Grid cities, specially when combined with tall buildings, also tend to create more pronounced microclimate issues and “heat islands”.
San Fransico has a varied terrain and enviroment that cause microclimates on is own, but the grid layout means the temperature can change as much as 9F/5C from one block to the next.
Air currents and long straight road surfaces heating up simultaneously as the sun moves.
Long straight roads in grids can cause the air to “stick” to the ground as wind moves overhead. And the sun hitting roofs and sides of buildings over shorter periods mean less “stored heat”.
Some of it can be alleviated by having trees along the sidewalks. Since they help disperse wind and creates shade for the concrete/asphalt that store heat a lot longer.
EDIT: If you have more “random” road layouts with trees, there’s less sun heating up the sidewalk and road. And the wind is more likely to be pushed around and prevent hot air from stagnating or circulating in an area.
Grid cities, specially when combined with tall buildings, also tend to create more pronounced microclimate issues and “heat islands”.
San Fransico has a varied terrain and enviroment that cause microclimates on is own, but the grid layout means the temperature can change as much as 9F/5C from one block to the next.
Interesting, why do grids cause that?
Air currents and long straight road surfaces heating up simultaneously as the sun moves.
Long straight roads in grids can cause the air to “stick” to the ground as wind moves overhead. And the sun hitting roofs and sides of buildings over shorter periods mean less “stored heat”.
Some of it can be alleviated by having trees along the sidewalks. Since they help disperse wind and creates shade for the concrete/asphalt that store heat a lot longer.
EDIT: If you have more “random” road layouts with trees, there’s less sun heating up the sidewalk and road. And the wind is more likely to be pushed around and prevent hot air from stagnating or circulating in an area.