THE EFFECT OF SEA BREEZE ON THERMAL ENVIRONMENTS IN FUKUOKA METROPOLITAN AREA

Abstract

To understand the heat island structures of Fukuoka metropolitan area, 71 thermometers were set in the meteorological instrument shelters of elementary schools. In the present study, the data of air temperature obtained at the 71 sites in the summer seasons of 2003 and 2004 were analyzed to reveal the effect of sea breeze on the heat island structures. The classification of the occurrence of sea breeze and the non-occurrence were made based on the data of wind speed and wind direction at Fukuoka District Meteorological Observatory. In the case when the sea breeze was generated, the air temperature of the downtown area fell by about 4 °C at the maximum value. The wind speed of sea breeze and the fall of temperature are dependent on the amount of solar radiation for 1 hour after the intrusion of the sea breeze.