Modeling Urban Heat Islands and Thermal Comfort During a Heat Wave Event
in East China with CLM5 Incorporating Local Climate Zones
Abstract
The urban expansion-induced heat can deteriorate heat stress for urban
dwellers, especially during heat waves. With a focus on the intra-urban
variability of UHIs and thermal comfort, the urban parameterization
within the CLM5 was modified to incorporate the LCZs framework to
simulate urban climate during a HW event in the summer of 2013 in East
China. The simulations were validated by observation data from a flux
tower measurement site, conventional stations and automatic
meteorological stations, which exhibits a reasonable agreement. The aim
of this work was to investigate: 1) the variability of temperature and
heat stress in relation to each urban LCZ, 2) the influence of
intra-urban inhomogeneity on attributing factors of SUHII, 3) the
response of CUHII and SUHII, urban thermal comfort and controlling
factors of SUHII to HW. The results show that daytime and nighttime
CUHII were highest in LCZ3 and LCZ1 areas, respectively. SUHII
separately peaked in LCZ8 and LCZ1 areas during daytime and nighttime.
Contrasts of CUHII and SUHII between urban classes could exceed 1.7℃ and
5.4℃ which varied with background climate and HW episode. Urban dwellers
were exposed to the most serious heat stress in LCZ3 and LCZ1 areas over
the north subtropical climate zone. The intra-urban heterogeneity
resulted in the changes in dominant factors controlling SUHII that were
modulated by local climate and HW intensity. Moreover, UHIs and thermal
comfort were obviously affected by the occurrence of HW events such as
the changes in CUHII for LCZ7 (1.0℃) and SUHII for LCZ8 (3.8℃).