Temperature analysis and the effect of urban development on the outdoor thermal comfort and intensification of the Urban Heat Island phenomenon in the United Arab Emirates

This paper presents the temperature distribution and identification of Urban Heat Island intensity and outdoor thermal comfort conditions in a residential cluster in Dubai, UAE. Temperature and humidity data are collected during peak summer period and thermal imaging is further used as additional tool. From the analysis it is resulted that the maximum temperature recorded in the cluster is 55 °C and the minimum is 22.90 ° C. The hottest day has an average temperature of 40.50 °C and the coolest day an average temperature of 36.08 °C. The highest temperatures during each day occur between 10am to 3pm and relative humidity peaks to 100% during night hours. The outdoor comfort is evaluated as a combination of the high temperatures and the relative humidity, and extreme discomfort is identified. Further analysis in the residential cluster, identified “hot spots” in specific areas where the spacing between the buildings is minimized. The temperature difference between these spots and other locations in the residential cluster can reach a maximum of about 12%. The temperature patterns in the cluster are also analysed with the use of CFD modelling and the results highlight the relation between the ventilation paths and the increased temperatures.