Numerical study on the summer high-temperature climate adaptation of traditional dwellings in the Western Plains of Sichuan, China

Abstract

Ongoing global climate change, marked by sustained warming and extreme weather events, poses a severe threat to both the Earth’s ecosystems and human communities. Traditional settlements that underwent natural selection and evolution developed a unique set of features to adapt to and regulate the local climate. A comprehensive exploration of the spatial patterns and mechanisms of the adaptation of these traditional settlements is crucial for investigating low-energy climate adaptation theories and methods as well as enhancing the comfort of future human habitats. This study used numerical simulations and field measurements to investigate the air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and thermal comfort of traditional settlements in Western Sichuan Plain, China, and uncovered their climate suitability characteristics to determine the impact mechanisms of landscape element configurations (building height, building density, tree coverage, and tree position) and spatial patterns on microclimates within these settlements. The results revealed the structural and layout strategies adopted by traditional settlements to adapt to different climatic conditions, providing valuable insights for future rural protection and planning and enhancing climate resilience through natural means. These findings not only contribute to understanding the climate adaptability of Earth’s ecosystems and traditional settlements but also offer new theories and methods to address the challenges posed by climate change.