Characteristics of Climate Warming and Human Body Comfort Index in Beijing during Last 50 Years

Abstract:

In order to analyze the variations of climate warming and human body comfort index on the basis of homogenized correction, the daily meteorological data from 1960 to 2009 in Beijing are examined. According the investigations, some conclusions could be drawn. Firstly, in the last 50 years, the warming rate is 0.39/10a in Beijing, but the warming is unsymmetrical. The warming rate of annual average lowest temperature is obviously higher than that of annual average highest temperature. Secondly, the main discomfort climatic factor is cold discomfort, while thermal discomfort is rare, so is extremely cold discomfort. Thirdly, climate warming and body comfort index are closely correlated in Beijing. The overall trend resulted in by climate warming is the rising in the number of comfortable days, declining in the number of uncomfortable days, and the rate of change is increasing. What’s more, investigations also show that, the heating (cooling) degree days in Beijing dropped (rose) obviously, suggesting that the energy consumption for air conditioners will increase in summer and decrease in winter in Beijing in the future .

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 183-185)
• Pages: 1105-1109
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.183-185.1105
• Online since: January 2011
• Authors: Zuo Fang Zheng
• Keywords: Body Comfort Index, Climate Warming, Cooling Degree Days, Data Homogenization, Heating Degree Days

References

[1] Zhai P, Pan X. Trend in temperature extremes during 1951-1999 in China. Geophys Res Lett, 2003, 30(17): 1-4.

DOI: 10.1029/2003gl018004

[2] LI Zhen，YAN Zhong-Wei. Homogenized Daily Mean/Maximum/Minimum Temperature Series for China from 1960-2008. Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters，2009，2(4): 1-7.

DOI: 10.1080/16742834.2009.11446802

[3] REN Jian-mei, NIU Jun-jie, HU Cai-hong. Tourism climate and evaluation of comfortableness in Wutai mountain. Geographical Research, 2004, 23(6): 856-862. (in Chinese).

[4] Yang Cheng-fang, Xue De-qiang, Li Chang-jun. Study of Regional Characteristics of Body Comfortability in Shandong. Meteorological Monthly, 2004, 30(10): 7-11. (in Chinese).

[5] Bonsal B R, Zhang X B, V incent L A, et al. Characteristics of daily and extreme temperature over Canada. J Climate, 2001, 5 (14): 1959-(1976).

[6] Shi Chun-e, Wang Xing-rong, Chen Xiao-ping, , et al. Method study on forecast for body comfort index. Scientia Meteorologica Sinica, 2001, 21(3): 363-368. (in Chinese).

[7] Wibig J. Heating Degree Days and Cooling Degree Days Variability in Lodz in the Period 1931-2000. Fifth International Conference on Urban Climate. Lodz, Poland, 2003: 471-474.