Suchergebnisse

Climate Change; Energy Efficiency; Remote Sensing; Photogrammetry; Physics

China has experienced rapid urbanization and rapid development of economy in the past decades, resulting in severe damage to the urban ecological environment, causing changes in the urban thermal environment and triggering the urban heat island effect. Moreover, the heat island effect has become a hot topic for scholars. The urban heat island effect refers to the phenomenon that the urban surface temperature is significantly higher than that of surrounding suburbs due to the interaction of man-made and natural. The city is considered to be the largest man-made ecosystem. Its heat island effect will not only change the growth habit of urban vegetation, but also affect the outer environment of urban buildings, it further influences human life and has a great negative impact on human health. Therefore, the study of the spatial-temporal variation characteristics of urban heat island effect and its influencing factors can provide data support for the environmental quality control and urban planning of local government departments. Based on the surface temperature remote sensing product data, we studied the spatial distribution characteristics of urban heat island effect in Wuhan from 2001 to 2013, by calculating the temperature difference between the highest and lowest temperatures and the average interval method for heat island classification. We conducted a trend analysis of vegetation cover from 2001 to 2013 initially explore the effects of vegetation cover n heat island effect. The results showed that: (1) From 2001 to 2013, the intensity of heat island in Wuhan was strong in the city center, weaker surrounding city center and the weakest in the suburbs; From 2001 to 2011, the intensity of heat island in Wuhan city was significantly weaken, among which Huangpi, Xinzhou, Jiangxia, Hannan and Caidian district were weaken, and the urban heat island effect of the city center was enhanced; From 2011 to 2013, the intensity of heat island in Wuhan city presented an increasing trend, among which Huangpi district, Xinzhou district and Caidian district were the most obvious, and the urban heat island effect was slightly weaken. (2) Between 2001 and 2013, the vegetation cover in Huangpi district and Xinzhou district increased significantly, and the vegetation cover in the downtown, Jiangxia district and Dongxihu district decreased significantly, corresponding to the urban heat island effect of Wuhan increased volatility. Our results showed that the spatial distribution of urban heat island effect in Wuhan city fluctuated with time during the study period, and the vegetation cover had a significant influence on it.

China has experienced rapid urbanization and rapid development of economy in the past decades, resulting in severe damage to the urban ecological environment, causing changes in the urban thermal environment and triggering the urban heat island effect. Moreover, the heat island effect has become a hot topic for scholars. The urban heat island effect refers to the phenomenon that the urban surface temperature is significantly higher than that of surrounding suburbs due to the interaction of man-made and natural. The city is considered to be the largest man-made ecosystem. Its heat island effect will not only change the growth habit of urban vegetation, but also affect the outer environment of urban buildings, it further influences human life and has a great negative impact on human health. Therefore, the study of the spatial-temporal variation characteristics of urban heat island effect and its influencing factors can provide data support for the environmental quality control and urban planning of local government departments. Based on the surface temperature remote sensing product data, we studied the spatial distribution characteristics of urban heat island effect in Wuhan from 2001 to 2013, by calculating the temperature difference between the highest and lowest temperatures and the average interval method for heat island classification. We conducted a trend analysis of vegetation cover from 2001 to 2013 initially explore the effects of vegetation cover n heat island effect. The results showed that: (1) From 2001 to 2013, the intensity of heat island in Wuhan was strong in the city center, weaker surrounding city center and the weakest in the suburbs; From 2001 to 2011, the intensity of heat island in Wuhan city was significantly weaken, among which Huangpi, Xinzhou, Jiangxia, Hannan and Caidian district were weaken, and the urban heat island effect of the city center was enhanced; From 2011 to 2013, the intensity of heat island in Wuhan city presented an increasing trend, among which Huangpi district, Xinzhou district and Caidian district were the most obvious, and the urban heat island effect was slightly weaken. (2) Between 2001 and 2013, the vegetation cover in Huangpi district and Xinzhou district increased significantly, and the vegetation cover in the downtown, Jiangxia district and Dongxihu district decreased significantly, corresponding to the urban heat island effect of Wuhan increased volatility. Our results showed that the spatial distribution of urban heat island effect in Wuhan city fluctuated with time during the study period, and the vegetation cover had a significant influence on it.

Cities are frequently experiencing artificial heat stress, known as the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. The UHI effect is commonly present in cities due to increased urbanization, where anthropogenic heat and human modifications have altered the characteristics of surfaces and atmosphere. Urban structure, land cover and metabolism are underlined as UHI key contributors and can result in higher urban densities being up to 10°C hotter compared to their peri-urban surroundings. The UHI effect increases the health-risk of spending time outdoors and boosts the need for energy consumption, particularly for air-conditioning during summer. Under investigation is what urban features are more resilient to the surface layer Urban Heat Island (sUHI) effect in precinct scale. In the context of Sydney, this ongoing research aims to explore the most heat resilient urban features at precinct scale. This UHI investigation covers five high-density precincts in central Sydney and is based on a nocturnal remote-sensing thermal image of central Sydney taken on 6 February 2009. Comparing the surface temperature of streetscapes and buildings' rooftops (dominant urban horizontal surfaces), indicates that open spaces and particularly streetscapes are the most sensitive urban elements to the sUHI effect. The correlations between street network intensity, open space ratio, urban greenery ratio and the sUHI effect is being analysed in Sydney's high-density precincts. Results indicate that higher open space ratio and street network intensity correlate significantly to higher sUHI effect at precinct scale. Meanwhile, 10% increase in the urban greenery can effectively decrease the precinct temperature by 0.6°C.

This report is a product of the research project 'Assessing the Impact of Solar PV and A/C Waste Heat on Urban Heat Island Effects' along with an extension of the Microclimate and Urban Heat Island Mitigation Decision-Support Tool (UHI-DS Tool) (http://uhimitigationindex.be.unsw.edu.au/uhitool/login.html). Initiated by the Energy Efficiency Decision-Making Mode (EEDMN), this project addresses the urban policy and development assessment need for understanding the interrelationship of solar PV applications, A/C waste heat, urban and building typologies, and urban overheating effects. This report outlines the key findings of the project by highlighting a set of interrelated attributes and their impacts on the outdoor and indoor thermal environments, based on a literature review of existing research and a case study of Macarthur Heights greenfield development in Western Sydney. Project outcomes provide evidence to inform government policy and a holistic approach to assessing urban planning and development.Findings from this project show that solar PV (with current energy conversion efficiencies) and A/C waste heat can contribute to outdoor air temperature increases while UHI mitigation strategies such as cool roofs and a combination of these mitigation options contribute to the outdoor air temperature reductions at the city and precinct scale. The impacts are influenced by not only the solar PV energy conversion efficiency, but also urban and building typologies, and local microclimate characteristics. Solar PV helps reduce peak electricity demand, however, the solar PV electricity generation potential decreases during extreme heat events compared to typical summer days.Existing literature suggests that the future improvement of solar PV energy conversion efficiency could potentially lead to air temperature deceases due to the significant reduction of excess heat release to the surrounding environment. The improved solar PV electricity generation potential could also significantly reduce carbon emissions, thereby mitigating larger scale climate change challenges.Hence, recommendations for government intervention options need to carefully consider the specific local development context and microclimatic conditions when developing solar PV strategies and UHI mitigation options.