POLAR CLIMATE

Polar climatic regions lack warm summers and are marked with the absence of trees. Most of the areas are covered with glaciers or with semi-permanent layer of ice. There are two types of polar climate. The tundra climate is the less severe climate which is marked with an average temperature above freezing level. Yet another climatic condition is the ice cap climate or the perpetual frost climate, which is striking with its sub-freezing average temperatures.
Picture
SOUTH POLE:
The environment posed a challenge for the development since 8 inches of snow continued to fall each year without melting the climate routinely sees zero humidity and temperatures of -100 degrees. The steady snow creates snow drifts which can bury low lying buildings in months. The ground is also a solid glacis which moves to wards the sea by 33 feet each year.

When it came to designing Amundsen Scott South Pole Station, in order to tackle the problem of the winds they designed mock ups of building and tested them in an air tunnel to design the best design to withstand harsh winds and snow conditions.

The solution was based on an air plane wing. The new station is elevated and turned into the prevailing wind to allow wind to flow above and below the station.

For more information on the Amundsen Scott South Pole Station click HERE.

Example of testing building form for air flow (exterior) and building layout for ventilation (interior):
Picture
Picture

The water table at Chiang Mai University in Thailand allows effective ventilation studies by using streams of coloured water to simulate air flow through a building.








Coloured parallel streams of water flow through the shallow model of a building being tested on the water table at Chiang Mai University in Thailand. The water passing through the model closely simulates air flowing through a building.
Picture
Picture
IGLOO:
The igloo is made by stacking compressed snow blocks in a continuous spiral until a dome is created. A tunnel in then dug underneath the igloo for access. This is done so that no prevailing wind will enter an open entrance above ground and let warm escape. Instead a small hole is made in the igloo to create ventilation. This brings oxygen into the space and lets carbon dioxide escape though the tunnel.

For more information on igloo construction click HERE.
Picture
Picture
Picture