KimMatrix2Post



Living in Extreme Climate Regions

The Problem This bus stop of the city in desert climate, which is fully enclosed and air-conditioned to encourage people to use public transportation during the day, is sustainability problem. The map indicating the level of road salt chloride concentrations by watershed in Canada is an example of an environmental problem.

Christopher R. Adams reported, in “Impact of Temperature Extremes”, that extreme heat and cold cause the impacts including significant loss of life and illness, economic costs in transportation, agriculture, production, energy and infrastructure. His reports indicated that according to Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA), 1976 – 1977 winter freeze and drought caused $36.6 billion in loses.

Living in extreme climate regions is the major problems since growth of cities in extreme climate regions are evident in every parts of the world.

The Matrix We all learned about climate regions while we were in middle or high school. When we learn about different culture and housing type that evolve because of harsh climate in regions, like ice, tundra, arid, and semiarid regions, we don’t consider their life style as environmental sustainability problems. But when you closely examine how they live in this region, you will find out many unsustainable practices.

Iran researchers and engineers are force to research the sustainable energies in desert climate building in order to support the growth of population and urban areas. While Iranian traditional architecture was able to support people to live in desert regions without any important problems through central courtyard, wind catcher, summer side and winter side, Narenjestan yard, and Cistern, today Iranians are seeking science to solve the problems. This problem doesn’t only concern the Iranians since one third (33 percent) of world’s land is located in desert region. This fact and population explosion force scientists and architects to solve living problems in desert climate.1

Similarly, researchers in Fairbanks, Alaska were asked to develop “Green Infrastructure” that can minimize the polluted runoff water. Growing population and expansion of urban area in the city recently become environmental sustainability problems since “residential areas have necessarily expanded away from the river, the square footage of impervious surfaces, increase in monoculture planting such as lawns, and other urban development factors have contributed to a substantial amount of runoff and pollutants that empty into the river and slough”.2

A psychometric chart, which is helps understanding environmental factors that satisfies our comfort levels inside the building, is an excellent indicator that shows how much energy is needed to support decent housings in extreme climate regions. This red box indicates the comfort zone during Summer and blue box indicates the comfort zone during Winter. So if you live in extreme climate regions, it requires tons of energy and innoavative design solutions to provide housing with acceptable comfort zone.

The Stakeholders People living in desert climate region, where is a hot or cold area where annual precipitation is less than 1 inch (25 mm) are major stakeholders who are contributing to the problem and affected by the problem. People living in artic climate region, where <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">the sun is only above the horizon for a few hours, the average temperature dips well below zero degrees, and <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">snow covers from October through April, are also major stakeholders as well.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Potential Solutions <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Although many innovative design and technology supports sustainable housings in extreme regions, fixing the fundamental of the problems is essential.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Dislocating entire population in extreme climate regions is not the solution. In response to the first matrix I present, the Overworked American, the idea of working less could be a solution. Developing vacations system that revolves around the climate is more sustainable practices.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">If people in cold climate region has long vacation during winter, cleaning up the street to go to work won’t be necessary. In the region where heavy snows are expected, people may adopt a life style that requires stocking up the food, reserving enough fuel and supply, and communicating through internet. Some families may leave their homes during winter season or choose to stay and enjoy isolation during their long vacation.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">If people in Dubai or any hot climate region only work for 6 hours in early morning or late afternoon, they don’t have to be outside when it is hot during the day. Or government can regulate people to take a break from work and school during the hottest time of the day. By staying at home during the hottest time of the day, the country can save energy and workers can be more productive.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Additional Reference <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Tips For Families Moving To A Hot Climate <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">[] <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Tips For Families Moving To A Cold Climate <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">[]

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Notes <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">1. Ashrafian, T. and J. Mahdavid Tabatabaei and N. Maozzen Ferdos. “Sustainable Energies in Desert Climate Buildings”. International Journal on “Technical and Physical Problems of Engineering”. IJTPE Journal. March 2011. Issue 6. Volume 3. No. 1. p. 69-75 <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">2. Heinchon, Sarah and Jeff Murray. Green Infrastructure Resource Guide for Fairbanks, Alaska. November 2010. 1st Edition.

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Annotation 1 <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">1. Full citation.Adams, Christopher R. “Impact of Temperature Extremes”. Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere. Foothills Research Campus, Colorado State University: Fort Collins, Colorado. Web. < []> <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">2. Where does the author work, what else has s/he written about, and what are her/his credentials?Christopher R. Adams holds Ph.D. and works at Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, Colorado State University. He contributed to handful research and journals: “Flash Flood Laboratory Colorado State University.” “The Tornado Problem: Forecast, Warning, and Response,” and “Disasters by Design: A Reassessemnt of Natural Hazards in the United States.” <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">3. What is the main topic or argument of the text? <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The main topic of the text is the impacts across various sectors of the nation due to extremes of heat and cold. <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">4. Describe at least three ways that the main topic or argument is fleshed out. <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">i) Excessive heat is responsible for large number of deaths <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">ii) Extreme heat has impacts on health, transportation, agriculture, energy, and water resources.iii) Extreme cold has impacts on health, transportation, agriculture, energy, and water resources and infrastructure. <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">5. What three quotes capture the critical import of the text? <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Quotation 1 //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The nature of seasonal impacts is more cumulative and complex than the impacts of cold snaps and heat waves. //

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Quotation 2 //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">On average over the last 30 years, excessive heat accounts for more reported deaths annually than hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and lightning combined. //

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Quotation 3 //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The average number of deaths attributed to cold is 770 yearly, substantially higher than the number attributed to heat ////<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">. // <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">6. Explain how the argument and evidence in the text supports your research focus.The argument and evidence in the text supports that people living in extreme climate regions must concern their health, economics, and resources. Impacts of extremes of heat and cold are severe than people realize. The impacts include significant loss of life and illness, economic costs in transportation, agriculture, production, energy and infrastructure. Extreme heat causes a short duration heat wave or a longer term drought. <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Extreme cold often freezes the infrastructure and resources that cause more indirect impacts. Since the total impacts of temperature extremes are not fully documented and known, living in extreme climate regions are more risky. <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">7. List at least two details or references from the text that you have used in your presentation and wiki post. <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">1976 – 1977 Winter Freeze and Drought caused $36.6 Billion in Looses <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In the winter of 1983-84, a single cold snap around Christmas destroyed over $1 billion of the citrus crop in Florida. Louisiana lost 80% of its citrus crop. Tennessee estimated $15 million in agriculture losses. Texas experienced hundreds of millions of dollars in crop damage. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The July 1995 Heat Wave killed 522 people in Chicago alone. Research by CDC found that on average 384 people were killed by excessive heat each year during the period 1979 – 1992.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">According to Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA), Colorado State University **
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) **
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">According to the NOAA **

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Annotation 2 <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">1. Full citation.Ashrafian, T. and J. Mahdavid Tabatabaei and N. Maozzen Ferdos. “Sustainable Energies in Desert Climate Buildings”. International Journal on “Technical and Physical Problems of Engineering”. IJTPE Journal. March 2011. Issue 6. Volume 3. No. 1. p. 69-75 <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">2. Where does the author work, what else has s/he written about, and what are her/his credentials?T. Ashrafian and N. Moazzen Ferdos are researches at Young Researchers Club, Islamic Azad University Tabriz Branch, Iran. J. Mahdavid Tabatabaei is engineer at Sabat Saz Omran Civil Engineer Co., Tabriz, Iran. <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">3. What is the main topic or argument of the text? <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The text argues that may people in desert climate don’t know how much great sustainable energy has around them but wastes a lot of fossil energy. <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">4. Describe at least three ways that the main topic or argument is fleshed out. <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">i) By exploring the desert climate <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">ii) By explaining sustainable energies that exist in desert climate regioniii) By testing the way of using sustainable desert energy in buildings <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">iv) By testing the way of decreasing infiltration inflow weather <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">5. What three quotes capture the critical import of the text? <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Quotation 1 //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">One third (33 percent) of world’s land is located in desert region. This fact and population explosion force scientists and architects to solve living problems in desert climate. //

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Quotation 2 //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In desert climate, by using photovoltaic modules, solar energy catches and transforms to electricity. Wind turbine changes wind energy to electricity. Basement floor could transmit ground temperature to building. Shading could exclude sun heat. Thick wall with high thermal mass cause to delay exterior temperature inter. //

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Quotation 3 //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">According to this paper, summery specifications of sustainable architecture in desert climate are as follows: 1) Renewable energy such as: solar energy, wind energy and underground water energy. 2) Passive cooling methods. 3) Species Shading. 4) Suitable materials ////<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">. // <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">6. Explain how the argument and evidence in the text supports your research focus.The evidence in the text shows that how Iranian traditional architecture was able to support people to live in desert regions without any important problems. Central courtyard, wind catcher, summer side and winter side, Narenjestan yard and Cistern are some of innovative traditional examples. However, as population increasing and the region expanding, the living condition is no longer sustainable in desert climate. Although the researches proposes many models for sustainable energies, the text support my argument that living in extreme climate region requires lots of energy. <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">7. List at least two details or references from the text that you have used in your presentation and wiki post. <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Desert is a hot or cold area where annual precipitation is less than 1 inch (25 mm). Due to lack of water in desert climate, there isn’t adequate plant and humidity. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Desert climates are formed by high-pressure zones in which cold air descends. Then the descending air becomes warm but, instead of releasing rain, the heat from the ground evaporates the water before it can come down as rain. The ground is very hot because the sun’s rays beat down on it directly overhead.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Definition **
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Climate Information **

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Annotation 3 <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">1. Full citation.Heinchon, Sarah and Jeff Murray. Green Infrastructure Resource Guide for Fairbanks, Alaska. November 2010. 1st Edition. <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">2. Where does the author work, what else has s/he written about, and what are her/his credentials?Sarah Heinchon is researcher at Cold Climate Housing Research Center. Jeff Murray is a scientist from GW Scientific. <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">3. What is the main topic or argument of the text? <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The main topic of the text is implementing “Green Infrastructure” best management practices in Fairbanks, Alaska <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">4. Describe at least three ways that the main topic or argument is fleshed out. <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">i) Implementing “Green Infrastructure” is necessary in order to response to increase in amount of polluted runoff water <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">ii) Receiving grants allowed developing and seeking for possible practices for the residents <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">iii) The most suitable practices were determined by four factors: feasibility, cost-effectiveness, ease of installation, and level of maintenance. <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">5. What three quotes capture the critical import of the text? <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Quotation 1 //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Green Infrastructure” best management practices (BMPs) can be used to manage wet weather runoff through into infiltration, evapotranspiration, capture, and reuse of water from rain and melting snow, and be done in ways that are cost-effective, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. //

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Quotation 2 //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">While residential areas have necessarily expanded away from the river, the square footage of impervious surfaces, increase in monoculture planting such as lawns, and other urban development factors have contributed to a substantial amount of runoff and pollutants that empty into the river and slough. //

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Quotation 3 //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The primary focus of this guide was to develop do-it-yourself green infrastructure projects for homeowners in Fairbanks. Selection of the projects, or BMPs, was based on several factors: feasibility, cost-effectiveness, ease of installation, and level of maintenance. ////<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">. // <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> 6. Explain how the argument and evidence in the text supports your research focus.Growing population and expansion of urban area in the City of Fairbanks are environmental sustainability problems. More specifically, the city has grown to a population of more than 35,000 within city limits. Amount of grants and resources spend in the guide supports my concern that living in extreme climate region requires additional responses. <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">7. List at least two details or references from the text that you have used in your presentation and wiki post. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The Fairbanks area is dominated by solar radiation received throughout the year. In the summer months, the sun is above the horizon for as many as 21 hours per day. During this time, temperatures commonly reach into the 70s (F), and while not as frequently, they can also reach into the 80s and 90s (F). On average, temperatures reach 80 degrees or higher about 10 times each summer. In the winter, when the sun is only above the horizon for a few hours, the average temperature dips well below zero degrees. Temperatures during the winter months vary drastically, from as warm as <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">45 degrees (F) above to 65 degrees below zero (ACRC, 2010). As a result of the extremely long, cold winters, the ground begins to freeze in October and does not begin to thaw until May (Shannon & Wilson, 2006). <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Snow covers Fairbanks from October through April, and snow cover is persistent throughout the winter. While fall is considerably drier than summer, it contributes the most snowfall. Winter and spring are even drier because the atmosphere is so cold, preventing much water vapor from accumulating.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Climate **
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Precipitation **