Identification and comparison of citizens' climate perception in different temperature strata of Isfahan city
Mohsen Veisi 1 , Mozhgan Ahmadi Nadoushan 2
1 - 1) MSc, Environmental Education, Department of Environmental Sciences, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
2 - Department of Environmental Sciences, Waste and Wastewater Research Center, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
Keywords: climate changes, urban heat island, climate perception, Isfahan,
Abstract :
Abstract: Identification of citizens' climate perception is one of the key elements in formulating policies related to mitigating the heat island effect. This study also examines some influential aspects of climate perception and its relationship with individual characteristics in the city of Isfahan. For this purpose, the central core of Isfahan City was divided into four temperature zones ranging from 27 to 43 degrees Celsius. A random sample of 100 individuals was selected from each temperature zone, and their personal information, along with their perception of temperature increase, disruption in life, location-dependent temperature differences, and voluntary willingness to change behavior, were collected. The results showed that as the temperature increased in each temperature zone, citizens' views on the increased difficulty of life and efforts to adapt to higher temperatures were more pronounced. They indicated that the air temperature inside Isfahan City is relatively higher than in the surrounding rural areas. Regarding the perception of the urban heat island, a significant correlation was found between the intensity of the heat island and age, and educational level. The temperature increase elicited similar responses among all interviewees in all parts of the city, and the existence of an urban heat island has led to various disturbances (in terms of intensity) in the lives of different individuals residing in different temperature zones. Overall, attention can be focused on individuals in younger age groups and those with higher education as target groups for improving their climatic conditions and maximizing citizen participation as a benchmark.