Integrated Assessment of Urban Overheating Impacts on Human Life

Earth s Future, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 10(8)

Published: Aug. 1, 2022

Abstract Urban overheating, driven by global climate change and urban development, is a major contemporary challenge that substantially impacts livability sustainability. Overheating represents multifaceted threat to the well‐being, performance, health of individuals as well energy efficiency economy cities, it influenced complex interactions between building, city, scale climates. In recent decades, extensive discipline‐specific research has characterized heat assessed its implications on human life, including ongoing efforts bridge neighboring disciplines. The horizon now encompasses problems involving wide range disciplines, therefore comprehensive integrated assessments are needed address such interdisciplinarity. Here, our objective go beyond review existing literature instead provide broad overview defining holistic pathways for addressing life. We (a) detail characterization hazards exposure across different scales in various (b) identify individual sensitivities overheating increase vulnerability cause adverse populations, (c) elaborate adaptive capacities cities can adopt, (d) document energy, (e) discuss frontiers theoretical applied climatology, built environment design, governance toward reduction at scales. most critical challenges future application identified, targeting both gaps need greater integration assessments.

Language: Английский

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Lower Urban Humidity Moderates Outdoor Heat Stress

AGU Advances, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 3(5)

Published: Sept. 20, 2022

Abstract Surface temperature is often used to examine heat exposure in multi‐city studies and for informing urban mitigation efforts due scarcity of air measurements. Cities also have lower relative humidity, traditionally not accounted large‐scale observational risk assessments. Here, using crowdsourced measurements from over 40,000 weather stations ≈600 clusters Europe, we show the moderating effect this urbanization‐induced humidity reduction on outdoor stress during 2019 heatwave. We demonstrate that daytime differences index between their surroundings are weak, associations urban‐rural difference with background climate, generally examined surface perspective, diminished moisture feedbacks. spatial variability temperature, within these clusters—relevant detecting hotspots potential disparities exposure—and find a poor proxy intra‐urban distribution daytime. Finally, vegetation shows much weaker (∼1/6th as strong) than which has broad implications optimizing strategies. These findings valid operational metrics shaded conditions (apparent humidex), thermodynamic proxies (wet‐bulb temperature), empirical indices. Based evidence, lack better alternatives, may be suitable accurately strategies across cities, necessitating more urban‐scale observations urban‐resolving models.

Language: Английский

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Climate change adaptation to extreme heat: a global systematic review of implemented action

Oxford Open Climate Change, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 1(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2021

Abstract Extreme heat events impact people and ecosystems across the globe, they are becoming more frequent intense in a warming climate. Responses to span sectors geographic boundaries. Prior research has documented technologies or options that can be deployed manage extreme examples of how individuals, communities, governments other stakeholder groups adapting heat. However, comprehensive understanding current state implemented adaptations—where, why, what extent occurring—has not been established. Here, we combine data from Global Adaptation Mapping Initiative with heat-specific systematic review analyze global diversity adaptation actions (n = 301 peer-reviewed articles). Data 98 countries suggest adaptations fundamentally differ by region national income. In high-income, developed countries, is overwhelmingly treated as health issue, particularly urban areas. low- middle-income, developing focus on agricultural livelihood-based impacts, primarily considering compound hazard drought hydrological hazards. 63% heat-adaptation articles feature individuals communities autonomously adapting, highlighting responses date have largely consisted coping strategies. The status intensifying heat, autonomous incremental yet widespread, establishes foundation for informed decision-making impacts around world continue increase.

Language: Английский

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Planning for Extreme Heat

Journal of the American Planning Association, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 88(3), P. 319 - 334

Published: Dec. 8, 2021

Problem, research strategy, and findings Extreme heat is the deadliest climate hazard in United States. Climate change urban island effect are increasing number of dangerously hot days cities worldwide need for communities to plan extreme heat. Existing literature on planning focuses mapping modeling, whereas few studies delve into governance processes. We surveyed professionals from diverse across States establish critical baseline information a growing area practice scholarship that future can build on. Survey results show planners concerned with risks, particularly environmental public health impacts change. Planners already report heat, energy water use, vegetation wildlife, health, quality life. Especially affected communities, claim they address plans implement mitigation management strategies such as forestry, emergency response, weatherization, but perceive many barriers related human financial resources political will.Takeaway about especially face They beginning through different types, we see opportunities better connect existing sources leverage tools, including vegetation, land use regulations, building codes, mitigate risks. Although persist, capital resources, uniquely qualified coordinate communities’ efforts rising threat

Language: Английский

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More than surface temperature: mitigating thermal exposure in hyper-local land system

Journal of Land Use Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 17(1), P. 79 - 99

Published: Jan. 2, 2022

Regional land surface temperature (LST) maps derived from remote sensing data are most available to cities assess and respond heat. Yet, LST only captures one dimension of urban climate. This study investigates the extent which estimates a proxy for multiple climate variables at hyper-local scales (<10s meters). We compare remotely sensed (RS-LST) field simulated LST, MRT, air (AT), in neighborhood Tucson, Arizona, USA. find that ST follow different diurnal trends masked by RS-LST. also three-dimensional design is better predictor MRT than two-dimensional cover albedo – known determinant Shade both conclude RS-LST not adequate guiding heat mitigation cities.

Language: Английский

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How are cities planning for heat? Analysis of United States municipal plans

Environmental Research Letters, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 17(6), P. 064054 - 064054

Published: May 26, 2022

Abstract Heat has become a central concern for cities everywhere, but heat governance historically lagged behind other climate change hazards. This study examines 175 municipal plans from the 50 most populous in United States to understand which aspects of urban are included or not city and what factors explain inclusion. We find that majority mention heat, few include strategies address it even fewer cite sources information. The term ‘extreme event’ (EHE) is significantly more likely be paired with institutional actions as part hazard planning, while ‘urban island’ (UHI) green grey infrastructure interventions general planning. Disparity thermal comfort framings related any solutions used least. Plan type, followed by environmental networks (e.g. C40, Urban Sustainability Directors Network, Rockefeller 100 Resilient Cities), variation plan content; social context do not. Findings point emergence two independent systems, EHE UHI, several gaps planning: integration, specificity, solutions, disparity, economy, comfort.

Language: Английский

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Evidence of alliesthesia during a neighborhood thermal walk in a hot and dry city

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 834, P. 155294 - 155294

Published: April 18, 2022

Designing cities for thermal comfort is an important priority in a warming and urbanizing world. As temperatures continue to break extreme heat records, it necessary develop test new approaches capable of tracking human sensations influenced by microclimate conditions, complex urban geometries, individual characteristics dynamic settings. Thermal walks are promising novel research method address this gap. During walk Phoenix, Arizona, USA, we examined relationships between the built environment, microclimate, subjective judgments across downtown city neighborhood slated redevelopment. Subjects equipped with GPS devices participated 1-hour on hot sunny day recorded their experience field guide. Microclimate measurements were simultaneously collected using mobile human-biometeorological instrument platform MaRTy. Results revealed significant differences physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) modified (mPET) street segments more than 18 °C (25 mPET) maximum minimum values. Wider range mPET values reflected inclusion level data into model. Streets higher sky view factor (SVF) east-west orientation showed PET overall. Furthermore, evidence alliesthesia, pleasure resulting from slight changes conditions. Participants' sense was related mean segment they just walked, linear regression explaining over 60% variability. We also that estimated percent shade significantly correlated SVF, PET, mPET, pleasure, indicating participants could minor perceived as pleasant. Although generalization results limited low sample size, findings study improve understanding environments highlight value robust method.

Language: Английский

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Evidence-based guidance on reflective pavement for urban heat mitigation in Arizona

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: March 16, 2023

Urban overheating is an increasing threat to people, infrastructure, and the environment. Common heat mitigation strategies, such as green confront space limitations in current car-centric cities. In 2020, City of Phoenix, Arizona, piloted a "cool pavement" program using solar reflective pavement seal on 58 km residential streets. Comprehensive micrometeorological observations are used evaluate cooling potential based three exposure metrics-surface, air, mean radiant temperatures-across pavement-treated untreated neighborhoods. addition, reflectivity observed over 7 months across eight Results synthesized with literature provide context-based implementation guidelines mitigate urban where common strategies cannot be applied. The most important contextual factors consider for effective include location, background climate type, metric interest.

Language: Английский

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Public Health Preparedness for Extreme Heat Events

Annual Review of Public Health, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 44(1), P. 301 - 321

Published: Jan. 6, 2023

Heat is a dangerous hazard that causes acute heat illness, chronic disease exacerbations, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and range of injuries. Risks are highest during extreme events (EHEs), which challenge the capacity health systems other critical infrastructure. EHEs becoming more frequent severe, climate change driving an increasing proportion heat-related mortality, necessitating investment in protection. Climate-resilient better positioned for EHEs, EHE preparedness form disaster risk reduction. Preparedness activities commonly take action plans (HAPs), with many examples at various administrative scales. HAP can be divided into primary prevention, most important pre-event phase; secondary key to reduction early EHE;and tertiary later event phase. After-action reports postevent evaluation central adaptive management this climate-sensitive hazard.

Language: Английский

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Aligning nature-based solutions with ecosystem services in the urban century

Ecosystem Services, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 66, P. 101610 - 101610

Published: March 7, 2024

In an increasingly urbanized world, the concepts of ecosystem services and nature-based solutions can help tackle grand challenges. However, ambiguity in their definitions relationship between two complicates comprehensive research efforts as well effective application policy planning urban systems. This paper presents a framework to clarify explicitly relate concepts, enhancing applicability management Within framework, addressing challenges serves starting point for development implementation solutions. Nature-based alter flows that are produced by altering performance or changing how people engage with ecosystem. results both changes target services, non-targeted leading benefits. Using illustrative case studies, we show be applied expected increase intensity cities across world: stormwater heat stress. Moreover, highlight key topics will benefit from more integrated use services. The helps emphasize co-benefits, used make co-benefits multifunctionality explicit decision-making processes.

Language: Английский

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