Modeling of changes in thermal bioclimate: examples based on urban spaces in Freiburg, Germany

The Place of the Old Synagogue is a popular place in the city center of Freiburg, a medium-sized city in southwest Germany. It is going to be redesigned soon. In this paper the impact of urban street design and surface material on human thermal comfort is analyzed using the example of the Place of the Old Synagogue. The models SkyHelios, RayMan, and ENVI-met were applied to quantify and qualify the changes. All three models are freely available. Their combination allows analysis of development in long-term conditions, as well as changes in spatial distribution of thermal comfort, as well as of heat stress in summer. Results show that the models can provide valuable information. About the Place of the Old Synagogue, quantitative results show that the period with heat stress will become longer, while the intensity of heat stress increases. The spatial results show that the most significant changes are due to changes in shading. Nevertheless, an increase in thermal stress up to 10 °C is calculated for areas, where ground coverage changes from grass to pavement.     

Spatio-temporal variability of moisture conditions within the Urban Canopy Layer

Summary ¶Re-analysed data from an urban climate research project in Munich, Germany, were used to investigate the spatio-temporal variability of moisture conditions (expressed here in vapour pressure VP) within the Urban Canopy Layer UCL. The results, which apply to three main sites and additional subsidiary ones, cover both summer and winter months. The summer month variation of VP is characterised by higher monthly mean values of VP for all three sites, howbeit with considerable inter-site differences. The temporal variability of mean VP values at diurnal time scales is also examined. With respect to the UCL, they reveal different amplitudes and times of occurrence of their extreme values. In addition, results of car traverses performed during clear sky conditions in downtown Munich show a remarkable small-scale spatio-temporal variability of VP.In relation to a sealed downtown site within a courtyard in Munich, a time-dependent urban moisture excess (UME) was formed. A positive correlation between UME and the urban heat island (UHI) could be verified in general. However, it was slightly negative with a very low coefficient of determination in the summer month when the maximum UME preceded the maximum UHI up to 5hrs. As example for the effects of air moisture on the urban climate within the UCL, the role of VP on a thermal index (physiologically equivalent temperature PET) was investigated. Based on one-year data from another urban climate project in Munich, a positive correlation between PET and VP was found, although the coefficient of determination was somewhat low. However, during a human-biometeorological case study on a typical summer day in the northern downtown of Freiburg, a medium-sized city in southwest Germany, PET and VP showed a negative correlation (possibly because the specific temporal course of VP at the measuring points was mainly influenced by thermally induced turbulence).     

Urban heat island and differences in outdoor comfort levels in Glasgow, UK

From extensive outdoor comfort campaigns, preliminary outdoor comfort ranges have been defined for the local population of Glasgow, UK, in terms of two thermal indices: ‘Temperature Humidity Sun Wind’ (THSW) and ‘Physiological Equivalent Temperature’ (PET). A series of measurements and surveys was carried out from winter through summer 2011 during 19 monitoring campaigns. For data collection, a Davis Vantage Pro2 weather station was used, which was equipped with temperature and humidity sensors, cup anemometer with wind vane, silicon pyranometer and globe thermometer. From concurrent measurements using two weather stations, one located close to the city core and another located at a rural setting, approximately at a 15-km distance from the urban area of Glasgow, comparisons were made with regard to thermal comfort levels and to urban–rural temperature differences for different periods of the year. It was found that the two selected thermal indices (THSW and PET) closely correlate to the actual thermal sensation of respondents. Moreover, results show that the urban site will have fewer days of cold discomfort, more days of ‘neutral’ thermal sensation and slightly higher warm discomfort. The most frequent urban heat island intensity was found to be around 3° C, whereas the fraction of cooling to heating degree-hours for a T _base of 65 °F was approximately 1/12th.     

不同类型冷却屋顶方案对城市群热环境的缓解效果

利用耦合单层城市冠层模型的中尺度数值模式WRF/UCM,选取8组不同反照率和绿化比例的屋顶冷却方案进行敏感性试验,模拟研究不同冷却屋顶方案对长三角城市群2013年夏季城市热环境的影响,并分析其影响机制。结果表明：不同冷却屋顶方案对城市群热环境的缓解效果与屋顶参数之间呈很强的线性关系。高温热浪天气下,HR4（反照率为1.0）和GR4（屋顶绿化率为100%）方案的制冷度日数分别降低了14.7%和10.9%,节约的能源比普通夏日更多。同时,高温热浪天气会增强热岛强度,高反照率屋顶方案在白天对热岛起到更有效的缓解,热浪天气下日平均热岛强度最大可降低1.36℃。相同方案下,在高温热浪天气下的缓解效果均胜于普通夏日,平均而言,高反照率屋顶和屋顶绿化的降温效果分别增大38.5%和34.9%,增湿效果分别增大29.5%和21.9%,这主要是由于在高温热浪天气下,高反照率屋顶方案能够减少更多的净辐射通量,屋顶绿化方案能够释放更多的潜热通量。此外,城市格点密集区域的降温效果优于分散的城市区域,处于城市群中的常州区域较单独的杭州区域的降温幅度平均高32%。     

格点资料在城市气候变化研究中的应用

为了解浙江省城市增暖的地域差异及其受热岛效应影响的程度,对杭州、宁波、温州3个城市的气候变化趋势进行了分析。为减少观测资料的非均一性,运用最优插值法将浙江省1971—2010年62个站点资料的信息植入到NCEP月平均温度资料的背景场中,得到格距为5 km的格点资料。研究结果表明:3个城市在近40年表现出明显的增温趋势,城区增温明显快于乡村的。各地区增温率的时空变化存在一定差异,与人口密度、工业总产值、用电量及车辆拥有量等经济数据的分布及变化基本一致。沿海城市温州增温率最小,但城乡差异最明显。同样为沿海城市的宁波,由于经济发展地域差别较小,虽表现最明显的增温,但城市热岛效应最弱。3个城市的热岛效应及热岛增温贡献率均存在明显的季节变化:杭州的热岛效应呈春、夏、冬、秋依次减弱的变化规律;温州则呈春、秋、冬、夏依次减弱的变化规律;宁波类似于城市群发展的模式,导致其热岛效应较不明显,以夏季和秋季最强。城市化发展引起的增暖占有较大的比重,杭州和温州年平均气温的增加大约有1/3是由城市化引起的,其中杭州夏季热岛增温贡献率达到2/3以上,温州春、夏季热岛增温贡献率均达到43%左右,宁波城市热岛增温贡献率相对较小,夏季的最大,为20%左右。     

北京城区近地面比湿和风场时空分布特征

利用2008—2012年北京城区平均5 km的高密度自动气象站逐时观测数据,分析了北京城区近地面比湿、风向和风速的时空精细分布特征,初步探究了城市下垫面对局地气象要素的影响机制。研究表明:夏季白天北京城区为干岛,冬季城区表现为弱湿岛特征。受城市效应的影响,北京城区与郊区比湿日变化有明显差异。近地面10 m风受到地形、城市和季节性盛行风的共同影响。当气流经过城区时有明显的绕流现象。夏季05:00—10:00 (北京时,下同),受山风、弱的夏季偏南风和城市热岛共同作用,气流向城市中心辐合。冬季15:00—19:00,受季节盛行风偏北气流和谷风偏南气流的共同作用,在城区形成一条西北—东南走向的辐合线。对风速研究发现:城市粗糙下垫面使北京城区风速减小,二环路和三环路之间存在一条“n”状的风速小值带。由此可见,除已开展较多研究的城市热岛效应外,北京城市效应对近地面湿度和风场亦有显著影响。     

The impact of heat waves on surface urban heat island and local economy in Cluj-Napoca city,Romania

The association between heat waves and the urban heat island effect can increase the impact on environment and society inducing biophysical hazards. Heat stress and their associated public health problems are among the most frequent. This paper explores the heat waves impact on surface urban heat island and on the local economy loss during three heat periods in Cluj-Napoca city in the summer of 2015. The heat wave events were identified based on daily maximum temperature, and they were divided into three classes considering the intensity threshold: moderate heat waves (daily maximum temperature exceeding the 90th percentile), severe heat waves (daily maximum temperature over the 95th percentile), and extremely severe heat waves (daily maximum temperature exceeding the 98th percentile). The minimum length of an event was of minimum three consecutive days. The surface urban heat island was detected based on land surface temperature derived from Landsat 8 thermal infrared data, while the economic impact was estimated based on data on work force structure and work productivity in Cluj-Napoca derived from the data released by Eurostat, National Bank of Romania, and National Institute of Statistics. The results indicate that the intensity and spatial extension of surface urban heat island could be governed by the magnitude of the heat wave event, but due to the low number of satellite images available, we should consider this information only as preliminary results. Thermal infrared remote sensing has proven to be a very efficient method to study surface urban heat island, due to the fact that the synoptic conditions associated with heat wave events usually favor cloud free image. The resolution of the OLI_TIRS sensor provided good results for a mid-extension city, but the low revisiting time is still a drawback. The potential economic loss was calculated for the working days during heat waves and the estimated loss reached more than 2.5 mil. EUR for each heat wave day at city scale, cumulating more than 38 mil. EUR for the three cases considered.     

URBANIZATION EFFECTS ON OBSERVED CHANGES IN SUMMER EXTREME HEAT EVENTS OVER ZHEJIANG PROVINCE, EAST CHINA

Although the urban heat island (UHI) is a well-documented phenomenon, relatively little information in the literature is available about its impact on summer extreme heat event (EHE). As UHI is characterized by increased temperature, it can potentially increase the magnitude and duration of EHEs within cities. Based on daily maximum temperature records from 62 observation stations in Zhejiang province from the period 1971-2011 and satellite-measured nighttime light imagery from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Operational Linescan System (OLS) during 1992-2010, we analyzed the long-term change of summer EHEs and its association with the rapid urbanization process. The results could be concluded as follows: (1) Zhejiang has experienced rapid urbanization and dramatic growth in urban areas in the past two decades, especially after 2000. (2) The summer mean maximum temperature and the 95th percentile of summer daily maximum temperature in most of its stations have increased, with the most significant increase occurring in the highly urbanized areas including the city belt around Hangzhou Bay, Taizhou–Wenzhou and Jinghua–Yiwu city belts. (3) The hot days and hot-day degrees, defined by both daily 95th percentile and the threshold of 35℃, show that the UHI effect causes additional hot days and heat stress in urban stations compared to rural stations. The results in this study suggest that the UHI effect should be determined and incorporated in preparing high temperature forecasts in cities.     

RADIATION OF ALL WAVELENGTHS ON FINE WINTER DAYS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE LOW-LATITUDE CITIES OVER PLATEAU

The observation of radiation of different wavelengths was conducted in the urban and rural areas of Kunming City. The main results for clear days obtained in this paper are summarized as follows. (1) In the urban area.the fluctuation of radiation of different wave length are larger in the urban area due to strong effect of pollution.The radiation (difference and ratio between urban and rural areas) is lesser in the urban than in the rural areas.The difference is outstanding in the morning when the pollution is strong. (2) In the urban area of cities on low.latitude plateau, percentage of radiation of different wavelengths in total radiation differ between the morning and afternoon on fine winter days, so do that between the urban and rural areas and relevant variations, and the difference is most substantial at the time before midday when the air pollution is serious. (3) The difference between the urban and rural areas also exists for the diurnal total, totals for the time before and after midday in radiation of all wavelengths under the same sky conditions.     

Effect of the position of the visible sky in determining the sky view factor on micrometeorological and human thermal comfort conditions in urban street canyons

Poor daytime and night-time micrometeorological conditions are issues that influence the quality of environmental conditions and can undermine a comfortable human lifestyle. The sky view factor (SVF) is one of the essential physical parameters used to assess the micrometeorological conditions and thermal comfort levels within city streets. The position of the visible sky relative to the path of the sun, in the cardinal and ordinal directions, has not been widely discerned as a parameter that could have an impact on the micrometeorological conditions of urban streets. To investigate this parameter, different urban streets that have a similar SVF value but diverse positions of visible sky were proposed in different street directions intersecting with the path of the sun, namely N–S, NE–SW and NW–SE. The effects of daytime and night-time micrometeorological variables and human thermal comfort variables on the street were investigated by applying ENVI-met V3.1 Beta software. The results show that the position of the visible sky has a greater influence on the street’s meteorological and human thermal comfort conditions than the SVF value. It has the ability to maximise or minimise the mean radiation temperature (Tmrt, °C) and the physiological equivalent temperature (PET, °C) at street level. However, the visible sky positioned to the zenith in a NE–SW or N–S street direction and to the SW of a NW–SE street direction achieves the best daytime micrometeorological and thermal comfort conditions. Alternatively, the visible sky positioned to the NE for a NW–SE street direction, to the NW and the zenith for a NE–SW street direction and to the zenith for a N–S street direction reduces the night-time air temperature (Ta, °C). Therefore, SVF and the position of the visible sky relative to the sun’s trajectory, in the cardinal and ordinal directions, must be considered during urban street planning to better understand the resultant micrometeorological and human thermal comfort conditions.     

1961-2004年惠州城市与乡村气温变化的对比

 根据惠州城市和乡村1961-2004年逐月平均气温资料,对比分析了全球变暖背景下惠州城市和乡村的气温变化。结果表明：城市和乡村年平均气温均表现为增加趋势,气候倾向率分别为0.21和0.13 ℃/10 a,其中冬季变暖最明显。城市气温的增温率和增温幅度都高于乡村,城市化、工业化和人类活动引起的城市热岛效应对城市气温变化有重要影响,年和四季城市热岛效应的增温贡献率为28.9%～56.3%。1990年代中期开始的10 a与前34 a相比,城市年和四季热岛效应增温幅度平均为0.19～0.27 ℃,全球变暖效应增温幅度平均为0.17～0.73 ℃。城市热岛效应对1990年代城市气温突变有重要影响。     

Spatial variations of incoming longwave radiationin Göteborg, Sweden

Summary  A measurement programme was conducted in G?teborg Sweden, to examine the spatial variations of incoming longwave irradiance on calm, cloudless nights. Both regional and local spatial variations were examined. Incoming longwave irradiance data was obtained from mobile car transects, and at a fixed site on a building roof at the city centre. Ancillary data included sky view factor at various transect locations, and balloon soundings of air temperature and humidity on one night. Measurements revealed that on average, incoming longwave irradiance at the fixed urban site was 11 W m ⁻² higher than at the rural station, with varying differences for intervening sites. Bulk apparent sky emissivity was higher at the most rural station compared to the fixed urban site, by about 0.03 on average. Nighttime balloon measurements and a sensitivity analysis with a radiative transfer model argue that the bulk apparent sky emissivity differences stem mainly from the temperature structure of the lower boundary layer which changes markedly from rural to urban areas. A good relationship was found between sky view factor and incoming longwave irradiance for a range of urban and park locations. The relationship applies to both individual nights and average data. Using a simple obstruction model, canyon wall temperatures are derived, and the relationship between sky view factor and wall temperature is examined. Received December 23, 1999 Revised May 5, 2000     

1961-2004年惠州城市与乡村气温变化的对比

根据惠州城市和乡村1961-2004年逐月平均气温资料,对比分析了全球变暖背景下惠州城市和乡村的气温变化。结果表明：城市和乡村年平均气温均表现为增加趋势,气候倾向率分别为0.21和0.13 ℃/10 a,其中冬季变暖最明显。城市气温的增温率和增温幅度都高于乡村,城市化、工业化和人类活动引起的城市热岛效应对城市气温变化有重要影响,年和四季城市热岛效应的增温贡献率为28.9%～56.3%。1990年代中期开始的10 a与前34 a相比,城市年和四季热岛效应增温幅度平均为0.19～0.27 ℃,全球变暖效应增温幅度平均为0.17～0.73 ℃。城市热岛效应对1990年代城市气温突变有重要影响。     

Spatiotemporal Variations of Cloud Amount over the Yangtze River Delta, China

Based on the NOAA's Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer(AVHRR) Pathfinder Atmospheres Extended(PATMOS-x) monthly mean cloud amount data, variations of annual and seasonal mean cloud amount over the Yangtze River Delta(YRD), China were examined for the period 1982–2006 by using a linear regression analysis. Both total and high-level cloud amounts peak in June and reach minimum in December, mid-level clouds have a peak during winter months and reach a minimum in summer, and lowlevel clouds vary weakly throughout the year with a weak maximum from August to October. For the annual mean cloud amount, a slightly decreasing tendency(–0.6% sky cover per decade) of total cloud amount is observed during the studying period, which is mainly due to the reduction of annual mean high-level cloud amount(–2.2% sky cover per decade). Mid-level clouds occur least(approximately 15% sky cover) and remain invariant, while the low-level cloud amount shows a significant increase during spring(1.5% sky cover per decade) and summer(3.0% sky cover per decade). Further analysis has revealed that the increased low-level clouds during the summer season are mainly impacted by the local environment. For example,compared to the low-level cloud amounts over the adjacent rural areas(e.g., cropland, large water body, and mountain areas covered by forest), those over and around urban agglomerations rise more dramatically.     

苏州夏季城市热岛现状及影响因子分析研究

利用2007年夏季常规和自动站气象观测资料,分析研究苏州城市热岛及其与影响因子关系.气温分布表明,市中心干将桥气温相对较高,而靠近太湖的新区镇湖镇、东山等郊区气温相对较低.苏州城市热岛强度日变化呈现双峰分布,两个峰值分别出现在10时和20时左右,最低值出现在16时左右.热岛强度与气象条件关系分析表明:(1)热岛强度受云量的影响较大;(2)与城区气温分布关系密切,相关系数为0.62;(3)与风向有关,城区风向为西风时的热岛强度大于东风时热岛强度;而城区热岛强度与风速关系不明显.另外相关站点的合理选取对城市热岛研究也十分重要.     

拉萨市城市热岛效应分析研究

利用拉萨、墨竹工卡、尼木建站以来的多年历史资料和近两年新建的区域自动站、8个城市热岛效应自动气象站资料分析拉萨城市热岛强度日、季、年变化,时空分布及其可能的影响因子。分析表明:拉萨城市热岛强度呈显著的逐年增强趋势,在1978~2011年间平均每10年增加0.24℃;多年热岛强度冬季最强(2.0℃),其次是春季(1.8℃)和秋季(1.7℃),夏季强度最小(1.6℃);拉萨城市高温中心主要在城市中心,气温分布沿着高值区向两侧呈递减状态,郊外的气温比城区平均低0.9℃左右,夜间热岛效应强度明显高于白天。随着城市化进程的不断增强,大量改变的下垫面状况,不断增多的城市建筑群,骤增的人类活动和能源消耗,导致城市热岛强度不断增强。      

Urban heat island in a coastal urban area in northern Spain

This work examines the characteristics of the urban heat island (UHI) in a medium-sized city in northern Spain (Bilbao) using 5-year climate data (2005–2009) and the results of three specific measurement campaigns (2009–2010). Urban climate variables are not only compared with those in rural sites but also local climatic differences occurring inside the city are analysed. The findings presented in this paper show the influence of complex topography and sea/land breeze in the urban climate. Spatial characteristics and temporal evolution of UHI is presented. Hourly maximum temperature anomaly (ΔT _{u–r, max}) occurs just after sunrise and an urban cold island (UCI) is developed after midday. Along the year, mean UHI intensity is highest in autumn and the UCI effect increases in spring and summer in relation with sea breeze cooling potential. Diurnal and seasonal variation of air flow patterns appear to influence significantly on UHI intensity.     

南京市夏季热岛特征及其与土地利用覆盖关系研究

利用南京市7月的Landsat TM热红外波段数据,根据单窗算法反演得到南京市地表温度,讨论了南京市热岛特征,并分析了产生这种现象的原因。通过遥感和地理信息系统相结合,运用Landsat TM数据,提取出南京市下垫面类型,分析了不同地表覆盖类型的热辐射特征并定量地分析了土地利用及植被对地表温度的影响。结果显示,南京市夏季主要存在3个热岛中心,分别是建成区、大厂区和八卦洲。南京城区地表温度明显比郊区地表温度高,通过地表温度对比分析发现,城区平均地表温度比城市边缘和远郊区地表温度分别高出3.5℃和5.7℃,城市热岛效应明显。不同地表覆盖类型的地表温度也有显著差异,从高到低依次为：城镇建设用地、耕地、草地、林地、水体。城镇建设用地与水体的表面温度最大相差14℃。城市地表温度与植被覆盖度具有明显的负相关关系,城市地表植被覆盖度低是城市热岛出现的主要原因,今后应当更加注重城市绿地建设,提高植被覆盖率。     

近30年北京夏季降水演变的城郊对比

利用1975～2004年北京13个站的夏季降水资料,对30年来北京城区与郊区降水的时空变化趋势进行了对比分析,得出以下主要结论： 1）无论是城区站还是郊区站,北京的夏季降水量均呈明显下降趋势,且城区站的夏季降水量总体上要小于郊区站。2）从大兴、海淀和昌平3站夏季降水量的时间变化特征来看,位于城区盛行风向下风向的昌平下降趋势最不明显,在一定程度上表征了城市化对北京夏季降水的影响。3）地形仍然是决定北京地区降水分布的主导因素,但降水高值区存在向西南城区方向延伸或移动的趋势,而城市化可能是造成这种变化的一个原因。