Search Results (607)

Rapid urbanisation and climate change are intensifying urban heat stress, posing significant challenges for climate-responsive urban planning. Digital and data-driven approaches, including GIS, remote sensing, microclimate simulation, and artificial intelligence (AI), have advanced urban climate analysis; however, their capacity to support human-centred planning remains insufficiently synthesised. This review analyses 78 peer-reviewed studies (2015–2025) to evaluate how digital methods address urban microclimate and outdoor thermal comfort. The reviewed studies are classified into four methodological groups: spatial data analytics, simulation-based models, parametric and optimisation workflows, and AI-driven or hybrid approaches. The results show that the majority of studies rely on proxy indicators, such as land surface temperature and sky view factor, while physiologically based comfort indices (e.g., PET and UTCI) are applied in a limited proportion of studies and remain largely confined to microscale simulations. A persistent scale mismatch is identified between large-scale analytics and pedestrian-level thermal experience, alongside geographic and climatic biases, particularly in hot-arid regions. Unlike previous reviews, this study integrates digital methodologies, urban microclimate processes, and human-centred thermal comfort within a unified framework. The findings provide actionable insights for planners and designers by supporting the integration of thermal comfort into multi-scale, climate-responsive decision-making. Full article

High-density cities face dual challenges of aging populations and climate change, driving widespread renewal of aging residential communities. Current practices, however, often treat sustainability goals (e.g., energy efficiency, carbon reduction) and age-friendly design objectives (e.g., accessibility, social inclusion), often guided by frameworks like the World Health Organization’s (WHO) age-friendly cities initiative, as separate or conflicting agendas, leading to fragmented policies and suboptimal outcomes. This study addresses this gap by proposing and testing a framework for “Sustainable-Age-friendly Coordinated Renewal” (SACR). Through a mixed-methods case study of a typical old community in the humid subtropical city of Guangzhou, China, we investigate how green infrastructure and low-carbon interventions can be synergistically designed to enhance both environmental performance and the well-being of elderly residents. A “Coordinated Renewal Strategy Package” was developed, incorporating ecological shading, sponge city facilities, energy retrofits, and accessible slow-traffic systems. Post-intervention simulation and evaluation indicated significant improvements in microclimate (e.g., reduced mean radiant temperature and Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET)) and marked increases in outdoor activity duration and social interaction frequency among elderly residents. This study concludes that a human-centric, needs-based design approach is key to unlocking synergistic benefits. The proposed SACR framework and evaluation matrix offer a practical tool for urban planners, architects, and policymakers to holistically assess and implement community renewal projects, contributing to more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban futures by addressing localized challenges like the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. Full article

Viral and fungal diseases of greenhouse strawberries lead to significant crop losses, while traditional uniform spraying schemes do not account for the actual distribution of infection foci or changes in the microclimate. This paper proposes an integrated system for greenhouse farms that combines a stochastic SIRS model of the epidemic process with a microclimate-dependent infection coefficient β_eff(t), a computer vision module based on a lightweight YOLOv10n detector, and a mobile sprayer robot. For three sets of parameters corresponding to moderate infection, outbreak, and suppression scenarios, ensemble simulations are performed (100 realizations per scenario). The results show that the maximum number of infected plants reaches approximately 690 out of 1000 in the outbreak scenario and only about 28 out of 1000 in the suppression scenario, reflecting the effect of timely microclimate correction and local spraying. The YOLOv10n detector is used as a sensor to determine the proportion of affected plants I(0)/N and provides automatic formation of the initial conditions of the population model. The resulting forecasts then serve as the basis for selecting one of three operating modes for the spraying robot (observation, microclimate correction, local treatment). Unlike existing works that consider disease detection, epidemiological models, or robotic spraying separately, this paper proposes a unified closed-loop scheme of “computer vision—stochastic model—mobile robot,” linking detection quality with epidemic process forecasting and treatment strategy. In this study, the feasibility of the proposed system was examined through numerical simulations, detector-level performance evaluation, and offline image-based integrated validation of the detector-to-decision workflow. Full closed-loop experiments in a real greenhouse environment are planned for future work. Full article

Climate change leads to less water in forest ecosystems and higher evapotranspiration during the growing season, increasing the risk of drought. This study evaluates microclimate and soil hydrology at two different sites in the Dobroč Primeval Forest (National Nature Reserve, NATURA 2000): a near-natural fir–beech buffer zone and a managed Norway spruce monoculture. Measurements cover two hydrological years with very different climatic conditions. The Climatic Water Balance (CWB) was used to assess precipitation deficit, and soil moisture dynamics were simulated with the GLOBAL mathematical model. In 2021, precipitation was 223.7 mm below the long-term average, and the cumulative CWB deficit from March to September was 224 mm. Drought risk peaked in summer 2021. The spruce stand’s A/B horizon was 197 days below the point of decreased availability (PDA), compared to 179 days in the beech buffer zone. Drought moved through the soil profile with a 3–4-day lag between horizons at both sites. Results confirm that Norway spruce monocultures are more drought-vulnerable than near-natural beech stands under identical conditions, supporting active forest conversion in Central European mountain regions. Full article

In the face of the dual challenges of global climate change and rapid urbanization, optimizing the ecosystem services of urban green spaces has become a key strategy for building resilient and sustainable cities. This is particularly crucial in ecologically fragile arid and semi-arid regions. To accurately assess the thermal regulation function of urban green spaces, this study selected 20 parks in Xi’an, China. Combining remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, we adopted four established cooling indicators—Park Cooling Area (PCA), Park Cooling Efficiency (PCE), Park Cooling Intensity (PCI), and Park Cooling Gradient (PCG)—to systematically evaluate the thermal regulation functions of urban parks and their landscape-driving mechanisms. The results indicated that the average cooling amplitude of the parks was 2.53 °C, with an effective influence distance reaching 323.9 m, exhibiting a significant spatial gradient decay. We found a non-linear trade-off between green space scale and efficiency: while large parks provided a wider absolute cooling range, small and medium-sized parks demonstrated higher efficiency per unit area. Furthermore, a blue-green synergistic configuration significantly enhanced the mitigation of the urban heat island effect. The study confirmed that Park Area (PA), Park Perimeter (PP), and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) significantly promoted cooling effects, whereas landscape fragmentation inhibited ecological benefits. This study elucidates the comprehensive regulation mechanism of urban parks on the urban microclimate, providing planning guidance for implementing Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and achieving climate-adaptive development in arid and semi-arid cities within the context of urban renewal. Full article

Urban roadside environments are characterized by altered microclimate and soil conditions that impose recurrent drought stress on trees, affecting their physiological performance and adaptive capacity. Understanding species-specific physiological and structural responses to drought stress is crucial for selecting tree species that are suitable for urban environments. In the present study, we investigated the species-specific and temporal (monthly) patterns of the in situ leaf physiological status and structural traits of two riparian tree species, Quercus robur L. and Carpinus betulus L., cultivated as urban roadside trees in Novi Sad, Serbia, throughout the growing season (from June to September). This was achieved by assessing leaf gas exchange and rapid light curves of chlorophyll a fluorescence together with leaf structural traits. Under drought stress, Q. robur exhibited sustained photosynthetic activity and transpiration rates due to reduced stomatal sensitivity, indicative of a more anisohydric behavior with respect to its water relations strategy. In contrast, C. betulus exhibited tighter stomatal regulation and showed lower assimilation rates accompanied by reduced cooling capacity, indicating stricter, more conservative water-balance management indicative of isohydric species. Fluorescence indices revealed contrasting behavior: C. betulus showed enhanced NPQ values accompanied by a decline in photosynthetic efficiency, while Q. robur exhibited lower NPQ, suggesting better maintenance of photosynthetic performance and electron transport in PSII under the observed drought stress. These patterns were further supported by higher stomatal density combined with smaller stomatal size, indicating faster stomatal response rates in C. betulus compared to Q. robur. Overall, these results suggest that C. betulus is a more promising riparian tree species for urban landscapes, particularly under drought-prone conditions and predicted climate changes, in comparison to Q. robur. Full article

Against the backdrop of advancing the “dual carbon” goals (carbon peaking and carbon neutrality), the “fishery–photovoltaic complementary” model—integrating solar power generation with salt pan production—has been widely adopted in Tianjin. However, large-scale photovoltaic (PV) facility construction exerts complex impacts onsalt panns, a wetland ecosystem of unique ecological value, by blocking sunlight, altering local microclimates, and regulating water evaporation. Currently, systematic field studies on the comprehensive effects of PV facilities onsalt pans ecosystems remain scarce, particularly those focusing on impacts on primary producers and key environmental factors. Pond sediments harbor the densest and most diverse aquatic microbial communities. In this study, sediment samples were collected from four typical ponds in Tianjin’salt panan region in April, July, and September 2024. Post sample processing, multiple statistical analyses were conducted, including alpha diversity indexing, species abundance clustering, and beta diversity analysis (non-metric multidimensional scaling, NMDS). The results showed the following: (1) Microbial communities existed in both PV-equipped and non-PV areas, indicating no significant correlation between PV presence and alpha diversity indices. (2) Species and genus compositions aggregated in PV-equipped areas with generally consistent community structures, whereas they displayed high dispersion in non-PV areas. This regulatory effect of PV facilities was relatively stable, with deviations only at a few sampling sites, confirming that PV presence significantly affects community composition patterns at both species and genus levels. (3) Cluster heatmap analysis revealed distinct seasonal variations in clustering relationships between sampling stations and microbial genera. Among dominant genera, only Desulfotignum was unaffected by PV facilities or seasonal changes, while the distribution of other dominant genera was significantly influenced by PV construction. Full article

Urban green space (UGS) constitutes critical ecological infrastructure for climate adaptation and sustainable urban transitions. This review synthesizes the conceptual evolution of UGS, elucidating the coupled dynamics driven by anthropogenic interventions and climatic forces. We highlight that UGS has evolved from spontaneous vegetation to systematically planned infrastructure, serving dual cultural and ecological functions. While human drivers—spanning policy frameworks, species selection, and maintenance regimes—dictate the spatial morphology of UGS, climatic conditions and extreme weather events modulate vegetation resilience and performance, creating distinct bioclimatic patterns, particularly within Chinese cities. Collectively, these forces govern the structural integrity and ecosystem performance of UGS. Methodologically, this study combines a bibliometric analysis of Web of Science publications from 2000 to 2025 with a PRISMA-based systematic literature review and a semi-quantitative synthesis of recent empirical studies. The bibliometric analysis provides a global overview of research hotspots and thematic evolution in UGS research, while the in-depth synthesis and factor prioritization primarily focus on China-based studies published between 2021 and 2025. By integrating evidence on both human activities and climatic factors, this review clarifies the dominant driving mechanisms shaping UGS under rapid urbanization and climate change, while situating China-specific findings within the broader international literature. Although UGS delivers well-documented benefits for microclimate regulation and social well-being, accelerating urbanization and increasing climate complexity pressures indicate that existing management approaches could be further enhanced to meet emerging demands. Consequently, future UGS development should shift from quantitative expansion to qualitative optimization and spatial equity. We propose a research agenda prioritizing cross-climate comparative frameworks, smart maintenance technologies, and inclusive governance to bolster UGS resilience, thereby advancing long-term sustainable development goals. Full article

Frequent rainfall during the ripening season in Shaanxi’s grape-growing regions increases the incidence of downy mildew and black rot. In recent years, rain-shelter cultivation has reduced the incidence of these diseases; however, it has been associated with frequent powdery mildew outbreaks that severely compromise fruit quality and yield. To mitigate powdery mildew under rain-shelter conditions, we characterized disease dynamics and evaluated “bio-based” or “microbial-derived” pesticide control strategies. A large number of studies have shown that rain shelter cultivation can significantly change the microclimate. This study found that changes in microclimate affect the incidence pattern of powdery mildew, and there are significant differences in the resistance of different grape varieties to powdery mildew. A prediction model based on microclimate showed that 15-day accumulated growing degree days (GDD15; base 10 °C) before disease onset were positively correlated with the disease index (r = 0.860), whereas relative humidity was negatively correlated (r = −0.637); a multiple regression including both variables explained 81.4% of the variance. In biopesticide screening, blasticidin S and polyoxin inhibited spore germination by >95%. In-shelter efficacy varied among cultivars, and biopesticide effects on fruit quality were also cultivar dependent. For example, blasticidin S increased total phenol and anthocyanin contents in Cabernet Sauvignon but reduced phenolic accumulation in Chardonnay. Full article

Vegetation physiological processes are critical regulators of terrestrial carbon–water cycles and local microclimate dynamics, with photosynthetically active radiation (PAR, 400–700 nm) serving as a primary driving force. However, most vegetation–climate process models simplify the fraction of PAR in global solar radiation as a constant 50%, potentially introducing diurnal simulation biases that propagate into cumulative annual errors in vegetation carbon–water coupling estimates. To address this limitation, we first evaluated the performance of three empirical models for simulating the dynamic PAR fraction and integrated the most accurate model into the Vegetation Microclimate Process (VMcP) model, and further used typical meteorological year (TMY) data of Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen as input to compare the differences in vegetation carbon–water processes before and after the improvement. The results show that the diurnal variation range of PAR fraction in global solar radiation is between 39% and 58%. The existing models that neglect the dynamic changes in PAR may overestimate vegetation transpiration cooling and photosynthetic carbon sequestration by 2.3% and 3.5%, respectively. Meanwhile, Shenzhen (64.3 W/m²; 1.59 g/m²·d), characterized by favorable light and thermal conditions, is more prone to large errors compared with Shanghai (47.6 W/m²; 1.21 g/m²·d) and Beijing (39.5 W/m²; 0.93 g/m²·d). This study provides a novel tool for the accurate assessment of vegetation-mediated microclimate improvement, and offers a new perspective for nature-based climate solutions. Full article

Filamentous fungi are among the most significant biological agents responsible for the biodeterioration of organic cultural heritage materials preserved in archives, libraries, and museums. Cellulose-based substrates—such as paper, papyri, and plant-derived textiles—as well as protein-based materials, including parchment and leather, provide favourable conditions for fungal colonization due to their chemical composition and hygroscopic behaviour. Once activated, fungi contribute to deterioration through a combination of mechanical penetration and biochemical processes, including the secretion of hydrolytic enzymes, organic acids, and pigmented metabolites, which progressively compromise the structural integrity and visual appearance of heritage objects. This review aims to critically synthesize current knowledge on the mechanisms of fungal biodeterioration affecting organic heritage materials, with particular attention to material-specific vulnerabilities, indoor environmental drivers, and implications for preventive conservation. Recent advances in fungal ecology have highlighted the presence of xerophilic and extremotolerant taxa capable of persisting under conditions traditionally considered unfavourable for microbial growth, posing new challenges for conservation management. Rather than attributing biodeterioration directly to global climate change, this review explicitly emphasizes the role of indirect and building-mediated climate-related stressors—such as increased frequency of moisture intrusion events, infrastructure vulnerability, and microclimatic instability within buildings—in shaping fungal risk in indoor heritage environments. The integration of environmental monitoring, microbiological diagnostics, and predictive risk-assessment tools emerges as a key strategy for early detection and mitigation. By consolidating interdisciplinary evidence from microbiology, materials science, and heritage conservation, this work underscores the need to shift from reactive restoration toward anticipatory, risk-based preventive approaches to ensure the long-term preservation of organic cultural heritage materials. Full article

Under the dual pressures of global climate change and rapid urbanization, historic districts face the challenge of improving livability and adapting to climate conditions while preserving their historical fabric. While street greening is recognized as a key mitigation strategy, the lack of quantitative, spatially explicit guidelines often leads to indiscriminate planting and inefficient resource use in practice. Taking the historic districts of Nanjing—a representative city in China’s hot-summer and cold-winter region—as a case study, we systematically explored the comprehensive impacts of street orientation, height-to-width ratios (H/W), and spacing of street trees on the microclimate of the districts through empirical analysis and ENVI-met simulation. Then we constructed a typical street canyon model to simulate winter and summer conditions, and regression models were established to identify suitable SVF ranges for different street orientations. Results indicate that the recommended SVF ranges vary by street orientation: 0.3–0.5 for S–N, SE–NW, and NE–SW streets, and 0.4–0.6 for E–W streets. Crucially, denser planting does not always improve comfort. These evidence-based thresholds were applied to the renewal of Yongyuan Road. The study delivers spatially explicit guidelines in the form of quantitative planting thresholds to support climate-resilient street tree planning in historic districts, helping to enhance planting precision and resource efficiency. Full article

Agrivoltaics (AVs), the co-location of photovoltaic panels and agricultural production, is increasingly promoted as a strategy to enhance land-use efficiency and support renewable energy transitions. While numerous studies emphasize potential synergies, growing evidence indicates that AV systems also entail significant biophysical, ecological and socio-economic trade-offs. This review synthesizes published literature on the negative impacts and management challenges associated with agrivoltaics across diverse crops, climates and institutional contexts. A structured literature analysis was conducted, integrating findings from experimental field studies, ecological assessments, economic evaluations and policy analyses. The reviewed evidence demonstrates that panel-induced shading and altered microclimatic conditions frequently reduce photosynthetically active radiation, modify soil temperature and moisture regimes, and impair photosynthetic efficiency, yield stability, and quality in light-demanding crops. Open-field AV installations further alter understory vegetation, pollinator activity and soil arthropod communities, leading to functional biodiversity losses beneath panel-covered areas. Economic and institutional analyses reveal high investment costs, regulatory ambiguity and land-tenure constraints that disproportionately transfer agronomic and financial risks to farmers, while land-use conflicts may reduce food production and contribute to indirect land-use change. Overall, open-field AV outcomes are strongly context- and design-dependent. The review highlights the need for long-term, integrative assessments and governance frameworks that explicitly address trade-offs to ensure that AVs contribute to sustainable land-use transitions rather than undermining agricultural and ecological functions. Full article

This paper examines the use of organic-based materials to monitor levels of corrosivity in indoor microclimate environments, which include proximity to artworks, artworks in display cases, and, in particular, in microclimate frames for paintings. It reviews research conducted within four EU-funded projects: Environmental Research for Art Preservation (ERA), Microclimate Indoor Monitoring in Cultural Heritage Preservation (MIMIC), Improved Protection of Paintings during Exhibition and Storage (PROPAINT), and Measurement, Effect Assessment, and Mitigation of Pollutant Impact on Movable Cultural Assets—Innovative Research for Market Transfer (MEMORI). The ERA project introduced the use of egg tempera paint dosimeters to assess levels of corrosivity in proximity to artworks. A multi-analytical approach was employed to evaluate chemical changes in the dosimeters, enabling risk assessment, exemplified by samples exposed at Sandham Memorial Chapel, Hampshire, UK. Building on this, in the MIMIC project, coated piezoelectric quartz crystals (egg tempera and resin mastic), a varnish commonly used by artists, were exposed at a number of sites together with the same coatings on steel strips. These were further employed in the PROPAINT project together with some continuous monitoring prototypes to investigate the nature of microclimates both within specially designed mc-paint frames and in the surrounding room environments. This paper presents Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) from these exposures, together with environmental data recorded during the monitoring period and information on frame types used. Some correlation was found between FTIR, DMA, and environmental data. The findings reveal that changes in the physico–chemical properties measured by the techniques correlate with the environmental conditions. It also points to the possibility of using FTIR to monitor chemical changes in exposed coated strips. Additional data from the MEMORI project of similar exposures but including dammar and Regalrez 1094 varnish are also presented. Full article

Climate change is modifying ecoclimatic conditions, including temperature, solar radiation, and water availability, with significant impacts on grapevine phenology, berry ripening, and the polyphenolic composition of grapes cultivated in temperate regions. The influence of different meteorological conditions during ripening on the polyphenolic composition of Grignolino grapes grown in a hilly environment was investigated. Grapes were collected, over three vintages, from three vineyards differing in their vine age and bunch microclimate due to having different vineyard aspects. We considered a comparable berry weight, moderate rainfall and cool conditions before veraison, followed by a warm and dry pre-harvest stage that enhanced the phenolic and especially the anthocyanin index in the grapes (e.g., 360 mg kg⁻¹ in 2021 versus 260 mg kg⁻¹ in 2020). Intense heat and dry conditions reduced the berry weight, leading to an increase in both flavonols and hydroxycinnamoyl tartaric acids, particularly in the younger, southwest-exposed vineyard. Older vines with a cooler aspect were the most resilient to different meteorological conditions, while young vines showed greater variability over the years. The phenolic composition was strongly influenced by the intensity and the timing of thermal stress, and eventually on limited water availability during ripening; it also depended on the vine age and the vineyard microclimate determined by the hillside aspect. This knowledge may support adaptive strategies to preserve grape quality under climate change. Full article