Radiation Balance of Urban Materials and Their Thermal Impact in Semi-Desert Region: Mexicali, México Study Case
Néstor Santillán-Soto,
Rafael García-Cueto,
Zalia Haro-Rincón,
Sara Ojeda-Benítez,
Margarito Quintero-Núñez,
Nicolás Velázquez-Limón
Affiliations
Néstor Santillán-Soto
Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Blvd, Benito Juárez y calle de la Normal s/n. Col. Insurgentes Este, C.P. 21280, Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
Rafael García-Cueto
Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Blvd, Benito Juárez y calle de la Normal s/n. Col. Insurgentes Este, C.P. 21280, Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
Zalia Haro-Rincón
Graduated of the Doctorate in Engineering Program, Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Blvd, Benito Juárez y calle de la Normal s/n. Col. Insurgentes Este, C.P. 21280, Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
Sara Ojeda-Benítez
Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Blvd, Benito Juárez y calle de la Normal s/n. Col. Insurgentes Este, C.P. 21280, Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
Margarito Quintero-Núñez
Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Blvd, Benito Juárez y calle de la Normal s/n. Col. Insurgentes Este, C.P. 21280, Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
Nicolás Velázquez-Limón
Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Blvd, Benito Juárez y calle de la Normal s/n. Col. Insurgentes Este, C.P. 21280, Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
Net radiation is an essential forcing of climate in the lower layers of Earth’s atmosphere. In this paper, radiation balance is measured in clay soil and green grass, and is compared with three urban materials. These materials: asphalt, concrete and white painted elastomeric polystyrene roofing sheet are widely used in Mexicali, Baja California, México. This study was carried out during August of 2011, the hottest time of the year. The 24-hour average values of net radiation found were: 137.2 W·m−2 for asphalt, 119.1 for concrete, 104.6 for clay soil, 152 for green grass and 29.2 for the polystyrene insulation. The latter two types of materials are likely to be the most effective in reducing urban heat island effects. This variation in the radiation balance has widespread implications for human living conditions, as land cover change tends to be towards surfaces that have higher levels of net radiation.
