Cristina Engel de Alvarez

Environmental Assessment of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica

Monitoring has been developed by Antarctic Programmes such as Antarctic New Zealand (www.antarcticanz.govt.nz) and the US Antarctic Programme (USAP) (http://www.usap.gov) considering expansion of human activities and inevitable environmental.

Thermal performance as a parameter of choice ofmaterials: Brazilian Antarctic Station

In the atypical context of Antarctica to the correct selection of more sustainable and efficient materials, it must be considered the specific environmental conditions of the region. Among them, there are the climatic characteristics (low absolute moisture content, low temperatures, high wind speeds, and rapid climate changes), the isolation and the need to preserve the natural environment. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the thermal performance and energy efficiency of new buildings of the EACF Estação Antártica Comandante Ferraz (Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station), expected to be completed and opened in 2018, to establish parameters for acquiring new Brazilian buildings in Antarctica. To obtain the performance results from the station it was used the software Design Builder, and the study was conducted in two stages, at the first stage was made the definition of the model, the characteristics and material properties specified in the project; and in the second stage was made simulations and determined the methodology for evaluations. For the simulations were chosen an environment with greater exposure, with two faces turned to the envelope of the building. The results demonstrated the envelope performance of the building, allowing assess the materials used, pointing out possible improvements. Alternatively it was proposed to replace the galvanized steel coating specified for the envelope, for PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), material that showed better results regarding the thermal performance and sustainability indicators.

Indoor air quality in an Antarctic Research Station: Fungi, particles and aldehyde concentrations associated with building materials and architectural design

Antarctic buildings are enclosed structures, which provide shelter and logistic support to researchers and personnel who remain indoors for long periods and can be affected by air pollution caused by construction materials and activities inside buildings. This study aims to investigate the indoor air quality at the Brazilian Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station based on measurements of aldehydes, particulate matter and fungi conducted during the Antarctic summer in 2012. The sampling site was divided in conditioned (personnel living quarters) and unconditioned (service and utilities areas) compartments and outdoor sites. A field log book was used to record the activities in the station. Furniture and plywood coverings may have contributed to high average concentrations of formaldehyde. Cooking resulted in high average levels of acrolein and fine particles in most of the monitored environments. Other activities such as cleaning, use of personal and cosmetic products, waste incineration, building maintenance and movement of people and vehicles have also contributed to particles concentration increase. Dominance of the species Aspergillus versicolor and Penicillium sp. showed potential means of fungal proliferation. Considering that the functionality and operation are similar in many Antarctic buildings, some general recommendations were outlined.

A INFLUÊNCIA DA VEGETAÇÃO NO CONFORTO TÉRMICO PARA A CONDIÇÃO MICROCLIMÁTICA DE VITÓRIA (ES)

O crescimento urbano acelerado e a ocupacao desordenada do solo podem influenciar negativamente no microclima. Dessa forma a vegetacao e um importante instrumento no auxilio para o provimento de um ambiente termicamente mais agradavel. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o impacto de alguns diferentes tipos de distribuicao de vegetacao inseridos no meio urbano em relacao ao conforto termico. Foi considerado um trecho urbano, tipologicamente similar na cidade de Vitoria (ES), localizado nos bairros Jardim da Penha e Mata da Praia. Para as medicoes, foram selecionados quatro pontos de amostragem distribuidos retilineamente a partir do Parque Pedra da Cebola. Foram medidas as variaveis climaticas temperatura, umidade e velocidade do vento, realizadas simultaneamente durante tres horas ininterruptas no verao, considerando horarios de maior incidencia solar do dia. Os dados encontrados nas medicoes permitiram constatar a influencia da vegetacao como um forte condicionante para o conforto termico. Verificou-se que a influencia termica da vegetacao concentrada no Parque ocorre apenas no entorno imediato no que diz respeito a temperatura, no entanto, em relacao a umidade, o raio de interferencia e maior. A vegetacao distribuida apresenta resultados mais satisfatorios em relacao a temperatura, quando comparado a sua disposicao concentrada, concluindo-se que embora os parques urbanos exercam influencia no conforto do entorno imediato, a distribuicao da vegetacao na malha urbana tende a trazer melhores resultados. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Vegetacao urbana. Clima urbano. Conforto termico. THE INFLUENCE OF THE VEGETATION IN THE URBAN THERMAL COMFORT FOR CLIMATE CONDITION OF VITORIA (ES) ABSTRACT The accelerated urban growth and the disorderly occupation of the ground may negatively influence the microclimate. Vegetation is an important instrument in the provision of an environment thermally more pleasant. The goal of this paper was to evaluate the impact of some different kinds of distribution of vegetation inserted in the urban environment related to the thermal comfort. It was considered an urban stretch that is typologically similar in the city of Vitoria (ES), located in the neighborhoods Jardim da Penha and Mata da Praia. For the measurements, four sampling points rectilinearly distributed from Pedra da Cebola Park were selected. The climatic variables temperature, humidity and wind speed were measured simultaneously for three hours uninterrupted in the summer, considering the most sunlight hours in the day. The data found in the measurements allows one to realize the influence of the vegetation as a strong constraint for the thermal comfort. It was found that the thermal influence of the vegetation concentrated in the park occurs only in the immediate surroundings regarding the temperature. However, regarding humidity, the interference radius is larger. The distributed vegetation shows more satisfactory results regarding temperature, when compared to its concentrated disposition, allowing one to conclude that, although the urban parks have influence in the comfort of the immediate surroundings, the distribution of vegetation in the urban environment tends to bring better results. KEYWORDS: Urban vegetation. Urban climate. Thermal comfort. LA INFLUENCIA DE LA VEGETACION EN EL CONFORT TERMICO URBANO PARA LA CONDICION CLIMATICA DE VITORIA (ES) RESUMEN El rapido crecimiento urbano y el uso del suelo sin control pueden influir negativamente en el microclima y la vegetacion es una importante herramienta en la ayuda para la obtencion de un ambiente termicamente mas agradable. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el impacto de los diferentes tipos de distribucion de la vegetacion insertadas en el entorno urbano con respeto al confort termico. Fue considerado un tramo urbano, tipologicamente similar en la ciudad de Vitoria (ES, Brazil), situado en los barrios Jardim da Penha y Mata da Praia. Para las mediciones, fueron seleccionados cuatro puntos de amuestra, distribuidos en linea desde el Parque Pedra da Cebola. Fueron medidas las variables climaticas temperatura, humedad y velocidad del viento, hechas simultaneamente durante tres horas ininterrumpidas en el verano, teniendo en cuenta los horarios de mayor incidencia solar del dia. Los datos obtenidos en las mediciones permitieron comprobar la influencia de la vegetacion como un fuerte elemento para el confort termico. Se comprobo que la influencia termica de la vegetacion concentrada del Parque se produce solo en el entorno inmediato con respecto a la temperatura, sin embargo, con respecto a la humedad, el radio de interferencia es mas grande. La vegetacion, cuando distribuida, resulta mas satisfactoria en relacion a la temperatura, en comparacion a su disposicion concentrada, concluyendo que, aunque los parques urbanos ejercen influencia en la comodidad de sus alrededores inmediatos, la distribucion de la vegetacion en el area urbana tiende a traer mejores resultado. PALABRAS CLAVE: Vegetacion urbana. Clima urbano. Confort termico.

Desempenho de diferentes prateleiras de luz em edifício com entorno construído

The knowledge of the device light shelf under different conditions allows better use for the proper distribution of natural light inside the rooms. The objective of this investigation was to simulate a hypothetical office building with the curvilinear lightshelves and compared to flat lightshelves, under conditions of external obstruction by nearest buildings. These external elements block the visible portion of the celestial vault, which interferes with the amount of light admitted into the room, located in Vitória ES. The analysis of the illuminance levels was investigated in three different floors of the building, encompassing unequal situations of obstruction. The aim was to investigate the performance of the shelves in situations close to the reality of a vertical urban environment, analyzing the amount of light admitted by the vertical openings of the building and levels of internal uniformity for the four major orientations. The analysis of the admission of light was based on ranges of floor illuminance (Useful daylight illuminance UDI) and internal uniformity. Computer simulations through Daysim software, which calculates the illuminance values based on Ray-tracing method, considering the typical local climate was used. In conclusion it is noted that the shelves curves compared to the flat have greater ability to redirect the light to the back of the room, especially in periods when the solar altitude angle is greater. All simulated models showed a high percentage of annual hours with useful illuminance.

Preparação de arquivos climáticos futuros para avaliação dos impactos das mudanças climáticas no desempenho termoenergético de edificações

Grande parte dos estudiosos do clima reconhece que o comportamento dele e variavel e, de acordo com modelos climaticos, uma alteracao na distribuicao do calor vem acontecendo desde o seculo XX. A mitigacao das consequencias das mudancas climaticas e pauta de politicas publicas de muitos paises, e pesquisas para adequacao aos novos cenarios tem sido desenvolvidas em diversas areas do conhecimento. Sabe-se que o desempenho termoenergetico de edificacoes, projetadas para uma vida util de aproximadamente 50 anos, esta diretamente relacionado ao clima ao qual estiverem expostas. E fundamental, portanto, a consideracao das alteracoes climaticas para avaliar o desempenho de edificios quanto a eficiencia no consumo de energia. Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo investigar o desempenho futuro de edificacoes, atraves da adocao de um metodo para preparacao de arquivos climaticos que representem as condicoes futuras, sendo o recorte territorial a cidade de Vitoria, ES. A adequabilidade dos dados foi testada por meio da analise do comportamento de um edificio comercial, simulado no software DesignBuilder. A capacidade dos arquivos em representar as situacoes futuras foi evidenciada apos exame dos dados de saida, os quais apontaram para um aumento medio no consumo anual de 10,7% para 2020, de 17,3% para 2050 e de 26,5% para 2080.

Rudolf Barth: um cientista pioneiro na ilha da Trindade

As a result of the institution of the International Geophysical Year in 1957, the Brazilian Navy organized an expedition to the island of Trindade, on which Rudolf Barth participated. He was a researcher at the Oswaldo Cruz Institute and the Naval Research Institute, and a member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and the National Research Council. The scientist returned to the island of Trindade the following year, on a second expedition with the Brazilian Navy. The research findings then resulted in some scientific publications and two unpublished reports with observations and data concerning terrestrial, zoological, meteorological, climatological, geomorphological and biological phenomena. The reports are then transcribed.