary state of the
atmospheric environment at a certain location
Climate- An integration in time of the
physical states of the atmospheric
environment, characteristic of a given
geographical location (integration in time of
weather conditions)
Heat is the dominant problem
Buildings should keep the people cool
Annual mean temperature not less
than 20ºC
Tropical Climate
Warm- humid Equatorial Hot-dry desert Composite or Monsoon
Warm Humid Island
Hot-dry maritime desert climate
or Tropical Upland Climate
Trade-wind climate
Earth – Sun relation
◦ Solar Radiation
◦ Tilt of earth's axis
◦ Radiation at earth’s surface
Winds
◦ Thermal forces
◦ Types of winds
◦ Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)
Solar Radiation
Tilt of earth's axis
Radiation at earth’s surface
Earth receives almost all energy from
sun
Dominating influence on climates
Spectrum of perceivable solar
radiation– 290 to 2300 nm
◦ Ultra-violet – 290 to 380 nm,
photochemical effects, bleaching, sunburn
◦ Visible light – 380 (violet) to 700 (red)
◦ Short infra-red – 700 to 2300, radiant heat,
photochemical effect
Intensity of radiation reaching the upper
surface of the atmosphere – 1395 W/sqm
(Solar constant)
◦ ± 2% due to variations in output of sun
◦ ± 3.5% due to changes in the earth-sun distance
Earth-Sun relation affects the amount of
radiation received in three ways
◦ The cosine law – Reduction in intensity
received on a tilted surface compared to a
perpendicular surface
◦ Atmospheric depletion – Absorption of
radiation by the atmosphere
◦ Duration of sunshine – length of daylight
period
States the intensity on a tilted surface
equals the normal intensity times the
cosine of the angle of incidence
Cosα = B/C
Area C > Area B
Intensity C < Intensity B B
Ic = Ib x Cosα
C
α
Absorption of radiation by ozone, vapors
and dust particles in the atmosphere.
Longer path through
atmosphere, more
absorption
Due to tilt of axis
June 21st
◦ 23.5º N is normal to sun’s rays
◦ Apparent path of sun goes through zenith
◦ Longest daylight period
◦ 23.5º S experience shortest day
December 21st
◦ 23.5º S is normal to sun’s rays and experience
longest daylight period
◦ 23.5º N experience shortest day
March 21st and September 23rd
◦ Equator is normal to sun’s rays
◦ Equal day and night everywhere (Equinox days)
Thermal forces
Types of winds
Inter tropical convergence zone
Annual wind shifts
Convection currents in the atmosphere,
tending to even out the differential
heating of various zones
Air heated by hot surface, expands,
becomes lighter, rises vertically, flows off
to colder regions
Gets cooled, descends to the cooler
regions.
Cooler heavier air is drawn in towards the
warmer region.
Trade winds
◦ North-East and South-
east
Mid-latitude westerlies
Polar winds
Atmosphere rotates with the earth
It is held against the surface of earth only by
gravity and friction
Tendency to lag behind the earth’s rate of
rotation where it is the fastest – at the equator
There is a ‘slippage’ at the boundary layer
between the earth and its atmosphere caused by
what is known as coriolis force
Actual wind is resultant of
these forces
Area where northerly and southerly winds meet
The area where the air rises
Experiences, completely calm conditions or very light
breezes of irregular directions
Referred to by sailors as “doldrums”
During course of each year global wind pattern
shifts from North to south and back again
Remains broadly symmetrical about the ITCZ
Location of ITCZ follows maximum solar heating
with a delay of about a month
Most regions experience seasonal changes in temp,
wind direction and rainfall
