305
© The Author(s) 2016
F. Musco (ed.), Counteracting Urban Heat Island Effects in a Global Climate
Change Scenario, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-10425-6_11
Chapter 11
Urban Heat Island and Bioclimatic Comfort
in Warsaw
Krzysztof Błażejczyk , Magdalena Kuchcik , Wojciech Dudek , Beata Kręcisz ,
Anna Błażejczyk , Paweł Milewski , Jakub Szmyd , and Cezary Pałczyński
Abstract This chapter will introduce the UHI phenomena in Warsaw, in particular
after a the defi nition of the pilot area, experimental microclimatic measurements
were made in two housing estates, Koło and Włodarzewska, located at a similar
distance from the city centre and from the city limits but different in terms of building periods and materials. A specifi c analysis of vegetation is provided to put in
relationship UHI effects and allergenic factors. The case is completed by some solutions in terms of mitigation and adaptation to reduce urban warming impact.
Keywords Microclimate • Urban spatial organization • Green areas • Mitigation
11.1 Introduction – UHI as an Effect of Spatial Organization
of the City
Warsaw is the largest city in Poland. Its area of almost 515 km
2 has signifi cant differentiation of land use. Currently about 248 km
2 is built-up area (48 %). Within this
the greatest part (about 57 km
2
) is covered by industry, trade units and transport
systems. Forests make up about 15 % of the city. Urban parks and other recreational
green areas cover 10 %. 12 % of the city territory is used as arable land, for crops
and pasture. The category “heterogeneous agricultural areas” includes sparsely built
areas and allotment gardens – 11.3 % (Table 11.1 ). With 1.7 million residents and
K. Błażejczyk • M. Kuchcik (*) • P. Milewski • J. Szmyd
Geoecology and Climatology Department , Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization,
Polish Academy of Sciences , Twarda 51/55 , 00-818 Warszawa , Poland
e-mail: mkuchcik@twarda.pan.pl
W. Dudek • B. Kręcisz • C. Pałczyński
Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine , Łódź , Poland
A. Błażejczyk
Bioklimatologia. Laboratory of Bioclimatology and Environmental Ergonomics ,
Warszawa , Poland
© The Author(s) 2016
F. Musco (ed.), Counteracting Urban Heat Island Effects in a Global Climate
Change Scenario, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-10425-6_11
Chapter 11
Urban Heat Island and Bioclimatic Comfort
in Warsaw
Krzysztof Błażejczyk , Magdalena Kuchcik , Wojciech Dudek , Beata Kręcisz ,
Anna Błażejczyk , Paweł Milewski , Jakub Szmyd , and Cezary Pałczyński
Abstract This chapter will introduce the UHI phenomena in Warsaw, in particular
after a the defi nition of the pilot area, experimental microclimatic measurements
were made in two housing estates, Koło and Włodarzewska, located at a similar
distance from the city centre and from the city limits but different in terms of building periods and materials. A specifi c analysis of vegetation is provided to put in
relationship UHI effects and allergenic factors. The case is completed by some solutions in terms of mitigation and adaptation to reduce urban warming impact.
Keywords Microclimate • Urban spatial organization • Green areas • Mitigation
11.1 Introduction – UHI as an Effect of Spatial Organization
of the City
Warsaw is the largest city in Poland. Its area of almost 515 km
2 has signifi cant differentiation of land use. Currently about 248 km
2 is built-up area (48 %). Within this
the greatest part (about 57 km
2
) is covered by industry, trade units and transport
systems. Forests make up about 15 % of the city. Urban parks and other recreational
green areas cover 10 %. 12 % of the city territory is used as arable land, for crops
and pasture. The category “heterogeneous agricultural areas” includes sparsely built
areas and allotment gardens – 11.3 % (Table 11.1 ). With 1.7 million residents and
K. Błażejczyk • M. Kuchcik (*) • P. Milewski • J. Szmyd
Geoecology and Climatology Department , Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization,
Polish Academy of Sciences , Twarda 51/55 , 00-818 Warszawa , Poland
e-mail: mkuchcik@twarda.pan.pl
W. Dudek • B. Kręcisz • C. Pałczyński
Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine , Łódź , Poland
A. Błażejczyk
Bioklimatologia. Laboratory of Bioclimatology and Environmental Ergonomics ,
Warszawa , Poland