Urban climatic maps for environmental planning in Manizales, Colombia

Abstract

Air pollution is a serious environmental problem in Latin American cities. Although the problem is widely studied, collaborative solutions from city planners and urban climatologists have been slow to evolve. In this article, we demonstrate the severity of the problem in the mountain city of Manizales, Colombia, and offer “urban climatic mapping” as an appropriate tool to ease communication between scientists and planners. We take a comprehensive approach involving topographic, demographic, and atmospheric datasets, which are assembled and analysed in a GIS environment. Our maps show that the mountain-valley wind patterns in Manizales are critically important for ventilating the city and improving air quality. We therefore give planning recommendations to protect and enhance the natural airsheds and airflow systems of Manizales through modification of the built form. Recommendations are also given to reduce pollutant loading in the narrow streets of the historical centre, and to expand the network of environmental monitoring stations across the city. The expansion is designed in accordance with international guidelines for siting meteorological instruments in urban areas, and is intended to serve new uses for the network data, to include community planning, environmental mapping, and urban climate education.