ALJEST

Algerian Journal of Environmental Science and Technology

September edition. Vol.9. No3. (2023)
ISSN : 2437-1114
www.aljest.org

Influence of morphological factors on the microclimate in

urban public spaces
A study for hot and arid climate

M. Sebti*, Dj. Alkama1

*Researcher Laboratory LACAMOFA, Department of Architecture, Biskra University,Algeria

1 Department of Architecture, 8 may Guelma1945 University, Algeria

*Corresponding author: m.sebti@univ-biskra.dz; Tel.: +213 00 00 00; Fax: +21300 00 00

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT/RESUME
Article History : Abstract:The urban microclimate is influenced by several
Received : 31/08/2021 morphological parameters in urban public space. The height of
Accepted : 03/07/2022 buildings, the width of the streets surrounding this space and the
orientation of its major axis control the absorption and reflection of
Key Words: solar radiation.
These morphological parameters and others acting on the ambient
Urban microclimate;
temperature and determine the thermal quality of these spaces. The
Plaza ;
Morphological parameters;
objective of this study is to characterize the thermal quality in outdoor
Themal environment; Hot and urban spaces, more specifically in plaza, and to determine the
arid climate. influence of morphological factors on the modification of the urban
microclimate.
We also try, to discover, through the study of four plazas, which one of
theme it presents the good or the bad quality in terms of thermal
environment, while trying to conclude the conditions generating this
thermal quality; similarly, attempts are being made to find solutions
that improve microclimatic features in plaza.

I. Introduction temperature, which related to wind speed and

relative humidity. Usually people prefer to sit in
In urban spaces, the microclimatic conditions in the shaded places when the outdoor temperatures are
public spaces are relatively complicated; it related to high [4].
the form of public space, the nature and the type of Many forms and spaces found in public spaces in
surrounding spaces of an urban center. cities, which have various characteristics that affect
Microclimatic factors in the urban environment the local climate in these urban spaces, such as the
affected by shadows created by surrounding type of vegetation cover, water levels and the height
buildings that influence temperature, humidity and of buildings [5]. Many urban factors affect the urban
sun light [1], [2]. microclimate, including the form of buildings and
Urban public space is a vital space for the daily thermal characteristics of surfaces, which are
activities of residents and can provide residents with important in determining the urban microclimate.
a comfortable living environment and improve their We also find that the ratio between the height of
quality of life [3]. These Public spaces represent buildings and the distance between them affects the
pleasant and comfortable places for the recreation amount of both incoming and outgoing radiation and
and meeting of the inhabitants, especially in good affects wind speeds [6]. To reduce the high
microclimatic conditions. It has become clear that temperatures in the summer, some inexpensive
the relationship of people who use public places is measures can be used, such as planting urban trees,
closely related to the climatic conditions imposed on as well as using high-albedo urban surfaces [7]. The
them, as it may increase or decrease their frequency temperature in the air decreases also through the
to these places. Most climatic factors that affect the phenomenon of evaporation. Fountains and basins
use of urban areas are solar radiation and are one of the most important elements that help in

Copyright © 2023, Algerian Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, All rights reserved
3181
 M.Sebti and al

cooling the air by evaporation. The presence of any

body of water in the external field reduces the
temperatures of the surrounding surfaces with its
high heat storage capacity [8].
In hot and arid climate, the great problem is
uncomfortable climatic conditions in outdoor spaces
that must necessarily find improvements to adapt the
urban microclimate of the city. Environmental
uncertainties pose a new challenge to planners, Figure 1. Situation of Biskra city.
which should use different approaches for cities
adaptation. The actual need for policies oriented Biskra is classified in the arid climate zone. The high
towards climate change mitigation is a key role for amplitudes of heat present for a large part of the year
reducing urban vulnerability and enhancing cities vary from 26.5 ° C to 44 ° C (See Figure 2.).
adaptation [9].
Biskra is a Saharan town, which have hot and arid
climate, it characterized by impermeable public
plazas that exposed to radiation all day long and
suffer from the absence of vegetation and water
spaces. This state makes these spaces uncomfortable
climatically. The absence of vegetation in hot and
arid climates has serious implications on the urban
microclimate humidification [10]. In the city of
Biskra, especially during the summer period, plazas
are empty of inhabitants because they suffer from Figure 2. Monthly averages of air temperature
hostile climatic conditions. This study aims to during the decade (2005 -2015).Source: Author
evaluate and characterize the climatic conditions of
four plazas in the city of Biskra in order to analyze This study solicits samples of public spaces of
and deduce the reasons for the bad thermal quality various shapes, but which are subject, under the
and to try to propose reasonable solutions. In influence of the same climatic conditions. The plazas
addition, for the following secondary objectives: chosen for this experiment are the following: El
• Demonstrate the variability of the thermal Houria plaza, Zouaka plaza: (Gattari El Okbi), Iben
conditions in urban environments. badis plaza and Dhalaa plaza (see Figure 3.).
• Determining the role of urban morphology in
changing the thermal conditions in the external
urban space.
• Evaluate thermal conditions in the urban external
spaces and identify the opportunities for users to
adapt to changing the thermal conditions in
environment.

II. Materials and methods

II.1. case stady and investigation

This study treat the subject of thermal conditions at

the urban scale in Saharan environments, so we Figure 3. Situation of the different plazas chosen
chose the summer period which presents the hot (1: Elhoria plaza, 2: Zwaka plaza, 3: Dhalaa plaza,
season of the year, where the microclimatic 4: Iben badis plaza, source: author according to
conditions are unfavorable. Like all Saharan cities, the Biskra PDAU.
the city of Biskra (situated at south east of Algeria,
see fig.1) characterized by a hot and dry climate; the “The term urban microclimate signifies local
microclimatic characteristics in outdoor public variations in wind, humidity; solar radiation and
spaces manifested by: temperature, influenced by urban morphology
• A very hot and dry summer where the difference parameters (build infrastructures, vegetation,
in daytime temperature is important. surface materials)” [11]. Through this study, we aim
• A very cold winter at night compared to the day. to evaluate the microclimatic conditions in four
• The average maximum temperature reaches 45 ° plazas located in the city of Biskra through a
C; it varies between 20 to 30 ° C in winter. comparative analysis according to the morphological
• Seasonal variation of 20 ° C. characteristics of each plaza. Features of the
different plazas are summarized in table 1.

Copyright © 2023, Algerian Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, All rights reserved
3182
 ALJEST
Algerian Journal of Environmental Science and Technology
September edition. Vol.9. No3. (2023)
ISSN : 2437-1114
www.aljest.org

Table 1. Presentation of the plazas that are studied.

01. El-Houria plaza

EL-Houria plaza is located in downtown Biskra. It consists of a large esplanade, which contains a statue, and
advertising panels on the upper part, it divided in two sides by a cascading stream on the lower part.
02. Zwaka plaza

The Zouaka plaza is located at Hakim Saadane avenue; it was intended for the recreation of the inhabitants and it is
used for the regrouping of the students of the high school Mohamed khireddine. This plaza is characterized by the
lack of water and green space and the trees
03. Dhalaa plaza

The Dhalaa plaza is located in the center of Biskra; with the ‘Jebel Dhalaa, it means Montagne dhalaa’; which it bears
this name. It devised on 3 parts, only one part of this plaza designated by this study, which has a triangular shape
implanted above a cascade of water flowing with the slope of the mountain.
04. Iben Badis plaza

The plaza of Iben Badis is located in the western area of the city of Biskra. , it is a recreation area for the inhabitants.
This plaza has a regular shape; it covered with concrete pavement tiles and green spaces. High size trees are located
in its peripheral zone. In the center of the plaza, there is a few of vegetation, small trees and a fountain (that does not
work).

Copyright © 2023, Algerian Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, All rights reserved
3183
 M.Sebti and al

II.2. measuring instrument

Companions are conducted in five single-day
moments. Measurements are taken using a handheld
instrument: TESTO 480 multifunctional
anemometer (see Figure 4.). It is designed to acquire
the four quantities to have either: Air Temperature
(C °), Relative Humidity (%), Air Speed (m / s) and
Radiant Temperature (C) °), with the use of a black
ball probe, Ø 150 mm.

Figure 5. Daily variation of Tair in the different

plazas during a summer day.

The increase in temperature at this moment may

return to the increase of the mean radiant
temperature because a significant difference was
recorded between the values of the mean radiant
temperature and the values recorded by the weather
Figure 4. TESTO 480 measuring instrument used
station in all the plazas (figure 6.). Especially in the
in this experiment
Zouaka plaza or the mean radiant temperature
reaches 45.3 ° C with a difference of 4.3 ° C with
The measured climatic parameters include: air respect to the weather station.
temperature (Tair), relative humidity (RH), wind
speed and radiant temperature (MRT). “MRT,
defined as the uniform temperature of an imaginary
enclosure in which the radiant heat transfer from the
human body and the radiant heat transfer in the
actual non-uniform enclosure are equal” [12].
Measurements were taken at several points in each
site with one point remaining constant
approximately at 1.20 m height. Measurements are
made under stable climatic conditions (clear sky,
weak wind, strong sunshine).

III. Results and discussion

The microclimate in urban space is characterized by

several spatial parameters, which can improve or Figure 6. Daily variation of MRT in different
change the quality of the urban microclimate. Few of plazas during a summer day.
these parameters we find, the albdo of the pavement
materials, the nature of the vegetation cover, the It is found that there is a correlation between the
orientation and the height / width ratio (H/W). The relative humidity values measured in the El Horia
microclimate of urban space can be evaluated by air plaza and the Dhalaa plaza; and another correlation
temperature (Ta), mean radiant temperature (MRT), between the values measured in the Zouaka plaza
relative humidity (RH) and wind speed (V). [13]. and the Iben Badis plaza.
The results of this study show that the two plazas During daytime, relative humidity registered in the
Elhoria and dhalaa have the lowest values of the air selected plazas ranges from 18% to 33%. Within the
temperature. While the two plazas Iben Badis and same, relative humidity and wind speed, show a
zouaka represent the highest values of air similar perception. Before sunset, we note that the
temperature throughout the day than the other plazas values of the relative humidity will be higher in two
(figure 5.). plaza compared to the values recorded by the
The maximum of air temperature values are recorded weather station (it is noted that the fountain is
in the afternoon after maximum heat accumulation working at this time). There is a significant increase
with a difference of 2.4 ° C and 1.2 ° C recorded in compared to the weather station in values of relative
the Zouaka plaza and the El Horia plaza in relation humidity in the plaza Dhalaa that arrives at (23.3%)
to the picked up by the weather station.

Copyright © 2023, Algerian Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, All rights reserved
3184
 ALJEST
Algerian Journal of Environmental Science and Technology
September edition. Vol.9. No3. (2023)
ISSN : 2437-1114
www.aljest.org

and other increase in the plaza El Houria that arrives IV. Conclusion
at 22.1% (figure 7.)
The regulation of relative humidity is extremely Thermal environment in the plaza depended on its
important during summer and can be achieved geometry, vegetation and water features. In addition,
through vegetation and the use of water surfaces these effects varied according to the macroclimatic
[14]. conditions and the time of the day [16]. The results
of measurements of climatic parameters in the plazas
studied show that, the decrease of the air
temperature, the acceleration of the wind speed and
the elevation of the humidity of the air, comes down
to the several factors. It relating to urban
morphology (the opening to the sky, the orientation
of the plaza in relation to the direction of the wind,
the orientation in relation to the major axis, the
nature and the color of the soil and the surrounding
surfaces).
The presence of vegetal masses and water surfaces
explains the elevation of the humidity of the air and
consequently it is refreshing by evapotranspiration
during the day. Shading trees provides a decrease in
air temperatures. This case is found in the two plazas
El Houria and Dhalaa where the presence of water
Figure 5. Daily variation of Tair in the different plays an important role in the cooling of the air. This
plazas during a summer day. is what was observed in the last plazas when the
values of the temperatures are lower compared to the
The increase in temperature at this moment may other plazas under the effect of the presence of the
return to the increase of the mean radiant water (fountain and basin of water). In the summer,
temperature because a significant difference was evaporative cooling of the surface destabilizes the
recorded between the values of the mean radiant upper layer so that overturning brings warmer water
temperature and the values recorded by the weather to the surface and helps to maintain the almost
station in all the plazas (figure 6.). Especially in the constant temperature [17]. In the outdoor spaces, the
Zouaka plaza or the mean radiant temperature shading resulting from the presence of trees and
reaches 45.3 ° C with a difference of 4.3 ° C with plants have an important role to reduce the high
respect to the weather station. temperatures, and the evaporation of plants
contributes to modifying the air by converting solar
radiation into latent heat [18].
Shading helps to cool the air in the urban climate by
blocking the sun's rays, which causes a reduction in
temperatures in the shaded areas, where shading can
reduce the surface temperature to 25°C [19].

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I. Urban outdoor thermal comfort prediction for public

Please cite this Article as:

Sebti M., Alkama Dj., Influence of morphological factors on the microclimate in urban public spaces.A
study for hot and arid climate, Algerian J. Env. Sc. Technology, 9:3 (2023) 3181-3186

Copyright © 2023, Algerian Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, All rights reserved
3186