Urban-rural climatic differences over a 2-year period in the City of Erzurum, Turkey

Abstract

This study deals with the climatic differences between rural and urban areas over a two-year-period and three different climatic elements in the conditions of the city of Erzurum; and it was aimed to determine what factors may have affected these differences. It was found in the study that temperature difference between the areas was 1.7 ºC, mean relative humidity was 2.5% and rainfall was 4.8 mm/m² (urban is wetter). The factors thought to be effective on these differences were surface structures, buildings, smoke prevalent in the urban area and snow cover. Consequently, it was suggested that, in order to obtain more favorable and healthy climatic conditions, green areas amount, which are now not effective in the city center, must be increased.