Urban climate studies in a subtropical location: literature review and current perspectives for Curitiba, Brazil

Abstract

This review presents a summary of research in urban climate over the past decade and since the first reported studies in the field for Curitiba, Brazil. This city is located just south of the Tropic of Capricorn and has a long tradition in Brazilian urban planning. Due to increasing urban expansion in recent decades, quality of life within the urban area has been decaying (for example, in terms of the thermodynamic subsystem, which includes the development of urban heat islands). The integration of research outcomes and the development of the urban climate field in a more cohesive way could allow researchers to provide guidance for climate-responsive urban design, with consequential life-quality improvements in this location.