Energy and Climate in the Urban Built Environment

3

Wind patterns in urban environments

M. Santamouris

Department of Applied Physics, University of Athens,

 

 

WIND DISTRIBUTION IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT

The urban wind field is complicated. Small differences in topography can cause irregular air flows. As the air flows from the rural environment to the urban environment, it must adjust to the new boundary conditions defined by the cities (Figure 3.1). This adjustment results from the higher-level development flow field and the uniqueness of local effects, such as topography, building geometry and dimensions, streets, traffic and other local features, like trees. In a general way, the wind ...