Assessing outdoor thermal comfort of English Bazar Municipality and its surrounding, West Bengal, India

The present study intended to analyze the spatio-temporal outdoor thermal condition during the winter, summer and post-monsoon seasons of 2010 and 2016 by using Discomfort Index (DI) and Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) in the English Bazar Municipality (India). DI, value has been computed based. on air temperature and relative humidity data retrieved from satellite imageries and mobile field survey, while PET value has been produced with the RayMan Model. Result of DI reveals that built up area experienced partially uncomfortable-Cold (C) in winter, extremely uncomfortable in summer and partially uncomfortable-W in post-monsoon both in 2010 and 2016. But the areal extension under these discomfort zone significantly increased in 2016 compare to 2010, for example area under extreme uncomfortable and partially uncomfortable zones-Warm (W) was 3281.4 ha and 983.07 ha respectively in 2010 but it increased 4815.83 ha and 3291.74 ha respectively in 2016. Mean monthly PET value ranges from 15 degrees C to 27 degrees C. But in extreme hours, 58.78% area of the town experienced strong cold stress with the range of PET of 9 to 11 degrees C in winter season. In summer seasons 82.41%, 16.91%, and 0.67% areas respectively fall under the physiologically strong, extreme and scorching type of heat stress. (C) 2019 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.