July 15 — the hottest day of the year for the city, according to what may be the largest thermal comfort study ever performed in North America. “We know looking at the historic data and future climate projections, that July 15 is Toronto’s hottest day,” Jalalian said. “The urban heat island effect can cause temperatures in urban centres to go 10, 15 degrees hotter than their surrounding rural areas, with pavements and buildings retaining more heat,” Jalalian said. “Designing the public realm with thermal comfort in mind is key to designing a resilient city.”What is thermal comfort? It’s vital for a city to maximize thermal comfort — a reality that’s become more stark with climate change, Jalalian said.

Source: thestar July 11, 2023 20:21 UTC