Abstract:
The biometeorological conditions in selected regions of the municipalities of Melissia and N.
Penteli as well as of mountain penteliko, in the N.E. part of Attiki, have been determined for
the period of 18 July to 15 of November, 2009. Air Temperature and relative humidity values
were measured, in order to calculate the thermo-hydrometric index, THI, which was used in
turn to estimate the thermal feeling. The THI index was calculated in 13 different points,
representing areas with dense or dilute construction, areas with dense or dilute vegetation of
pines (Pinus halepensis Mill), inside a grove, in the transitional zone between vegetation and
construction, as well as in parts of a hill and on the penteliko mountain. Five categories of
THI were identified: “Cold”, “Cool”, Comfortable”, “Hot” and “Very Hot”. In the parts with
dense construction, “Hot”, was the dominant category, whereas at the top of penteliko
Mountain (1086m), “Comfortable” dominated. The best bioclimatic conditions in the
residential areas were found in the parts with dense vegetation as well as in the parts with
dilute and low-height buildings. The densely-built parts showed significantly higherfrequency
levels of the “Hot” category. The air temperature near the construction materials
(asphalt, concrete) showed significant differences compared with the air temperature near
adjacent vegetation. The highest values of temperature were measured in parts of the
transitional zone between buildings and vegetation. The grove of Melissia does not seem to
contribute in a favorable way to the biometeorological condition of the adjacent built areas.
This is attributed to its xerophyte vegetation. On the contrary, the penteliko Mountain affects
favorably the biometeorological conditions at lower altitudes, through catabatic air flows,
which formed zones with favorable thermal feeling in the residential area
