Shifting the urban heat island clock in a megacity: a case study of Hong Kong

Chen, Xuan; Jeong, Su-Jong

2018-01

10.1088/1748-9326/aa95fb

Environmental Research Letters   影响因子和分区

1748-9326

With increasing levels of urbanization in the near future, understanding the impact of urbanization on urban heat islands (UHIs) is critical to adapting to regional climate and environmental changes. However, our understanding of the UHI effect relies mainly on its intensity or magnitude. The present study evaluates the impact of urbanization on UHI duration changes by comparing three stations with different rates of urbanization, including highly developed and developing urban areas throughout Hong Kong, from 1990-2015. Results show that the 26 year average UHI intensity in highly urbanized regions is much higher than that in developing areas, and the 26 year average of UHI duration is similar. Over the past 25 years, however, UHI duration has increased only in developing urban areas, from 13.59-17.47 hours. Both earlier UHI starting and later UHI ending times concurrently contribute to the UHI effect being experienced for a longer duration. The differences in UHI duration change between the two areas are supported by population and by night light changes from space. Increasing night light, which suggests enhancements in the economic infrastructure, occurred only in the developing urban areas. Our results suggest that changes in UHI duration should be included in an assessment of regional climate change as well as in urban planning in a megacity.

urbanization urban heat island regional climate change UHI duration

SCI ; EI

英语

第一 ; 通讯

Southern University of Science and Technology[G01296001]

Environmental Sciences & Ecology ; Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences

Environmental Sciences ; Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences

WOS:000422740400002

IOP PUBLISHING LTD

20180504694953

Atmospheric temperature ; Urban growth

Urban Planning and Development:403.1 ; Atmospheric Properties:443.1

Web of Science

Southern Univ Sci & Technol SUSTech, Sch Environm Sci & Engn, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, Peoples R China

Chen, Xuan,Jeong, Su-Jong. Shifting the urban heat island clock in a megacity: a case study of Hong Kong[J]. Environmental Research Letters,2018,13(1).

Chen, Xuan,&Jeong, Su-Jong.(2018).Shifting the urban heat island clock in a megacity: a case study of Hong Kong.Environmental Research Letters,13(1).

Chen, Xuan,et al."Shifting the urban heat island clock in a megacity: a case study of Hong Kong".Environmental Research Letters 13.1(2018).