Influence of landscape material properties on microclimate change in a tropical area with case in Manado City

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this research is to show the influence of thermal properties of landscape materials on microclimate change of tropical environment in the city of Manado. The microclimatic variables of this study include surface temperature, air temperature, and solar radiation. The landscape materials as object of the research were bricks, hard-soil, concrete-block, trees, and garden-pond water. The research used descriptive quantitative method. Measurement of thermo-physical characteristic of brick and paving stone were conducted by using calorimeter and quick-thermal-conductivity meter. Measurements of solar radiation, and temperatures were also performed in a commercial area in Manado city. Calculations of heat exchanges were realized by using HEAT2 computer program in order to evaluate magnitude of surface temperature of various landscape materials. The results show that a dense leaves tree can reduce solar radiation in its shade by up to 80% at a mid-daytime. The landscape materials of red brick, light concrete-block and hard soil can cause a surface temperature by up to 50 °C under a clear open sky. Water surface temperature of garden pond can also reach 50 °C, while at a depth 50 cm can decrease to 25 °C.