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Analysis of Urban Heat in a Corridor Environment - The Case of Doha, Qatar
Urban Climate
  • Salim Ferwati, Qatar University
  • Cynthia Skelhorn, Qatar University
  • Vivek Shandas, Portland State University
  • Jackson Voelkel, Portland State University
  • Ayla Shawish, Qatar University
  • Mohammad Ghanim, Qatar University
Document Type
Citation
Publication Date
6-1-2018
Abstract

Doha, Qatar is one of the arid coastal cities of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Like similar cities, temperatures can vary widely throughout, with rapid and extensive development that has contributed to micro-climate changes. While numerous studies since the 1950s have assessed urban micro-climates, few have offered insights into urban corridor environments. This research is one of few projects to examine temperature records along two major roadways and identify factors that explain variation. The research uses vehicle-based air temperature traverses during late spring and summer 2016 using a Type T fine gauge thermocouple mounted in a white plastic tube and supported above the vehicle on the passenger-side window. The data were assessed in terms of four factors that may impact temperature along the corridors, including: distance from the coast, traffic volume, vegetation density, and building volume density from 50 m up to 400 m (in 50 m intervals) from the centerline of the traverse. Results indicated that the two most critical variables that predict air temperature patterns along the corridors are the distance to the coast and the traffic volume. This knowledge can be incorporated into urban planning and design practice for extreme arid environments to maintain temperatures that reduce heat-related stress.

Locate the Document
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2017.08.008
DOI
10.1016/j.uclim.2017.08.008
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/26464
Citation Information
Ferwati, S., Skelhorn, C., Shandas, V., Voelkel, J., Shawish, A., & Ghanim, M. (2018). Analysis of urban heat in a corridor environment–The case of Doha, Qatar. Urban climate, 24, 692-702.