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The influence of surface type on the absorbed radiation by a human under hot, dry conditions

  • STUDENTS AND NEW PROFESSIONALS 2015
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A Correction to this article was published on 11 December 2017

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Abstract

Given the predominant use of heat-retaining materials in urban areas, numerous studies have addressed the urban heat island mitigation potential of various “cool” options, such as vegetation and high-albedo surfaces. The influence of altered radiational properties of such surfaces affects not only the air temperature within a microclimate, but more importantly the interactions of long- and short-wave radiation fluxes with the human body. Minimal studies have assessed how cool surfaces affect thermal comfort via changes in absorbed radiation by a human (R abs) using real-world, rather than modeled, urban field data. The purpose of the current study is to assess the changes in the absorbed radiation by a human—a critical component of human energy budget models—based on surface type on hot summer days (air temperatures > 38.5∘C). Field tests were conducted using a high-end microclimate station under predominantly clear sky conditions over ten surfaces with higher sky view factors in Lubbock, Texas. Three methods were used to measure and estimate R abs: a cylindrical radiation thermometer (CRT), a net radiometer, and a theoretical estimation model. Results over dry surfaces suggest that the use of high-albedo surfaces to reduce overall urban heat gain may not improve acute human thermal comfort in clear conditions due to increased reflected radiation. Further, the use of low-cost instrumentation, such as the CRT, shows potential in quantifying radiative heat loads within urban areas at temporal scales of 5–10 min or greater, yet further research is needed. Fine-scale radiative information in urban areas can aid in the decision-making process for urban heat mitigation using non-vegetated urban surfaces, with surface type choice is dependent on the need for short-term thermal comfort, or reducing cumulative heat gain to the urban fabric.

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  • 11 December 2017

    The original article contains mistakes in Eqs. 12 and 13.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the two anonymous reviewers for the very helpful guidance and suggestions to strengthen the manuscript. We would also like to thank Robert Brown and Terry Gillespie for the great discussion and insight they provided throughout the process, which helped lead to the success of this research project. Also thanks you to those who allowed us to set up the microclimate station on different surfaces throughout the city for our testing. Finally, to Tim Sliwinski for access to the MCOM roof station data, and Grant McKercher for the help with technical details in the manuscript.

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  1. J. K. Vanos

    Present address: University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA

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  1. Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA

    A. W. Hardin & J. K. Vanos

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  1. A. W. Hardin
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Correspondence to J. K. Vanos.

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A correction to this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-017-1477-z.

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Hardin, A.W., Vanos, J.K. The influence of surface type on the absorbed radiation by a human under hot, dry conditions. Int J Biometeorol 62, 43–56 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-017-1357-6

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