Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

THE EFFECT OF GREENHOUSE GASES TO THE URBAN THERMAL COMFORT

A. Ma'rufatin, H. Kusnoputranto and Kardono

Abstract

Human activities in urban areas increase the concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in atmosphere which play major roles in climate change. This research investigated relationship between concentration levels of GHGs and human thermal comfort in urban areas. The human thermal comfort was assessed by Humidity Index (Humidex). Concentration levels of GHGs as variables are rarely used in analysis associated with thermal comfort. The analysis was performed by correlation and simple regression analysis. There were two sets of data used in this study that were obtained from two different monitoring stations: (1) South Tangerang (GRK1) and (2) Bogor (GRK2). The results showed that the difference of GHGs concentration was influenced by meteorological parameters and each station’s environmental characteristics. Comfort level according to Humidex in GRK1 station was 30.5–41.5 whereas in GRK2 station was 29.4–38.5. There was the effect of GHGs concentration on thermal comfort indicated by the relationship between GHG concentration and air temperature.