“Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas”

A Dissertation Report
Submitted by

Shweta Deshmukh
In partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree
Of

Master of Technology in Urban Planning

Guided by
Dr. Rajashree Kotharkar

Department of Architecture and Planning

Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology
Nagpur, 440010
2017-2018
Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

“Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas”

A Dissertation Report
Submitted by

Shweta Deshmukh
In partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree
Of

Master of Technology in Urban Planning

Guided by
Dr. Rajashree Kotharkar

Department of Architecture and Planning

Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology
Nagpur, 440010
2017-2018

2
Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

Department of Architecture and Planning

VISVESVARAYA NATIONAL INSTITUTE
OF TECHNOLOGY, Nagpur-440011

CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the Project (Dissertation) titled

“Heat Stress in Urban areas”

Has been carried out and submitted by

Shweta Deshmukh

3rd Semester M. Tech. (Urban Planning), year 2017-18 towards

Partial fulfilment for the award of the Degree of Master of Technology
(M.Tech.) in Urban Planning from V.N.I.T. (Deemed University).
Under the guidance of

Dr. Rajashreee Kotharkar

(Project Guide)

Dr. Sameer Deshkar Dr. Vinayak S Adane

Project Co-ordinator Head of Department

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

UNDERTAKING
I, Ms. Shweta Deshmukh, the author of the dissertation titled “Heat Stress in Urban areas”,
hereby declare that this is an independent work of mine, carried out towards partial
fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the Masters of technology Degree in Urban
Planning at the Department of Architecture and Planning, VNIT Nagpur. The work has not
been submitted to any other organization / institution for the award of any Degree/Diploma.

……………………………………………
Shweta Deshmukh
Enroll. No. MT16UPL015
M.Tech in Urban Planning (2016-2018)
Department of Architecture and Planning
VNIT Nagpur
Date: 4th Dec, 2017

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

DECLARATION
The content produced in the dissertation report is an original piece of work and takes due
acknowledgement of referred content, wherever applicable. The thoughts expressed herein
remain the responsibility of the undersigned author and have no bearing on or does not
represent those of Department of Architecture and Planning, VNIT Nagpur.

……………………………………………
Shweta Deshmukh
Enroll. No. MT16UPL015
M.Tech in Urban Planning (2016-2018)
Department of Architecture and Planning
VNIT Nagpur
Date: 4th Dec, 2018

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

AKNOWLEGEMENT
It is genuine pleasure to express my deep sense of thanks and gratitude to my guide Dr.
Rajashree Kotharkar, Associate professors, Department of Architecture and Planning
V.N.I.T, Nagpur. Her dedicated and keen interest and her overwhelming attitude to help
her students had been solely and mainly responsible for completing my work. Her timely
advice and meticulous scrutiny and scientific approach have helped me to a very great
extent to accomplish this task.
I owe my gratitude to Dr. Sameer Deshkar, Project Coordinator, Department of
Architecture and Planning VNIT, Nagpur. And Dr. V.S Adane, Head of Department for
their keen interest and timely suggestions have enabled me to complete my dissertation.
I thank all my batch mates, for their kind help and co-operation throughout my study
period.
It is my privilege to thank my parents, husband, son and all my family members for their
constant encouragement throughout my research period.

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

CONTENTS
UNDERTAKING ................................................................................................................ 4

DECLARATION ............................................................................................................. 5

List of figures ...................................................................................................................... 9

List of Tables .................................................................................................................... 10

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................... 11

1.1 URBAN CLIMATE ................................................................................................. 11

1.2 THERMAL COMFORT .......................................................................................... 12

........................................................................................................................................ 12

1.3 URBAN HEAT ISLAND ........................................................................................ 12

1.4 NEED FOR THE RESEARCH ................................................................................ 13

1.5 AIM .......................................................................................................................... 14

1.6 OBJECTIVES .......................................................................................................... 14

1.7 SCOPE ..................................................................................................................... 14

1.8 LIMITATIONS ........................................................................................................ 14

1.9 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................... 14

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ...................................................................... 16

2.1 HEAT STRESS ........................................................................................................ 16

2.1.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 16

2.1.2 COMFORT INDICES/ HEAT INDICES.......................................................... 17

2.1.3 GLOBAL SCENARIO ...................................................................................... 18

2.1.4 INDIAN SCENARIO ........................................................................................ 19

2.2 URBAN HEAT ISLAND STUDIES (UHI) ............................................................ 19

2.2.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 19

2.2.2 CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF STUDIES .................................................. 20

2.2.3 ANALYSIS OF STUDIES ................................................................................ 20

2.3 URBAN FORM/ URBAN STRUCTURE ............................................................... 21

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

2.3.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 21

2.3.2 URBAN CLIMATE CLASSIFICATION ......................................................... 21

2.3.3 PARAMETERS OF UHI STUDIES ................................................................. 23

CHAPTER 3: IDENTIFIED STUDY AREA ................................................................ 26

3.1 HEAT WAVE IN INDIA ......................................................................................... 26

3.2. CLIMATIC EXTRIMITIES ................................................................................... 28

3.3 DETERMINING AREA OF STUDY ...................................................................... 28

CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................ 29

References .......................................................................................................................... 30

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

List of figures
FIGURE 1 SHOWING FACTORS DETERMINING COMFORT .............................................................................................. 12
FIGURE 2:SHOWING SCALES OF UHI STUDIES (OKE, 1997) ........................................................................................ 13
FIGURE 3 SHOWING EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE EXTREMITIES -IPCC REPORT,2007 ........................................................... 13
FIGURE 4 SHOWING METHODOLOGY OF STUDY ......................................................................................................... 15
FIGURE 5 SHOWING EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON HUMAN HEALTH (CLIMATE COMMISSION REPORT, 2011) ..................... 16
FIGURE 6 SHOWING HEAT INDEX (NDMA, 2016).................................................................................................... 19
FIGURE 7 FLOW DIAGRAM SHOWING THE SELECTIN CRITERIA ....................................................................................... 20
FIGURE 8 SHOWING LCZ- BUILDING TYPES CLASSIFICATION (SOURCE: AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY MAGAZINE, 2012
............................................................................................................................................................. 22
FIGURE 9 SHOWING LCZ CLASSIFICATION- LAND COVER TYPES ..................................................................................... 23
FIGURE 10 SHOWING DEATHS CAUSED BY HEAT WAVE (IMD ANNUAL REPORT) ............................................................... 26
FIGURE 11 SHOWING (LEFT): HEAT WAVE 2015AFFECTED AREA(NOAA) (RIGHT) SHOWING HEAT WAVE 2016 WARNING MAP
(IMD) .................................................................................................................................................... 27
FIGURE 12 SHOWING HEAT WAVE AFFECTED STATES .................................................................................................. 27
FIGURE 13 SHOWING METEOROLOGICAL REGIONS IN INDIA ........................................................................................ 28
FIGURE 14 GRAPH SHOWING CLIMATIC EXTREMITIES OF 60 STATION OF CENTRAL METEOROLOGICAL REGION ........................ 29

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

List of Tables
TABLE 1 SHOWING COMFORT INDICES 17
TABLE 2 INDICES BASED ON HEAT STRESS MODEL 18
TABLE 3 SHOWING INDICES BASED ON HEAT BUDGET MODELS 18
TABLE 4 SHOWING APPROACH AND SCALE OF UHI STUDIES 20
TABLE 5 SHOWING CLASSIFICATION METHODS AND PARAMETERS STUDIED IN UHI STUDIES 23

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Urbanization and climate change are the two well discussed phenomenon in research
which show how the anthropogenic activities are interacting with the natural phenomenon
and causing substantial change in our quality of life. This change though gradual is
affecting our livelihood and existence. Therefore there is a need to understand the causes,
impacts and study the possible factors responsible for the change. This study focuses on
the types of heat stresses an urban area experiences and the factors responsible for them.
Study includes the approaches adopted in previous researches and the parameters used for
the same.

1.1 URBAN CLIMATE

Urban areas which are a concentration of population over a smaller geographic area
experience a different climate then the surrounding areas. Moreover they act as growth
center and attract more people with better employment opportunities and better future
prospects further intensifying the change. Urban areas are thus more susceptible to the
impact of climatic change (HABITAT, 2012)
Urban climate differs from the surrounding areas on following parameters;
 Temperature – higher than the surrounding areas, known as urban heat island.
 Precipitation- more as cities act as a hygroscopic nuclei due to pollution
 Humidity- less due to more runoff and evaporation.
 Radiation- more energy gain due to more concreted surfaces.
 Winds- change in wind patterns, where building and canyons act as wind barriers
or wind tunnels.
The heating of urban areas due to climatic extremes and the formation of urban heat
island is adding to the human discomfort (EPA, 2014) having environmental, social and
economic impacts on the population. Amongst the various urban climate studies, studies
focusing on temperature parameter are identified to understand the factors and their effect
on comfort in urban areas (Mahant, 2014).

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

1.2 THERMAL COMFORT

Thermal comfort as defined by ASHRAE is, “State of mind in humans that express
satisfaction with the surrounding environment”. Comfort studies are done in both indoor
and outdoor conditions. The outdoor thermal comfort is the focus in this literature study.
The determining factors of comfort can be divided into two; namely localized factors and
personalized factors.
Localized factors are context specific and mainly depend upon location, latitude and
altitude. Whereas personal factors depend upon the well-being i.e health, clothing,
activity level etc.

LOCALIZED FACTORS:
PERSONAL FACTORS: FACTORS air movement, velocity,
Health, Clothing & DETERMINING
COMFORT temperature, humidity,
Activity level radiation

Figure 1 Showing factors determining comfort

1.3 URBAN HEAT ISLAND

An urban heat island is a phenomenon, were urban areas are warmer than the surrounding
areas. Urban areas consumes energy, water and land resources changing the land use and
land cover of an area. These areas have greater percentage of developed area (built areas)
which are warmer than the surrounding areas because of the conversion of natural and
permeable surface to dry and non-permeable surface experiencing the urban heat island
effect. (Gale, 2008)
Urban heat island is a relative factor as it depends on the character of adjacent areas, thus
UHI is more intense when surrounding is forest and less intense when it is arid region. It
is the development of area which causes the temperature change due to various factors.
(IPCC, 2007) The intensity of urban heat island depends on various factors studied on
different scales. The scale of UHI studies are divided in both vertical and horizontal scale
as explained by fig2. (Gert-Jan Steeneveld, 2011)

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

Figure 2: Showing Scales of UHI studies (modified from Oke, 1997)

Vertical scale of urban canopy layer is the one directly related to human comfort studies
which can be studied at different horizontal scales- local level, city level, regional level.
Studies related to the urban canopy layer are identified for literature review.

1.4 NEED FOR THE RESEARCH

The change in climatic conditions throughout the globe and the anthropogenic activities is
leading to various climatic extremities. The tropical countries are having temperature and
precipitation extremities leading to hazards like heat wave, drought, flooding etc.
According to the IPCC report (AR4). The temperature extremities are changing the local
climate thereby increasing the probability of occurrence of extremes as shown in fig3.

Figure 3 showing effect of temperature extremities -IPCC report,2007

This extremes affect human health and welfare along with other impacts. The change
affects the localized factors of comfort leading to human discomfort. When the discomfort

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

is above the adaptable change the body system fails. Therefore it is necessary to understand
the discomfort parameters studied through the identified approach to classify urban areas
into comfortable, Tolerable and dangerous zones to propose some adaptation and
mitigation measures. (Tahbaz, 2010)

1.5 AIM
To study the heat stress in urban areas (Indian context)

1.6 OBJECTIVES
 To understand the factors influencing the urban climate and its correlation with
comfort.
 To understand different comfort scales and heat indices used globally and in India.
 To study various urban heat island studies in India, to understand the different
factors governing it and explore the different approaches and classification
method adopted at different scale.
 To determine the past trends of heat related extremities in India with the help of
meteorological data.
 To identify the appropriate approach, classification method and the parameters to
be studied in Indian context.

1.7 SCOPE
The study will focus on social impact of heat stress in urban areas in Indian context.

1.8 LIMITATIONS
This study is limited to social impact due to urban heating and does not consider the
environmental and economical impacts of heat stress.
Urban heat island studies in India are studied, limited to a vertical scale of urban canopy
layer.
1.9 METHODOLOGY
Keeping in view the objectives the methodology was framed as shown below;

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

Figure 4 showing methodology of study

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 HEAT STRESS

The body maintains the core temperature required for the normal functioning. (Bene,
1990). The change in temperature of the surrounding areas change the way human body
reacts. The thermoregulatory system of the body adapt to a certain level of change, but
when the change is above adaptable level the system enters the stress level before the
total failure of the system. Heat stress is when body can no longer regulate temperature
and becomes too hot. Human body undergoes the three stages due to rise in temperature
as shown;
Human Discomfort → Heat stress → Failure of the system
2.1.1 INTRODUCTION
In hot temperature the body maintains the temperature through sweating. The heat stress
intensities can be tolerable or dangerous depending upon three factors; high temperature,
high humidity and sun exposure. (NCBI, 2000)
Heat stress leads to heat exhaustion causing dizziness, headache, fatigue, nausea etc. and
heat stroke where body system fails leading to organ failure and can be fatal. (NCBI,
2000)

Figure 5 showing effect of climate change on human health (climate commission report, 2011)

As shown in figure, Hughes and McMichael study shows that temperature above 39ºC
leads to heat exhaustion and temperature above 42 ºC leads to heat stroke, but the body
enters the heat stress as the body’s core temperature which is 37 ºC. (Hughes, 2011)

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

The behavior of the body also depends upon age, gender, weight and various other
parameters thus to quantify the average tolerable levels there are various indices develop
which quantify the comfort and heat stress.

2.1.2 COMFORT INDICES/ HEAT INDICES

As discussed earlier the comfort of a person depends upon personal and localized factors.
These localized factors are temperature, humidity, air movement and radiation. The scale
which combines the effect of all the parameters is called comfort index or thermal index.
There are two most adopted comfort indices which are as follows;

Table 1 showing comfort indices

Comfort index given by Location

ASHRAE United States
ISO (International Standardization Europe
Organization)

This comfort indices are developed depending upon the location and has different
specification given for different climate types within those continents. But, many countries
like don’t have comfort indices.
There are various heat indices developed depending upon three different models namely;
Heat stress model- considers two parameters Temperature and Humidity
Heat budget model- considers the total energy gain and dissipation. This model considers
all the four parameters temperature, humidity, wind and radiation.
Synoptic approach model- considers more parameters relevant to the location. Parameters
like dew point temperature, visibility, sea level, air pressure, etc. are used to classify days
that are meteorologically homogeneous to form an index. This approach is comparatively
new and still under modification. This approach is mostly adopted in US cities like
Washington DC, Philadelphia, Dayton etc. (WHO, 2009)

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

2.1.3 GLOBAL SCENARIO

Based on the models, following are the heat indices used worldwide: (Mahant, 2014)
BASED ON HEAT STRESS
Table 2 indices based on Heat stress Model

SR. INDICES AREA PARAMETERS

NO

1 Heat index USA (NWS, Temperature and Humidity

NOAA)
2 Humidex Canada Temperature and humidity
3 Wet Bulb Globe UK (ISO) Air temperature, air movement,
Temperature (WBGT) radiant temperature, humidity
4 Discomfort index (DI) Israel WBT, DBT, (Tmin. Tmax &
Humidity)
5 Tropical Summer Index Asia (for warm air temperature, globe
(TSI) humid areas) temperature, humidity, air
velocity

BASED ON HEAT BUDGET MODEL (Tahbaz, 2010)

Table 3 showing indices based on heat budget models

SR INDICES AREA PARAMETERS

NO

1. Perceived Temperature Globally (first used Air temperature, mean radiant

Index (PT) in Germany) temperature, relative humidity,
wind speed & air pressure
2. Physiological Europe Air temperature, air movement,
Equivalent Temperature radiant temperature, humidity
Index (PET) and heat fluxes
3. Outdoor Standard Australia (Sydney) Air temperature, mean radiant
Efficient Temperature temperature, relative humidity,
(SET*OUT) wind speed

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

4. Universal Thermal United States Air temperature, wind speed,

Climate Index (UTCI) relative humidity, water vapour
pressure, metabolic rate

2.1.4 INDIAN SCENARIO

In India, heat stress based model is used, considering two parameters temperature and
relative humidity. Heat Index was published by NDMA in 2015, it is adopted from US
with threshold limits of temperature maximum 40º C and relative humidity of minimum
40%. The heat index thus has a limited application as various Indian cities experience
maximum temperature above 40º C with the relative humidity more than 40 %.

Figure 6 showing Heat Index (NDMA, 2016)

2.2 URBAN HEAT ISLAND STUDIES (UHI)

2.2.1 INTRODUCTION
Urban rural temperature difference due to urban structures consisting of roads, buildings,
vegetation cover etc. is called urban heat island. This phenomenon is a relative factor. It
depends upon various factors like location, altitude, size of city, compactness of city (Bin
Zhou, 2017) proximity to water bodies, vegetated areas, population size etc. (Rajashree
Kotharkar, 2015)

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

2.2.2 CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF STUDIES

Urban heat island is studied in Indian context. All the studies in India are studied to
understand different approaches, horizontal scales and urban structure classification
methods.
As all the studies are
UHI STUDIES IN INDIA
selected the cities are from
different climatic zones and
SELECTION OF URBAN CANOPY LAYER
VERTICAL SCALE therefore the intensities of
UHI change. And so does
SEECTION OF HORIZONTAL SCALE OF
CITY LEVEL AND MICRO LEVEL the classification methods.

Figure 7 Flow diagram showing the selectin criteria

2.2.3 ANALYSIS OF STUDIES

Basically, the UHI studies are done by two approaches- (Ravina More1, 2015)
 RS, GIS
 Observatory Survey (stationary, mobile)
The RS/GIS studies are done through satellite imaginary and therefore the data
interprets the land use land cover changes and the difference in Land Surface
Temperature are measured. This studies give a regional and city level UHI intensities
but does not give the micro level UHI intensities.
Some studies though show different intensity at micro level but fail to validate it. The
identified Indian UHI studies are as follows;
Table 4 showing approach and scale of UHI studies

SR. UHI STUDIES APPROACH SCALE

NO

1. (Ramchandra T.V, 2010) RS/GIS City level (not

Bangalore validated at micro
level)
2. (Robin Agrawal, 2014) RS/GIS City level
Nagpur
3. (Kikon, 2016)Noida RS /GIS City level

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

4. (Aneesh Mathew, 2016), RS/GIS City level

Chandigarh
5 (Juri Borbora, 2014), Fixed station survey City level and micro
Guwahati and mobile survey level (data validated)
6. (George Thomas*, 2014), Fixed station and City level and micro
Kochi mobile survey level (data validated)
(LCZ)
7. (Amirtham, 2016), Chennai Fixed station and City level and micro
mobile survey level (data validated)
8. (Ansar Khan, 2016), Fixed station and City level and micro
Kolkatta mobile survey level (data validated)
9 (Rajashree Kotharkar, 2015), Fixed station and City level and micro
Nagpur mobile survey level (data validated)
10 (Dr. Rajashree Kotharkar, Fixed station and City level and micro
2017), Nagpur mobile survey level (data validated)
All the latest study show the use of fixed station and mobile survey as it gives UHI
intensities at micro level which can help urban planners to take the required measures
at different locations within city.
The survey were validated through instruments- loggers and primary surveys.

2.3 URBAN FORM/ URBAN STRUCTURE

2.3.1 INTRODUCTION
As the mobile surveys or stationary surveys require a classification method for the
urban structure different classification methods were studied.
The urban geometry is responsible for the different intensities of UHI (Youpei Hua,
2016) It depends upon building density, road width and composition of green space
and water bodies within a city.
2.3.2 URBAN CLIMATE CLASSIFICATION
The urban climate classification was first developed by Chandler in 1965 where he
classified London into 4 zones based on its climate, physiography and built morphology
(Chandler, 1965).

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

Later in 1990’s in US, cities were classified based on urban morphology, street
configuration and construction material (Effefsen, 1990))
Using these two classification system an urban Local Climate Zone classification (LCZ)
was developed by Oke and Stewart, (Oke, 2006) . This system classifies different zone
based on built types and land cover types.
This classification defines the building types based on compactness, vertical development
of building (high rise, mid rise, low rise), building material and land cover types.
The classification is as shown below;

Figure 8 showing LCZ- building types classification (source: American Meteorological society magazine, 2012

Along with building typology it also classifies land cover types shown as below;

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

Figure 9 showing LCZ classification- land cover types

This classification is globally accepted because it classifies all the cities depending upon
height, density and land cover and it can be customized as per the development and
character of the city.
2.3.3 PARAMETERS OF UHI STUDIES
Table 5 showing classification methods and parameters studied in UHI studies

SR. UHI STUDIES CLASSIFICATION PARAMETER

NO

1. (Ramchandra T.V, 2010) Land use land cover Land surface

Bangalore changes temperature
2. (Robin Agrawal, 2014) Land use Land cover Normalised Difference
Nagpur changes Vegetation Index
(NDVI) and

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

Normalized difference
impervious surface
index (NDISI)

3. (Kikon, 2016) Noida Land use land cover NDVI, Normalized

changes difference built up
index(NDBI),
emissivity, Albedo

4. (Aneesh Mathew, 2016) Land use land cover Land surface

Chandigarh changes temperature and %
Impervious Surface
Area
5 (Juri Borbora, 2014), Identified transit and Temperature and
Guwahati 4 stations identified Relative humidity
for stationary
loggers
6. (George Thomas*, 2014), Local Climatic Zone Temperature and
Kochi classification Relative humidity
7. (Amirtham, 2016), Analysed according Temperature, relative
Chennai to temperature humidity, clothing and
humidity index and net radiation
Relative Strain
Index
8. (Ansar Khan, 2016), 25 Random selected Numerical simulation
Kolkatta observation sites model used,
temperature and
relative humidity
9 (Rajashree Kotharkar, Land use land cover Temperature and
2015), Nagpur and population relative humidity
density

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

10 (Dr. Rajashree Kotharkar, Local Climatic Zone Temperature and

2017), Nagpur relative humidity

Local climatic zones are the most recent and globally accepted classification method and
the parameters studies are temperature and relative humidity which are validated at local
level with the use of loggers.
Therefore further study will involve urban structure classification based on Local Climatic
Zone.

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

CHAPTER 3: IDENTIFIED STUDY AREA

3.1 HEAT WAVE IN INDIA

To study the heat stress in urban areas it is important to understand the heat extremities
and identify the regions in India which are more susceptible to heat stresses. Heat wave is
one of the natural disaster caused by temperature extremities.
Heat wave is one among the top three natural killers as per NCRB. The heat wave is
defined as, “the state where the maximum temperature at the grid point is 3ºC or more
than the normal temperature, consecutively for three days or more”. (NDMA, 2016)
The data from the IMD annual reports show the no. of fatalities caused by heat wave,
which are at increase in recent years;

Figure 10 showing deaths caused by heat wave (IMD annual report)

The IMD gave different threshold limit depending upon temperature maximum and
terrain of an area. Depending upon these threshold limits IMD releases warning maps and
affected area maps in India.

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

Figure 11 showing (left): heat wave 2015affected area(NOAA) (right) showing heat wave 2016 warning map (IMD)

The states which are affected by heat wave and are more susceptible to heat stress are as
shown in fig. (IMD, 2017) There are total 13 states affected by heat wave.

Figure 12 showing heat wave affected states

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

3.2. CLIMATIC EXTRIMITIES

The temperature or precipitation extremes need not necessarily lead to natural calamities
but they definitely affect the human comfort. This extremes develop heat stress in
individuals. Therefore it is necessary to understand the trend of climatic extremities over
a longer period of time

3.3 DETERMINING AREA OF STUDY

IMD divides India into 6 Meteorological regions as shown in fig.

Figure 13 showing Meteorological regions in India

As the study requires a bulk of meteorological data, it will be feasible to select the central
region as the regional Centre is at Nagpur.
The central Meteorological region consist of Madya pradesh, Chattisgarh and Vidarbh
area.
IMD provides the data for more than a century of climatic extremities for all
meteorological stations with the help of which a graph is prepared;

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

Figure 14 graph showing climatic extremities of 60 station of central meteorological region

This graph shows the increase in frequency, intensity and extent of climatic extremes in
recent year, further emphasizing the need of study in the selected region.

CONCLUSION
The identified approach, parameters and classification method could be used for
analyzing the heat stresses in urban areas.
The same framework will be used for further study. Any urban area in Central
meteorological region will be selected depending upon the available meteorological data.
The city will be classified as per Local Climatic Zones to study the heat stress parameters
of Temperature and Relative humidity. The zones can be identified as comfortable,
tolerable & dangerous zones for taking the required adaptation and mitigation measures.

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Study of Heat Stress in Urban Areas

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on percentage impervious surface area and elevation on LST case of chandigarh.
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