“Spain frying pan” explains how cities can deal with intense heat

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The city of Seville used to the intense heat, to the point that it is often called “Spain frying pan.”

In the afternoon in the summer, the air is so warm that the streets of this historic city in southern Spain become empty, as breathing abroad becomes very difficult. It can be worse in the future.

With climate change, the heat waves occur earlier in the year and become more intense. in June, which is a record of 46 ° C It was registered in Hilva, near the Portuguese border, stressing that the year 2025 was the most important June in Spain.

By 2050, Seville can be registered summer Summits of 50 ° C and reduce 20 percent in rainfalland According to a study conducted Eliempo.esSpanish weather news network. The city, therefore, has no choice but to adapt.

By developing many solutions about the innovative use of water, Seville is now at the forefront The task, competition between Spanish cities on climate transmission.

On Isla De La Cartuja, Seville neighborhood that hosted Expo ’92, a group of researchers planted an old technology to cool internal urban areas.

Called Qanat, this technique was invented by The Persians about 3000 years ago To improve irrigation, decreased surrounding temperatures and providing animal water in arid areas.

“Basically, we use this old technique installed to adapt it to the twenty -first century,” said Maria de la Paz Montero Guterres, a researcher in the project called Cartoga.

A community structure in Seville allows cooling in hot days.
The view of the Agora Project for the Cartuja Qanat Project, which is located in the Seville region that hosted the 1992 Universal exhibition. The project technology is based on the practices that were designed in Persia 3000 years ago. (Romain Chauvet/CBC)

The system is located on approximately 20 to 200 meters below the surface of the desert, and the system consists of a series of underground channels built on a slight slope that carries water from upper heights to gravity.

Two Qanats were installed in Seville on both sides of Agora, or the gathering location, which is the size of two soccer fields. During the night, groundwater is cooled by natural temperatures naturally. Solar powered pumps pushing the cooled water to the surface during the day, where they are then pushed by header holes, allowing them to reduce the Earth’s temperature from six to 10 ° C.

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Gutiérrez says they “updated Persian technology by integrating rain water and electricity resulting from the solar panels. Therefore, the entire project is completely content without relying on the intense energy techniques.”

The space – which includes Agora and a runway – has become a real oasis, accommodating the locals who come there to take a refreshing break or for activities and sporting events.

“If you come here in the midst of wages, you can feel pure air and breathing naturally, while it is impossible outside the afternoon.” “This model is really evidence of sustainable solutions.”

A woman stands at the corner of the street in Spain.
“We use this old technique installed to adapt it to the twenty -first century,” said Maria de la Paz Montero Guterres, a researcher at the Carroja forces in Seville. (Romain Chauvet/CBC)

The plants planted on the inner walls of the building, the white exterior that reflect the heat and the direction of the entrance doors also contribute to reducing the temperature.

Since its implementation in 2021, the project, which is assigned to it Five million euros For installation, you attracted visitors from all over the world curious to learn more. Delegations from California, Germany and Dubai came to inspire.

“This Persian technique can be technically planted everywhere,” said Jose Sanchez Ramos, a professor of energy engineering at Seville University.

However, one of the main challenges is still convincing to developers to include this solution in their projects, because it requires additional costs, from building to maintenance.

Biomedical climatic schools

Another water -based cooling solution helps students overcome high temperatures until after summer, as the Andalusian regional government decided to implement climate air conditioning systems in schools.

“It is a system that works in a very simple way with water evaporation,” Manuel Cortez Romero, General Manager of the Andalusia Education Agency, explained.

To do this, an Adiabatic cooling machine should be installed on the surface of the school. This system, which works with solar panels and water, absorbs hot external air and then cools inside the device. During the process of converting water from the liquid to the gas, the evaporated water expands at one time and the air flow cools.

Then fresh air is distributed throughout the school through many vertical holes. This technique allows the internal temperature reduction by up to 12 ° C, even when the windows are open.

A man stands next to the machines installed on the surface of a school in Seville.
Manuel Cortez Romero, General Manager of the General Agency for Andalusia, stands next to an Adiabatic cooling machine on the surface of IES Cristóbal de Monroy, a secondary school on the outskirts of Seville. (Romain Chauvet/CBC)

It was implemented in more than 450 schools throughout the Andalusia – including 131 around Seville – every new school was designed with this system.

“We really see the difference in students’ behavior, “said one of the IES Cristóbal de Monroy, a high school on Seville. “Before, there have been a lot of behavioral problems and attention due to heat, but now this system makes a big difference.”

The cost of the installation in IES CRISTOBAL De Monroy, which includes 1,300 students, was half a million euros.

“It is almost the same as the price of the air conditioner, but the difference is the cost of the monthly electricity bill. It is about ten times the ordinary system, because this system requires the minimum electric power,” Romero said.

He said this can be repeated elsewhere. The challenge lies in explaining this technique well, because people may seem skeptical at first.

Romero said: “Initially, no one was really aware of him, and the parents were somewhat skeptical because they were not aware of this specific technique,” Romero said. “Seeing the results, everyone is now convinced of the comfort that this technology brings to students.”

Urban air conditioning

Seville also implements solutions to adapt urban planning to heat the waves, from street shades to reduce asphalt surfaces or use light and light urban surfaces to reduce the effect of the urban heat island.

The last phenomenon occurs when keeping the heat by Materials and surfaces, then radiate in the surrounding areaAnd, causing the city’s experience warmer temperatures than neighboring rural areas.

Cruz Roja Street at the heart of this strategy. Life Watercool project, which costs him 3.7 million eurosIt aims to relieve urban heat through evaporation.

European square with bicycles.
The new Plaza Los Naranjos de Arias Montano in Seville features a fountain, shades and vertical openings that will spread the fresh air to cool the area. (Romain Chauvet/CBC)

The avenue was converted from a crowded road into a pedestrian area with a shadow that allows the collection of surface flow water and stored in a tank, then pumped into public places.

“The system of groundwater cooling allows us to narrate new trees that create the shade, but also the use of water in a fountain in a public square. It also allows us to distribute fresh air through vertical openings in the public square and in the courtyard of a nearby school,” said the Teresa Palomo Oris, director of the life project in life.

The fountain site has also been studied to allow hot air cooling that will reach the box. “The Federation of all technologies will allow us to reduce three or four degrees in the temperature in this square.”

Street for pedestrians.
Cruz Roja Avenue Street from Seville has been converted into a fully pedestrian method with shade and underground water cooling system. (Romain Chauvet/CBC)

One of the project’s goals, which will work entirely in the next fall, is to implement multiple solutions that can help cities anywhere in the world adapt to the warming climate.

Amores said: “It is a very long process with many steps, but it is not impossible.” “First, you need to develop a removable cover to reduce sunlight and adapt to trees that will grow. Then you need to put a berth with a high reflection, which will reduce the Earth’s temperature, unlike asphalt. After that, the entire water system must be regulated.”

The researchers will now study how this general square of the surrounding population can cool.



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