Assessment of Effect of Urbanization on the Thermal comfort Tanzania

The study assessed the effect of urbanization on the thermal comfort over Dar es salaam, Zanzibar and Tanga, The data for Population, the monthly mean dry bulb and dew point temperature as well as and wind speed for the period of 1980 - 2010 at 0600Z and 1200Z were used. The thermal comfort index was calculated by using Wind Chill Index and Kawamura's Discomfort Index. The temporal and spatial variation of thermal comfort index was determined. The possible association between thermal comfort index and population was also discussed. Result from the study showed that thermal comfort index observed to be high and people feel uncomfortable most of the year except in June, July and August (JJA). The difference in the index values can be attributed to the different bioclimatic condition and topography of the three cities. However, the study showed no significant relationship in population data and thermal comfort index. The growth of thermal discomfort index in three cites is driven highly by the continuous increase of buildings, paved roads, buses as well as the decrease of cultivated land rather than population.