MODULE 1.

UNDERSTANDING
CLIMATE
TROPICAL DESIGN
FEU - IARFA
Points of Discussion
Climate
Elements of Climate
Scales of Climate and their
Importance
Major Tropical Climatic
Zones
Climate in the Philippines
Architectural Adaptations to
Climate
WEATHER CLIMATE

What is the difference?

 WEATHER
Weather is the momentary state
of the atmospheric environment
at a certain area or location. It
includes factors like temperature,
precipitation, wind, and cloud cover.
Weather changes from day to day
and can be different in various parts
of the world.
 CLIMATE
Climate refers to the average
weather conditions in a particular
place over a long period of time,
usually 30 years or more. It includes
information about temperature,
precipitation, wind patterns, and
other factors. Climate helps us
understand the typical weather
patterns of a region or country.
 TROPICAL
CLIMATE
Found near the equator, these
regions have warm
temperatures throughout the
year and high humidity. They
often have lush rainforests and
experience a lot of rainfall.
The annual mean temperature is
not less than 20°C.
FACTORS THAT
SHAPE CLIMATE
Solar Radiation
Tilt of the Earth’s axis
Radiation at the Earth’s
surface
Earth’s thermal balance
Winds and annual shift
Influence of Topography
SOLAR
RADIATION
Often called the solar resource
or just sunlight, is a general
term for the electromagnetic
radiation emitted by the sun.
Solar radiation can be captured
and turned into useful forms of
energy, such as heat and
electricity, using a variety of
technologies.
 SPECTRUM OF SOLAR RADIATION
The specctrum of solar radiation extends from 290-380 nanometer.
According to human mens of percveption, we can distinguish:

1 2 3
Ultraviolet Radiation Short infrared
Visible Light
(290-380 nm) - radiation (700-
producing photo- - 380nm (violet) to
2300nm) - radiant
chemical effects such 700nm (red) heat with some
as bleaching, sunburn, photochemical effects
etc.
Different wavelengths of radiation
TILT OF THE
EARTH’S AXIS
The earth rotates around its own axis,
each rotation making one 24-hour day.
The axis of this rotation (the line joining
the North and South Poles) is tilted to
the plane of the elliptical orbit,at an
angle of 66.5° (i.e. a tilt of 23.5° from the
normal)and the direction of this axis is
constant.
Given that the Earth is tilted and rotates
around its own axis and revolves around
the sun, we experience the following
phenomena in the Northern
Hemisphere:

Summer solstice: Longest day of

the year, falls around June 21
Winter solstice: Shortest day of the
year, falls around December22
Equinox: When day and night are of
equal length, occurring twice
around March 22 and September
22
RADIATION AT THE
EARTH’S SURFACE
This earth-sun’s relationship affects
the amount of radiation received at
a particular point on the earth’s
surface in three ways. These are the
incidence angle of the sun,
atmospheric depletion, and
duration of sunshine.
RADIATION AT THE
EARTH’S SURFACE
a) angle of incidence
angle of incoming solar
radiation influences
seasonal temperatures of
locations at different
latitudes
RADIATION AT THE
EARTH’S SURFACE
b) atmospheric depletion
The absorption of radiation by
ozone, vapors and dust
particles in the atmosphere.
The atmospheric depletion is
also affected by the
momentary state of the
atmosphere: purity, vapor, dust,
smoke, etc.
RADIATION AT THE
EARTH’S SURFACE
c) duration of sunshine
the length of daylight
period
THE EARTH’S
THERMAL BALANCE
The total amount of heat
absorbed by the earth each year is
balanced by a corresponding heat
loss.

Without this cooling, the thermal balance of the earth could not be
maintained, the temperature of the earth and its atmosphere would
increase and would soon cease to be favorable to most life forms.
THE EARTH’S
THERMAL BALANCE
a) by long-wave radiation
to cold outer space
(some 84% of this re-
radiation is absorbed in
the atmosphere, only
16% escapes to space)
THE EARTH’S
THERMAL BALANCE
b) by evaporation
the earth's surface is
cooled, as liquid water
changes into vapor and
mixes with air
THE EARTH’S
THERMAL BALANCE
c) by convection
air heated by contact with
the warm earth surface
becomes lighter and rises to
the upper atmosphere,
where it dissipates its heat
to space
WINDS AND ANNUAL
WIND SHIFT
Winds are basically convection
currents in the atmosphere,
tending to even out the
differential heating of various
zones. The pattern of
movements is modified by the
earth'srotation.
INFLUENCE OF
TOPOGRAPHY
On a continental scale, wind and
weather are the result of an
interaction between broad global
flow patterns and regional pressure
and temperature patterns created
by the sun's differential heating
effect on land, forest and water.
ELEMENTS OF
CLIMATE
temperature
humidity
precipitation
solar radiation
wind
vegetation
 ELEMENTS OF
CLIMATE
Temperature
a physical quantity that
quantitatively expresses the
attribute of hotness or
coldness.
temperature of air measured
by a mercury thermometer
taking the dry-bulb or true air
temperature in the shade
 ELEMENTS OF
CLIMATE
Humidity
can be described as absolute
humidity (AH), i.e. the amount of
moisture actually present in unit
mass or unit volume of air
The relative humidity (RH) is,
however, a much more useful form
of expression, as it gives a direct
indication of evaporation potential.
 ELEMENTS OF
CLIMATE
Humidity
Humidity is measured using a
hygrometer, a device that measures
the amount of water vapor in a room
or space. Hygrometers come in
analog and digital versions, but digital
hygrometers are more accurate and
are the most common type used
today.
 ELEMENTS OF
CLIMATE
Precipitation
the collective term used for rain,
snow, hail, dew, and frost, for all
forms of water deposited
('precipitated') from the atmosphere.
It is measured by rain-gauges, i.e.
calibrated receptacles, and expressed
in millimeter per time unit
(mm/month, mm/day).
 ELEMENTS OF
CLIMATE
sunshine recorder
Solar radiation
an electromagnetic radiation, or light, that the sun emits in all
solarimeter
directions through space. It's also known as sunlight or the
solar resource.
A simple sunshine recorder will register the duration of
sunshine, which can be expressed in several hours per day, as
an average for each month.
A variety of more sophisticated instruments (solarimeter,
heliometer, actinometer and pyranometer) are used for the
quantitative recording of solar radiation heliometer
 ELEMENTS OF
CLIMATE
Wind
a natural movement of air of any velocity
is measured by a cup-type or propeller
anemometer, or by a Pitot tube (similar
to the air-speed meters of airplanes), and
its direction is measured by a wind vane.
An anemograph can produce continuous
recordings of wind velocity and
directional changes.
anemograph
ELEMENTS OF
CLIMATE
Vegetation
can influence the local or site
climate– ground temperature,
amount of water vapor and
carbon dioxide. It is an
important element in the
design of outdoor spaces,
providing sun-shading, and
protection from glare.
 SCALES OF CLIMATE
AND THEIR
IMPORTANCE
Understanding that the geographic
location has a significant effect on
climate. The location, relative to the
equator, determines climatic variations.
 In the figure above, the map shows the various climate zones around the world. These are determined based
on recorded data that have been studied for longer periods of time such as the soil, temperature, humidity, and
precipitation. Regions found along the equator are generally classified as having tropical climates.
DEVIATIONS WITHIN
THE ZONE
Microclimate - Refers to the climate of a
site or location. It implies any local
deviation from the climate of a large
region or zone

Meso-climate - Falls between the

microclimate and macroclimate

Macroclimate - Climate of a larger area

such as a region or a country
 major tropical
climatic zones
The interaction of solar radiation with the
atmosphere and the gravitational forces,
together with the distribution of land and sea
masses, produces an almost infinite variety of
climate zones. It is essential for the designer to be
familiar with the character and location of these
zones, as they are indicative of the climatic
problems that he/she is likely to encounter.
The classification given above was suggested by G.A. Atkinson in 1953. The basis of this classification is given by the
two atmospheric factors which dominantly influence human comfort: air temperature and humidity. The main
criterion is: what extremes of these two factors are likely to cause discomfort. Accordingly the tropical regions of
earth are divided into three, major climatic zones and three subgroups:

1) Warm-humid equatorial climate – subgroup: warm-humid island or trade-wind climate

2) Hot-dry desert / semi-desert climate – subgroup: hot-dry maritime desert climate
3) Composite or monsoon climate (combination of the first two classifications) –subgroup: tropical upland climate
Koppen climate classification, a more widely used climate classification system defines a tropical
climate as a region where the temperature of the coldest month is greater than or equal to 18 ℃ (64.4 ℉),
under which three types sub-climate zones are identified:

1) Tropical Rainforest – Tropical Moist Climates (Af)

2) Savanna – Tropical Moist Climates (Af)
3) Chaparral Biome – Mediterranean Climates (Cs)
The Philippines located at a latitude of 14° 34' 59.99" N and a longitude of 121° 00' 0.00" E belong
to the Tropical Moist Climate (Af).
 CLIMATE IN THE
PHILIPPINES
The Climate of the Philippines is tropical and
maritime (PAG-ASA). It is characterized by
relatively high temperature, high humidity and
abundant rainfall. Temperature, humidity, and
rainfall, which are discussed hereunder, are the
most important elements of the country's
weather and climate. (Philippine Atmospheric,
Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA).
 CLIMATE IN THE PHILIPPINES
Temperature
Based on the average of all weather
stations in the Philippines, excluding
Baguio, the mean annual temperature is
26.6 C.

The coolest months fall in January with

a mean temperature of 25.5 C while the
warmest month occurs in May with a
mean temperature of 28.3 C.
 CLIMATE IN THE PHILIPPINES
Rainfall
Rainfall is the most important climatic element in
the Philippines.
Rainfall distribution throughout the country varies
from one region to another, depending upon the
direction of the moisture-bearing winds and the
location of the mountain systems.
The mean annual rainfall of the Philippines varies
from 965 to 4,064 millimeters annually.
Baguio City, eastern Samar, and eastern Surigao
receive the greatest amount of rainfall while the
southern portion of Cotabato receives the least
amount of rain. At General Santos City in
Cotabato, the average annual rainfall is only 978
millimeters.
 CLIMATE IN THE PHILIPPINES
Prevailing Winds in the Philippines

"Monsoon" is from the Arabic word, "mawsim" which means season.

Northeast Monsoon – locally known as Amihan. It affects the eastern portions of the country
from October up to late March, starts over Siberia as a cold, dry air mass but gathers moisture
as it travels across the Pacific Ocean before reaching the eastern sections of the Philippines is
characterized by widespread cloudiness with rains and showers.
Southwest Monsoon– locally known as Habagat. It
affects the country from July to September, is very
warm and humid, occurs when warm moist air flows
over the country from the southwest direction, is
characterized by heavy rainfall that may last for a
week. It brings the rainy season to the western
portion of the country.
 CLIMATE IN THE PHILIPPINES
The Seasons
Using temperature and rainfall as bases, the climate of the country can be divided
into two major seasons (PAG-ASA):

1. the wet (rainy) season, from

June to November; and
2. the dry season, from December
to May. The dry season may be
subdivided further into:

a. the cool dry season, from

December to February; and
b. the hot dry season, from
March to May.
 CLIMATE IN THE PHILIPPINES
Typhoons
Typhoons have a great influence on the climate and
weather conditions of the Philippines. A great
portion of the rainfall, humidity and cloudiness are
due to the influence of typhoons. They generally
originate in the region of the Marianas and Caroline
Islands of the Pacific Ocean which have the same
latitudinal location as Mindanao.

Their movements follow a northwesterly direction,

sparing Mindanao from being directly hit by
majority of the typhoons that cross the country.
This makes the southern Philippines very desirable
for agriculture and industrial development.
 CLIMATE IN THE PHILIPPINES
Typhoons
During the 59 year period, 19 to 20 tropical
cyclones is the annual average occurring in the
Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR)with the
annual average intensity distribution of:

a. tropical depressions,
b. to 6tropical storms; and
c. 10 typhoons.

The most number of tropical cyclones occurred in

1993 which recorded 32 while the least number of
tropical cyclones occurred in 1998 which recorded
11 (PAG-ASA).
Super Typhoon Carina's enhancement of the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) caused heavy rains
and massive floods in Metro Manila on Wednesday, drawing comparisons to Tropical Storm
Ondoy's devastation of the capital region in September 2009.

Ondoy's rain rate, or the amount of rainfall in a given amount of time, is more intense than Carina.
Data shows Ondoy dumped 350 millimeters in just six hours, while Carina took 18 hours to reach
the same amount.
 ARCHITECTURAL
ADAPTATIONS TO CLIMATE
Architectural history tells us that man
began to build structures primarily to
provide him with the necessary
shelter against climatic elements.
Since architecture began 10,000
years ago, there were hardly any
changes for the next 6,000 years. This
was quite expected because the built
structures were able to satisfy the
physiological need for shelter at time
(Salvadori, 2002).
 ARCHITECTURAL
ADAPTATIONS TO CLIMATE
Without any of even our most basic
technologies today, the built
structures of our ancestors were
designed to take advantage of its
environment to provide the
maximum comfort for its occupant.
In other words, these ancestral
structures were conceived using
Passive Design Concepts.
 ARCHITECTURAL
ADAPTATIONS TO CLIMATE
During the Late Stone Age
period, tent settlements were
made of animal skins. This
provided an insulated coating for
the tent able to keep out heat
from solar radiation during warm
seasons and kept air heated
inside during cold weather.
 ARCHITECTURAL
ADAPTATIONS TO CLIMATE
As early as 1300BC, ancient Egyptians have begun to incorporate malqaf
(literally “wind scoop”) which are shafts that rises above the buildings
acting as scoops to funnel in wind into building’s interior.
 ARCHITECTURAL
ADAPTATIONS TO CLIMATE
Similarly, the Persians also
used shafts known as
badgirs to catch breezes
and channel them into the
building to cool its rooms
(Battle-McCarthy, 1999).
 ARCHITECTURAL
ADAPTATIONS TO CLIMATE
In the tropical setting of the
Philippines, passive cooling
techniques have been in use
since pre-colonial times. The
bahay kubo is designed as an
adaptation to its tropical
environment. Later when the
Spanish colonizers arrived in the
archipelago, they introduced
western form of building,
especially in the use of stones.
 ARCHITECTURAL ADAPTATIONS TO CLIMATE
The bahay na bato can be seen as an evolution of a structure to adapt to
the local environmental conditions in the Philippines.
 ARCHITECTURAL ADAPTATIONS TO CLIMATE
Among the bahay kubo’s adaptations are:
The living platform is elevated on stilts as an adaptation to damp ground conditions brought about by the
seasonal monsoon in the Philippines.
The roof has ahigh pitch so that rain water can be quickly drained
Large windows facilitate cross ventilation within the living space
Operable window awnings protect the windows from rain and at the same time provide shade when they are
open.
The high pitch of the roof creates alarge air space serving as an insulation between the roof and living space
The pitch of the roof creates an angle that allows the heat to radiated at an angle rather than directly on
living space below
 ARCHITECTURAL ADAPTATIONS TO CLIMATE
Among the bahay kubo’s adaptations are:
The pitch of the roof creates an angle that allows the heat to radiated at an angle rather than directly on
living space below
Roof provides wide overhangs for the windows to protect them for solar radiation and rain
The walls and roof are constructed of thatch (nipa) with low U-values allowing heat to be released
immediately.
Time lag for the porous materials becomes negligible.
The flexible framing system and materials allow the bahay kubo’s frame to sway during earthquakes thus
dissipating forces that would otherwisecause the buildingframes to break or buckle.
The bamboo flooring material creates gaps between the slats which allows air to breeze upward into the
living space.
 ARCHITECTURAL ADAPTATIONS TO CLIMATE

Ivatan

Ifugao houses

Visayan houses

Badjao
Regional variations of the bahay kubo
 ARCHITECTURAL
ADAPTATIONS TO CLIMATE
Contrary to what many people
think, the bahay na bato is not
Spanish in its architecture. It is
very much a Filipino design that
has been tailor-made to adapt to
the climatic and geographic
features of the Philippines.
 The bahay na bato employs a system of double The bahay na bato has large windows and
layered façade called volada to provide an extra ventanillas below the windows to take full advantage
layer of insulating air for cooling the house. of cross ventilation.
The bahay na bato’s living platform is elevated from The bahay na bato has wide eaves to provide solar
the damp ground by a stone base on the ground shading for its large windows.
floor. This is often used as storage and garage.
 BASIC DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR TROPICAL DESIGN
For the Philippines, having a warm humid climate, there are a few basic design principles
regarding natural ventilation to cool a home or a building. These are:

External features of the building envelope and its relation to the site should be designed to
fully utilize air movement. Interior partitions should not block air movements.
Air velocity can be reduced when the interior walls are placed close to the inlet opening or
each time it is diverted around obstructions.
If interior walls are unavoidable, air flow can
still be ensured if the partitions have
openings at the lower and upper portions. In
the bahay na bato, this is achieved with the
use of transom panels covered with intricate
wood carvings or wood louvers.
 BASIC DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR TROPICAL DESIGN
For the Philippines, having a warm humid climate, there are a
few basic design principles regarding natural ventilation to
cool a home or a building. These are:

Maximize window openings for cross ventilation of

internal spaces. Vents in the roof cavity can also be very
effective in drawing out heat from the room interiors.
Since hot air goes upward, and cool air goes downward,
openings at the top of staircases and in clerestory
windows facilitate air change.
It is generally cooler at night, so ventilation of internal
spaces can be continuous for nighttime cooling. This
means designing the building with operable windows to
let hot air escape at night and to capture prevailing night
winds.
 BASIC DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR TROPICAL DESIGN
To supplement natural ventilation, fans can be
placed at various heights and areas to increase
comfort conditions. Fans are effective in
generating internal air movement, improve air
distribution and increase air velocities.
Window openings are advisable at the body
level for evaporative human body cooling. And
room width should not exceedfive times
ceilingheight for good air movement.
Sunshades and sun protection devices on
openings reduce heat gain and glare, and also
help in internal daylighting. Louvres that are
adjustable can alter the direction of air flow
and lighting.
LINKS:
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA). http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/index.shtml
Land breeze and sea breeze
http://www.differencebetween.net/science/difference-between-land-
breeze-and-sea-breeze/#ixzz6SREEFL37 Radiation at the earth’s
surface
http://www.ces.fau.edu/nasa/module-3/why-does-temperature-
vary/angle-of-the-sun.php Solar Radiation
https://www.alternative-energy-tutorials.com/energy-articles/solar-
radiation.html The Köppen climate classification system
https://www.thesustainabilitycouncil.org/resources/the-koppen-
climate-classification-system/ Tropical architecture
https://business.inquirer.net/19613/tropical-
architecture#ixzz6Tzp2ruGs

REFERENCES:
Battle-McCarthy Consulting Engineers. (1999). Wind towers: Detail in
building. London: Academy Press. Koenigsberger, O.H., Ingersoll, T.G.,
Mayhew, A., & Szokolay, S.V. (1974). Manual of tropical housing and
building. London: Longman Group Limited
Salvadori, M. (2002). Why buildings stand up: The strength of
architecture. Southampton: WW Norton Company. Santos, J.R.
(2008).Tropical design handout. Quezon City: CDEP.
Zialcita, F. and Tinio, M. Jr. (2002). Philippine ancestral houses. Manila:
GCF Books.
THANK
YOU!