Temperature, comfort and pollution levels during heat waves and the role of sea breeze

During the summer of 2007 several Greek regions suffered periods of extreme heat, with midday temperatures of over 40°C on several consecutive days. High temperatures were also recorded on the east coast of central Greece, where a complex sea breeze circulation system frequently develops. The more intense events occurred at the end of June and July. The highest temperatures were observed on 26 June and 25 July, while the sea breeze developed only on 25 July. Meteorological data collected at two sites—a coastal urban location and an inland suburban site that is not reached by the sea breeze flow—as well as pollution data collected at the urban site, were analysed in order to investigate the relationship between sea breeze development and the prevailing environmental conditions during these two heat wave events. The analysis revealed that sea breeze development affects temperature and pollution levels at the shoreline significantly, causing a decrease of ~4°C from the maximum temperature value and an increase of ~30% in peak PM10 levels. Additionally, several stress indices were calculated in order to assess heat comfort conditions at the two sites. It was found that nocturnal comfort levels are determined mainly by the urban heat island effect, the intensity of which reaches up to 8°C, while the applied indices do not demonstrate any significant daytime thermal stress relief due to sea breeze development.