Por uma climatologia das favelas: modelo de avaliação do campo térmico e higrométrico nas vilas e comunidades de Belo Horizonte - MG

Abstract

The replacement of natural coverings by urban features triggers a series of physical processes capable of altering the surface energy balance and causing changes in the organization of the climate, especially at local scales. This can result in negative impacts, with the formation of heat cores as a basic example. In an intra-urban environment, the assessment of these changes encounters intrinsic difficulties with the instruments used, which makes it difficult to quantitatively assess climate phenomena, especially in areas of social vulnerability. In Belo Horizonte, the favelas occupy an area of 15.6 km² or 5% of the territory, but it remains unknown whether the pattern of their disposition can trigger specific climate conditions. In this sense, the research aims to understand the development of the thermodynamic channel of the urban climate in favelas in Belo Horizonte, aiming to build an investigation model on a scale compatible with the spaces. To this end, the communities of Pedreira Prado Lopes, Morro do Papagaio, Vila Novo São Lucas, Vila Sumaré and Cabana do Pai Tomás were selected as sampling units based on defined technical and logistical criteria. Meteorological sensors were installed in the communities to collect hourly data on temperature and relative humidity. The records were statistically processed and formed part of a method of rhythmic climate analysis, from which geographic factors related to the derivation of the thermo-hygrometric field in the favelas were evaluated. They were also used as variables in the construction of a synthetic indicator of the level of climatic anthropization of the study areas, based on Principal Component Analysis. The results indicated that the Cabana do Pai Tomás community presented the highest average air temperatures, both in the dry (22.5°C) and wet (25.6°C) periods. It also obtained the highest score in the indicator of the degree of climatic derivation (78.4%), and is considered, together with Vila Sumaré, as hotspots in Belo Horizonte. On the other hand, there was no evidence that the other communities in the study are such, especially Morro do Papagaio, associated with the significant participation of the relief as a climate controller at the local level.