Research

13 pages, 10707 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A New Method to Assess Fine-Scale Outdoor Thermal Comfort for Urban Agglomerations

by Dirk Lauwaet, Bino Maiheu, Koen De Ridder, Wesley Boënne, Hans Hooyberghs, Matthias Demuzere and Marie-Leen Verdonck

Climate 2020, 8(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli8010006 - 06 Jan 2020

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3542

Abstract

In urban areas, high air temperatures and heat stress levels greatly affect human thermal comfort and public health, with climate change further increasing the mortality risks. This study presents a high resolution (100 m) modelling method, including detailed offline radiation calculations, that is [...] Read more.

In urban areas, high air temperatures and heat stress levels greatly affect human thermal comfort and public health, with climate change further increasing the mortality risks. This study presents a high resolution (100 m) modelling method, including detailed offline radiation calculations, that is able to efficiently calculate outdoor heat stress for entire urban agglomerations for a time period spanning several months. A dedicated measurement campaign was set up to evaluate model performance, yielding satisfactory results. As an example, the modelling tool was used to assess the effectiveness of green areas and water surfaces to cool air temperatures and wet bulb globe temperatures during a typical hot day in the city of Ghent (Belgium), since the use of vegetation and water bodies are shown to be promising in mitigating the adverse effects of urban heat islands and improving thermal comfort. The results show that air temperature reduction is most profound over water surfaces during the afternoon, while open rural areas are coolest during the night. Radiation shading from trees, and to a lesser extent, from buildings, is found to be most effective in reducing wet bulb globe temperatures and improving thermal comfort during the warmest moments of the day. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Climate and Adaptation Tools)

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31 pages, 16418 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The RainBO Platform for Enhancing Urban Resilience to Floods: An Efficient Tool for Planning and Emergency Phases

by Giulia Villani, Stefania Nanni, Fausto Tomei, Stefania Pasetti, Rita Mangiaracina, Alberto Agnetti, Paolo Leoni, Marco Folegani, Gianluca Mazzini, Lucio Botarelli and Sergio Castellari

Climate 2019, 7(12), 145; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli7120145 - 17 Dec 2019

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3323

Abstract

Many urban areas face an increasing flood risk, which includes the risk of flash floods. Increasing extreme precipitation events will likely lead to greater human and economic losses unless reliable and efficient early warning systems (EWS) along with other adaptation actions are put [...] Read more.

Many urban areas face an increasing flood risk, which includes the risk of flash floods. Increasing extreme precipitation events will likely lead to greater human and economic losses unless reliable and efficient early warning systems (EWS) along with other adaptation actions are put in place in urban areas. The challenge is in the integration and analysis in time and space of the environmental, meteorological, and territorial data from multiple sources needed to build up EWS able to provide efficient contribution to increase the resilience of vulnerable and exposed urban communities to flooding. Efficient EWS contribute to the preparedness phase of the disaster cycle but could also be relevant in the planning of the emergency phase. The RainBO Life project addressed this matter, focusing on the improvement of knowledge, methods, and tools for the monitoring and forecast of extreme precipitation events and the assessment of the associated flood risk for small and medium watercourses in urban areas. To put this into practice, RainBO developed a webGIS platform, which contributes to the “planning” of the management of river flood events through the use of detailed data and flood risk/vulnerability maps, and the “event management” with real-time monitoring/forecast of the events through the collection of observed data from real sensors, estimated/forecasted data from hydrologic models as well as qualitative data collected through a crowdsourcing app. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Climate and Adaptation Tools)

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11 pages, 3318 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Land Use Changes in a Peri-Urban Area and Consequences on the Urban Heat Island

by Marianna Nardino and Nicola Laruccia

Climate 2019, 7(11), 133; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli7110133 - 13 Nov 2019

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2744

Abstract

The effect of urbanization on microclimatic conditions is known as “urban heat islands”. In comparison with surrounding rural areas, urban climate is characterized by higher mean temperature, especially during heat waves and during nights. This results in a higher energy requirement for air [...] Read more.

The effect of urbanization on microclimatic conditions is known as “urban heat islands”. In comparison with surrounding rural areas, urban climate is characterized by higher mean temperature, especially during heat waves and during nights. This results in a higher energy requirement for air conditioning in buildings and in a greater bioclimatic discomfort for urban populations. The reasons of this phenomena are ascribable principally to the increase of solar radiation storage and to the decrease of dissipation of water by evapotranspiration in urban environment respect to rural ones. The aim of this paper is to give a quantification of the air temperature increase due to an urbanization process. This quantification is conducted by comparing surface energy balance (incoming and outcoming radiation and turbulent fluxes) in urbanized area versus rural areas. This quantitative approach will be validated using a fluidodynamic model (Envi-Met) in a case study area representative of one among the various regional models of urban area growth. In particular, the model of expansion of small towns around big cities (2003–2008 land use changes) of a plain near-urban area in the Po Valley region (Italy) was used. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Climate and Adaptation Tools)

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27 pages, 8638 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Air Pollution Flow Patterns in the Mexico City Region

by Alejandro Salcido, Susana Carreón-Sierra and Ana-Teresa Celada-Murillo

Climate 2019, 7(11), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli7110128 - 05 Nov 2019

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3588

Abstract

According to the Mexico City Emissions Inventory, mobile sources are responsible for approximately 86% of nitrogen oxide emissions in this region, and correspond to a NOx emission of 51 and 58 kilotons per year in Mexico City and the State of Mexico, respectively. [...] Read more.

According to the Mexico City Emissions Inventory, mobile sources are responsible for approximately 86% of nitrogen oxide emissions in this region, and correspond to a NOx emission of 51 and 58 kilotons per year in Mexico City and the State of Mexico, respectively. Ozone levels in this region are often high and persist as one of the main problems of air pollution. Identifying the main scenarios for the transport and dispersion of air pollutants requires the knowledge of their flow patterns. This work examines the surface flow patterns of air pollutants (NO₂, O₃, SO₂, and PM₁₀) in the area of Mexico City (a region with strong orographic influences) over the period 2001–2010. The flow condition of a pollutant depends on the spatial distribution of its concentration and the mode of wind circulation in the region. We achieved the identification and characterization of the pollutant flow patterns through the exploitation of the 1-hour average values of the pollutant concentrations and wind data provided by the atmospheric monitoring network of Mexico City and the application of the k-means method of cluster analysis. The data objects for the cluster analysis were obtained by modeling Mexico City as a 4-cell spatial domain and describing, for each pollutant, the flow state in a cell by the spatial averages of the horizontal pollutant flow vector and its gradients (the divergence and curl of the flow vector). We identified seven patterns for wind circulation and nine patterns for each of NO₂, O₃, PM₁₀, and SO₂ pollutant flows. Their seasonal and annual average intensities and probabilities of occurrence were estimated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Climate and Adaptation Tools)

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24 pages, 7616 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Green Infrastructures in Urban Planning for Climate Change Adaptation

by Luisa Sturiale and Alessandro Scuderi

Climate 2019, 7(10), 119; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli7100119 - 04 Oct 2019

Cited by 79 | Viewed by 21110

Abstract

The population that lives in cities has surpassed the one that lives in the countryside. Cities are recognized as apriority source of pollution. The degradation of air quality and the phenomenon of Urban Heat Island (UHI) are some of the most well-known consequences [...] Read more.

The population that lives in cities has surpassed the one that lives in the countryside. Cities are recognized as apriority source of pollution. The degradation of air quality and the phenomenon of Urban Heat Island (UHI) are some of the most well-known consequences of urban development. The adaptation of the cities is emerging as one of the greatest challenges that urban planners will face in this century. Urban Green Infrastructures (GIs) could help cities adapt to climate change, and the strategy of expansion of greening in urban planning could play an important role in enhancing the sustainability and resilience of cities and communities. Many studies have shown the benefits of GIs to climate change mitigation and adaptation in urban areas and their role as an important urban planning tool to satisfy environmental, social, and economic needs of urban areas. The objective of this article is to propose a methodological approach to evaluate the social perception of citizens regarding urban green areas. The proposed methodology, applied to the reality of the “urban green system” of Catania, is based on an integrated approach between participatory planning and the methods social multi criteria evaluation to guiding the city’s government to realize a new urban resilient development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Climate and Adaptation Tools)

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21 pages, 1271 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Negotiating Institutional Pathways for Sustaining Climate Change Resilience and Risk Governance in Indonesia

by Jonatan A. Lassa

Climate 2019, 7(8), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli7080095 - 30 Jul 2019

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6721

Abstract

Institutions matter because they are instrumental in systematically adapting to global climate change, reducing disaster risks, and building resilience. Without institutionalised action, adapting to climatic change remains ad-hoc. Using exploratory research design and longitudinal observations, this research investigates how urban stakeholders and policy [...] Read more.

Institutions matter because they are instrumental in systematically adapting to global climate change, reducing disaster risks, and building resilience. Without institutionalised action, adapting to climatic change remains ad-hoc. Using exploratory research design and longitudinal observations, this research investigates how urban stakeholders and policy entrepreneurs negotiate institutional architecture and pathways for sustaining climate change adaptation and resilience implementation. This paper introduces hybrid institutionalism as a framework to understand how city administrators, local policy makers, and policy advocates navigate complex institutional landscapes that are characterised by volatility and uncertainties. Grounded in the experience from a recent experiment in Indonesia, this research suggests that institutionalisation of adaptation and resilience agenda involves different forms of institutionalisation and institutionalism through time. Future continuity of adaptation to climate change action depends on the dynamic nature of the institutionalism that leads to uncertainty in mainstreaming risk reduction. However, this research found that pathway-dependency theory emerges as a better predictor for institutionalising climate change adaptation and resilience in Indonesia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Climate and Adaptation Tools)

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Review

Jump to: Research, Other

23 pages, 2239 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Meteorological and Ancillary Data Resources for Climate Research in Urban Areas

by Sorin Cheval, Dana Micu, Alexandru Dumitrescu, Anișoara Irimescu, Maria Frighenciu, Cristian Iojă, Nicu Constantin Tudose, Șerban Davidescu and Bogdan Antonescu

Climate 2020, 8(3), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli8030037 - 25 Feb 2020

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5578

Abstract

An increasing plethora of both meteorological and ancillary data are presently available for climate research and applications in urban areas. The data are often held by local or national institutions (i.e., meteorological services, universities or environmental agencies). This paper outlines a total number [...] Read more.

An increasing plethora of both meteorological and ancillary data are presently available for climate research and applications in urban areas. The data are often held by local or national institutions (i.e., meteorological services, universities or environmental agencies). This paper outlines a total number of 33 datasets, organized into three main categories of meteorological data resources (14 datasets) and four categories of ancillary data resources (19 datasets), selected for their potential to support urban climate studies, but also for their free accessibility. Such a collection cannot be exhaustive, but we aim to draw the attention of the scientific community to relevant datasets, freely available at temporal and spatial resolutions appropriate for urban climatology. Each dataset contains information about its availability, limitations, and examples of research in urban areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Climate and Adaptation Tools)

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32 pages, 3697 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

The Maturing Interdisciplinary Relationship between Human Biometeorological Aspects and Local Adaptation Processes: An Encompassing Overview

by Andre Santos Nouri and Andreas Matzarakis

Climate 2019, 7(12), 134; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli7120134 - 25 Nov 2019

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4336

Abstract

To date, top-down approaches have played a fundamental role in expanding the comprehension of both existing, and future, climatological patterns. In liaison, the focus attributed to climatic mitigation has shifted towards the identification of how climatic adaptation can specifically prepare for an era [...] Read more.

To date, top-down approaches have played a fundamental role in expanding the comprehension of both existing, and future, climatological patterns. In liaison, the focus attributed to climatic mitigation has shifted towards the identification of how climatic adaptation can specifically prepare for an era prone to further climatological aggravations. Within this review study, the progress and growing opportunities for the interdisciplinary integration of human biometeorological aspects within existing and future local adaptation efforts are assessed. This encompassing assessment of the existing literature likewise scrutinises existing scientific hurdles in approaching existing/future human thermal wellbeing in local urban contexts. The respective hurdles are subsequently framed into new research opportunities concerning human biometeorology and its increasing interdisciplinary significance in multifaceted urban thermal adaptation processes. It is here where the assembly and solidification of ‘scientific bridges’ are acknowledged within the multifaceted ambition to ensuring a responsive, safe and thermally comfortable urban environment. Amongst other aspects, this review study deliberates upon numerous scientific interferences that must be strengthened, inclusively between the: (i) climatic assessments of both top-down and bottom-up approaches to local human thermal wellbeing; (ii) rooted associations between qualitative and quantitative aspects of thermal comfort in both outdoor and indoor environments; and (iii) efficiency and easy-to-understand communication with non-climatic experts that play an equally fundamental role in consolidating effective adaptation responses in an era of climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Climate and Adaptation Tools)

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Other

Jump to: Research, Review

6 pages, 197 KiB

Open AccessPerspective

Urban Transformation: From Single-Point Solutions to Systems Innovation

by Eleanor Tonks and Sean Lockie

Climate 2020, 8(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli8010017 - 20 Jan 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2328

Abstract

Adapting our cities to the new climate regime is critical to ensure that human development is not jeopardized and that the world’s citizens can thrive where they live. Faced as we are with the imperative to act, we now need to accept that [...] Read more.

Adapting our cities to the new climate regime is critical to ensure that human development is not jeopardized and that the world’s citizens can thrive where they live. Faced as we are with the imperative to act, we now need to accept that the challenges we face are not technical in nature—they are systemic. Traditionally, investments in low-carbon city solutions have suffered from being small and disaggregated, with a focus on single-point solutions. To truly enable city transformation at scale, we need to completely rewire our approach to urban innovation and implementation. To face our new reality, EIT Climate-KIC works on catalysing systems change through innovation in areas of human activity that have a critical impact on greenhouse gas emissions—cities, land use, materials, and finance—and to create climate-resilient communities. In this paper, EIT Climate-KIC reflects on its key learnings, as an innovation community, on how to apply innovation in service of urban transformation through the application of nature-based solutions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Climate and Adaptation Tools)

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