The annual graph allows the different months' dry-bulb temperature ranges to be evaluated. Moreover, overlaying the average value trend for each day helps visualize the differences between the minimum and maximum daily values for the investigated location.
Comfortable temperature ranges for 80% and 90% of the population, calculated according to ASHRAE adaptive comfort, are overlaid (see also the excellent CBE Thermal Comfort Tool). For each location, it is therefore possible to assess the temperature difference between outdoors and comfort conditions, or to evaluate passive free cooling strategies using outside air in the summer season. For more information on natural ventilation potential, see the dedicated page.
Building design must inevitably consider local climatic trends. Comparing the different annual trends in the previous image, keeping the comfort zone as a fixed reference point, it is very clear that we expect to find four aesthetically and functionally dramatically different buildings.
Monthly scatterplots show all hourly temperatures. The temperature excursion is much more evident than in the annual graphs. Daily medians, i.e., the most frequently occurring values, help evaluate the outliers.
Typical monthly days show what buildings must provide to create comfortable environments. Below is an example of a comparison between four drastically opposite climates
Overall, the first observation is the climatic variability of desert and continental climates, while the other two are mostly stable at constant levels.
More in detail, imaging that we might design a building, we start from the factual need to reduce incoming heat into the environment with solar shading or other passive solutions in desert climates, to the constant need to create air movement that gives a sense of coolness in the constant tropical climates; we get to the steady temperate climates where it is easier to recreate comfortable conditions, to the continental climates, which are highly variable from summer to winter and certainly more challenging to handle.
Heatmap is another useful method for evaluating thermal excursion over a year (by evaluating the horizontal gradient) or over individual days (by evaluating the vertical gradient).
Albeit with different scales, the four heatmaps give a clear idea of the comparison of the four given climate types, especially for the temperature excursion between day and night.
the desert climate, despite having a scale with a large delta T, shows clear contrasting vertical gradients, thus between day and night temperatures;
the tropical climate has no variability throughout the year, with a nearly constant pattern. The same observation can be made for daily and nighttime temperatures;
the temperate climate shows a certain constancy between day and night, but especially a slight increase over the summer month temperatures;
the continental climate has a highly variable temperature scale, but despite this, there is a clear gradient between the winter and summer months. The difference between day and night is not clear but, as already evident in the daily graphs, the patterns are not regular and show a very variable climate.
The last tool for temperature assessment is the statistics table. The earlier graphically made evaluations can be supported by the numbers. The following are listed, for each month:
the temperature means;
the standard deviations;
the minimum values;
the percentiles values (1%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 99%);
the maximum values.
The annual graph allows the different months' relative humidity ranges to be evaluated. Moreover, overlaying the average value trend for each day helps visualize the differences between the minimum and maximum daily values for the investigated location.
The humidity comfort band is overlaid, considering 30-70% RH the comfortable range. With these trends, climates can be assessed, whether too dry or too humid, then evaluating design solutions that include humidification or dehumidification system.
Outdoor relative humidity varies greatly depending on the amount of rainfall. As expected, hot dry and tropical climates have diametrically opposite trends, always outside the comfort range, and some measures must be taken to recreate comfortable situations in buildings.
Monthly scatterplots show all hourly relative humidity. The humidity excursion is much more evident than in the annual graphs. Daily medians, i.e., the most frequently occurring values, help evaluate the outliers.
Typical monthly days are useful to study relative humidity patterns. It is possible to read the variability of rainfall in a given location, from the constant high rates of tropical climate to the confusing and variable patterns of continental ones.
Heatmap is another very useful method for evaluating relative humidity excursion over a year (by evaluating the horizontal gradient) or over individual days (by evaluating the vertical gradient).
The four heatmaps give a clear idea of the comparison of the four climate types. Albeit little differences in the percentage scale, observations can be made about relative humidity trends, especially between day and night. Except on rainy days, we can see how daily sunshine decreases relative humidity, even in tropical climates.
The last tool for relative humidity assessment is the statistics table. The earlier graphically made evaluations can be supported by the numbers. The following are listed, for each month:
the relative humidity means;
the standard deviations;
the minimum values;
the percentiles values (1%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 99%);
the maximum values.
The Temperature and Humidity tab presents an overview of air dry bulb temperature and relative humidity trends.
Clima allows the user to visualize the annual data trend through a customizable chart.
Daily scatter plot shows all hourly data on all days of the month and the typical monthly trend.
Heat maps allow the intensity of values to be perceived through color palettes throughout the year.
Learn more about the Temperature and Relative Humidity tab by watching the following video.
