ISSN 2786-4561 (printed)
ISSN 2786-457X (online)

CONSTRUCTIVE GEOGRAPHY AND RATIONAL USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Vol.6.2 (2025). рр. 23-33

Comparative analysis of the thermal comfort conditions of Kharkiv and Ivano-Frankivsk in the modern period

Shevchenko O.

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3915-427X

Semylit I.

https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4157-803X

Kostyrko I.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8156-1920

Snizhko S.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2696-687X

Shynkarenko U.

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7625-1947
Taras Shevchenko National University, Kyiv, Ukraine
https://doi.org/10.17721/2786-4561.2025.6.2.-3/15

Annotation.The thermal comfort conditions of Kharkiv and Ivano-Frankivsk in the modern period (1991–2020) are compared in the paper. To analyze the thermal comfort conditions, the modern thermal index physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) was used, which is based on the equation of the human body's energy balance. The simulations of PET, based on long-term observations of air temperature and humidity, wind speed, and cloud cover, were performed utilizing the RayMan model. The paper analyzes the frequency of different grades of physiological stress for each ten-day period of the year, different grades of wind speed and precipitation, and cases when cloud cover is less than 5 octants in both cities. The continentality of the climate in Kharkiv and Ivano-Frankivsk over a thirty-year period was assessed based on the continentality index of Zupan. The research revealed some differences between the thermal comfort conditions of Kharkiv and Ivano-Frankivsk. Due to the shorter period with cold stress and its lower intensity in winter, the thermal comfort conditions will be more suitable in Ivano-Frankivsk. Kharkiv, despite higher air temperatures during the warm season, will be slightly more comfortable during this period due to lower air humidity and higher wind speeds. At the same time, Kharkiv has a higher level of continentality (during the research period, almost all values of the continentality index for Kharkiv belong to the grade “continental climate”, while for Ivano-Frankivsk, the values corresponding to the grade “transitional maritime zone” prevail), accordingly, higher daily amplitudes and more frequent and sharp temperature fluctuations and weather changes are observed there, which can negatively affect the well-being of people with chronic diseases.

Keywords: bioclimate, climate continentality, Physiologically Equivalent Temperature, RayMan model, Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, continentality index of Zupan
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Declaration of the Conflict of Interest