Tempering potential-based evaluation of the courtyard microclimate as a combined function of aspect ratio and outdoor temperature

Abstract Courtyards are traditional construction models in Mediterranean cities. In this research, tempering performance of courtyards during a two-year field monitoring campaign in southern Spain was investigated. The main objective was to identify the thermal functions of inner courtyards, analyzing the aspect ratio (AR) and the influence of outdoor temperature to offer a perspective that contributes to the development of passive cooling strategies for urban housing. This investigation also reviewed these climate modifiers, in light of the average lifespan of a building, to establish thermal tempering guidelines to mitigate the effects of climate change. The results show that, although the AR is a determining factor in maximizing the courtyard tempering potential, other parameters such as diurnal temperature range (DTR) or maximum outdoor temperature (MOT) can significantly modify the influence of the AR. The study demonstrates these interactions verifying, for the climates studied, that courtyards with AR > 3 are appropriate solutions, especially in the warmest zones, enhancing microclimate management in summer. Results evince that courtyard maximum thermal performance is related to MOT increase. This factor is crucial to establish a tempering initial potential for a given courtyard. Apart from this, a complete daily cycle analysis through DTR confirms and clarifies this thermal buffer effect.