The role of shading on biometeorological conditions in the historic centre of Prague, Czech Republic.

Researchers found that the historic centre of Prague, particularly the Náplavka area along the Vltava river, experiences significant heat stress during summer due to a lack of greenery and shading. While morning conditions were comfortable, afternoon thermal comfort indices such as Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) and Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) showed high heat stress levels, exacerbated by limited shade. The study used meteorological measurements from eight sites between Charles Square and Náplavka, collected over 14 days in 2019 and 2022, alongside fisheye photographs to quantify shading effects. Findings suggest relocating day-long events to shaded areas like Charles Square or providing adequate sun protection could mitigate heat stress in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Chlapcová, L., Urban, A., & Kyselý, J. (2025). The role of shading on biometeorological conditions in the historic centre of Prague, Czech Republic. https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-6696