CLIMATIC RHYTHM AND THERMAL COMFORT IN THE CITY OF PALMAS, STATE OF TOCANTINS, BRAZIL, IN SELECTED STANDARD-YEARS

Abstract

The present paper aimed to understand the climatic aspects and thermal comfort in the city of Palmas, state of Tocantins, Brazil, based on genetic and dynamic approach of climate in selected standard-years, with thermal comfort indices. The years 1997 and 2013 were selected, standard-years comfortable and uncomfortable for heat, respectively. In both, three standard-periods were identified: the first, rainy (summer/early autumn), with variable rhythm of stable and unstable weather types; the second, dry (late autumn/winter), with more atmospheric stability; and the latter, rainy (spring), which in addition to greater variance of climatic elements, it presented heat peaks at the beginning of the period. In relation to 1997, the year 2013 showed: higher temperatures and thermal indices; less precipitation and ventilation; more episodes of excessive-heat; longer dry period; higher frequencies of discomfort, especially at night, a common phenomenon in the heat islands. This configuration was possibly caused by the increase of urbanization in the city in 2013 compared to 1997.