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" Today, 55% of the world’s population lives in urban areas, a proportion that is expected to increase to 68% by 2050.....overall growth of the world’s population could add another 2.5 billion people to urban areas by 2050, with close to 90% of this increase taking place in Asia and Africa.... " UN
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With Climate change becoming a global crisis, Cities have had to take centre stage in adaptation strategies. While Urban heat island research has been rising in popularity in the western and eastern academic communities, not much research has been conducted in Africa. This present study aims to assess urban heat islands in two South African cities that are polar opposites of each other. Cape Town is a marine urban region, while Thohoyandou is an inland urban region, Cape Town is a mega city while Thohoyandou is a small scale city. Cape Town has all 10 built Classes of Local Climate Zones, while Thohoyandou has only 4. These differences make for an interesting assessment in terms of the impact of each local climate zone on the intensity of the UHI.
Invitation to participate
Invitation to participate
We are currently looking for potential areas where automatic weather stations can be placed. They need to be in a safe spot and with a free horizon. This could e.g. be in your garden. They are portable instruments to be mounted on a steel pole away from your house. They do not need monitoring or any maintenance from you as they will transmit data online automatically. A team of researchers, led by Mr Manyanya would come and do the installation before the project begins and also come and remove the equipment after the project is done. We currently foresee a timespan of at least 2 years, but it could be more. There is no financial compensation foreseen, but you'll get on-line access to the weather data in your own garden.
Not everyone who signs up to be the host of a weather station will get one, as we are trying to spread the stations over a variety of vegetation conditions and neighbourhoods. The decision where to install will depend on all the locations we receive.
Urban Heat Islands
Urban Heat Islands
Globally, over time development has resulted in increased urban population, which has necessitated an increase in urban infrastructure. The downside to this process is that natural land is replaced with urban features. This urban arrangement of features in terms of ground cover, building height, building density creates warmer micro/macro climates around cities.
Instruments
Instruments
The study makes use of the WH6006 remote wireless weather station kit. This system is equiped with slots for 3G GPRS/SMS for data transmission onto the Weather Underground online server. The station is also equiped with Micro and Nano SIM card slots with a Completely standalone battery and solar powered Compact outdoor sensor array with solar panel and battery backup. The station contains a Indoor (second) sensor for Humidity and Temperature. Sensors 433MHz up to 100m range (line of sight) to receiver. Data Logging to microSD/TF card as CSV file (card NOT included). User configurable units, log interval and server. User calibration adjustment and alarm settings. Up to 3 users for SMS alarms or periodic SMS. Mobile phone control via SMS. Optional WH51 Soil Moisture sensor
About us
About us
This is a PhD project of Mr Tshilidzi Manyanya from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven) in Belgium. Mr Manyanya is supervised by Prof Ben Somers (KU Leuven), Dr Bruno Verbist (KU Leuven) and Dr Nthaduleni Samuel Nethengwe (UNIVEN). Tshilidzi is a former student from the University of Venda (Postgraduate) and University of Cape Town (Undergraduate). The station installation project is run in partnership with a team of hydrologists led by Dr John Okedi from UCT Civil Engineering department.
The weather stations project is funded by the VLIR-UOS sponsored ReSider project (see link on the right) which is the main funder for Mr Manyanya's PhD in collaboration with the Flemish government sponsored SAF-ADAPT project.
Contact us
Contact us
Manyanya Tshilidzi Email: tshilidzimanyanya@kuleuven.becell: 0760756670 Project LeaderPhD Candidate (KU Leuven, Belgium)
Dr John Okedi UCT Hydrology Team LeaderSenior Lecturer (UCT: Civil Engineering Department, Cape Town)
Dr N.S. NethengweUNIVEN SAF-ADAPT Project DirectorDeputy Dean (UNIVEN: Faculty of science, engineering and agriculture, Thohoyandou)
Dr John Okedi UCT Hydrology Team LeaderSenior Lecturer (UCT: Civil Engineering Department, Cape Town)
Dr N.S. NethengweUNIVEN SAF-ADAPT Project DirectorDeputy Dean (UNIVEN: Faculty of science, engineering and agriculture, Thohoyandou)
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