Validation of seasonal mean radiant temperature simulations in hot arid urban climates

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2020-12, Vol.749, p.141392, Article 141392
• Main Authors: Crank, Peter J., Middel, Ariane, Wagner, Melissa, Hoots, Dani, Smith, Martin, Brazel, Anthony
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ENVI-met; Hot urban environments; Mean radiant temperature model validation; RayMan; Seasonal sensitivity analysis
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141392

We validated seasonal RayMan and ENVI-met mean radiant temperature (TMRT) simulations to assess model performance in a sensitivity analysis from cold to extremely hot conditions. Human-biometeorological validation data were collected in Tempe, Arizona via transects during five field campaigns between 2014 and 2017. Transects were conducted across seven locations in two to three-hour intervals from 6:00 to 23:00 LST with a Kestrel meter and thermal camera (2014–2015) and the mobile instrument platform MaRTy (2017). Observations across diverse urban forms, sky view factors, and seasons covered a wide range of solar radiation regimes from a minimum TMRT of 8.7 °C to a maximum of 84.9 °C. Both models produced large simulation errors across regimes with RMSE ranging from 8 °C to 12 °C (RayMan) and 11.2 °C to 16.1 °C (ENVI-met), exceeding a suggested TMRT accuracy of ±5 °C for heat stress studies. RayMan model errors were largest for engineered enclosed spaces, complex urban forms, and extreme heat conditions. ENVI-met was unable to resolve intra-domain spatial variability of TMRT and exhibited large errors with RMSE up to 25.5 °C for engineered shade. Both models failed to accurately simulate TMRT for hot conditions. Errors varied seasonally with overestimated TMRT in the summer and underestimated TMRT in the winter and shoulder seasons. Results demonstrate that models should not be used under micrometeorological or morphological extremes without in-situ validation to quantify errors and assess directional bias due to model limitations. [Display omitted] •Ray Man and ENVI-met fail to accurately model TMRT under extreme heat.•Seasonal TMRT errors exceed suggested accuracy of ±5 °C for heat stress studies.•Models show seasonal swing in RMSE with increased errors under high solar radiation.•Ray Man struggled most with engineered enclosed spaces and complex urban forms.•ENVI-met struggled with engineered shade and did not resolve spatial variability.