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Rainfall-triggered landslides are most deadly in developing countries, and future urban sprawl and climate change could intensify existing risks. In these regions, enhancing efforts in urban landslide risk mitigation and climate change adaptation is crucial. Current landslide probability assessment methodologies struggle to support effective mitigation because they fail to represent local anthropogenic factors (e.g. informal housing) across space and time scales. To meet this challenge, we demonstrated in previous work that hillslope-scale mechanistic models representing such localised changes can be used to create synthetic libraries of urban landslides that account for both data and future scenario uncertainty. Here, we show how these libraries can become an explorative tool for researchers and stakeholders, allowing them to investigate slope stability variations across spatial scales and landscapes. Results highlight, for example, how the main slope instability drivers change according to the location (e.g., upper vs lower catchment), the landcover (e.g. forest vs urban) and the spatial scale analysed (e.g. at hillslope scale slope stability was mostly controlled by water table height, whereas at regional scale by slope geometry). Ultimately, we demonstrate that stochastic analyses can lead to a greater understanding of the system interactions and they can support the identification of mitigation strategies that perform well across spatial scales and uncertain scenarios. These strategies should be prioritised even if future conditions are unknown. This reasoning is shown on a data-scarce region with expanding informal housing. However, the same methodology can be applied to any urban context and with any mechanistic-based model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has significantly altered the precipitation rates in Pakistan. Its capital Islamabad, once a dynamic, futuristic, and resilient city, faces floods during monsoon and chronic water scarcity during summer. Using empirical data and mixed research methods, this paper has analysed the flood and drought resilience of the city and its inhabitants. The study has established the notion that the city and its residents have partial coping capacity to heavier rainfalls which, if left unattended, may lead to serious economic and physical losses in the future. Moreover, the residents also suffer from acute water scarcity during summer, confirming the fact that the city no longer ensures sufficient water supply to all of its residents. Based on the research findings and suggestions received from various stakeholders such as the residents, key-informants, and city management; this paper has highlighted the strengths in city resilience and also identified the gaps, which warrant immediate attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlights that Climate Resilient Development (CRD) can support sustainable development for all by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and offering adaptation options, while also contributing to innovation and transformation in urban areas. Based on China’s national pilot projects for low-carbon cities, sponge cities, and climate-resilient cities, this paper analyzes the potential and feasibility of Chinese cities in exploring the construction of “low-carbon-resilient cities”. First, referring to the relevant studies, the “Climate-Resilient Index” and “Low-Carbon Development Index” are constructed for 178 cities at or above the prefecture level in China. Second, by comparing the climate resilience index and the level of low-carbon development, this paper categorizes 178 Chinese cities into four groups with the potential to the co-benefits of synergy actions in mitigation and adaptation. Third, this paper showcases the potential and progress from some pilot model cities of the “climate-adaptive cities” in achieving the goal of “climate resilient development”. This paper will help advance China’s synergistic implementation of climate adaptation and mitigation policies, and provide examples and insights for cities in other developing countries to promote climate resilient development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urbanization effect (UE) on local or regional climate is a prominent research topic in the research field of urban climates. However, there is little research on the UE of Urumqi, a typical arid region city, concerning various climatic factors and their spatio–temporal characteristics. This study quantitatively investigates the UE of Urumqi on multiple climatic factors in summer based on a decade-long period of WRF–UCM (Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with the Urban Canopy Model) simulation data. The findings reveal that the UE of Urumqi has resulted in a reduction in the diurnal temperature range (DTR) within the urban area by causing an increase in night-time minimum temperatures, with the maximum decrease reaching −2.5 °C. Additionally, the UE has also led to a decrease in the water vapor mixing ratio (WVMR) and relative humidity (RH) at 2 m, with the maximum reductions being 0.45 g kg−1 and −6.5%, respectively. Furthermore, the UE of Urumqi has led to an increase in planetary boundary layer height (PBLH), with a more pronounced effect in the central part of the city than in its surroundings, reaching a maximum increase of over 750 m at 19:00 Local Solar Time (LST, i.e., UTC + 6). The UE has also resulted in an increase in precipitation in the northern part of the city by up to 7.5 mm while inhibiting precipitation in the southern part by more than 6 mm. Moreover, the UE of Urumqi has enhanced precipitation both upstream and downstream of the city, with a maximum increase of 7.9 mm. The UE of Urumqi has also suppressed precipitation during summer mornings while enhancing it in summer afternoons. The UE has exerted certain influences on the aforementioned climatic factors, with the UE varying across different directions for each factor. Except for precipitation and PBLH, the UE on the remaining factors exhibit a greater magnitude in the northern region compared to the southern region of Urumqi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban woodland composition and configuration have strong associations with land surface temperatures (LST), but the evidence is contradictory due to different spatial scales, regional climate zones, woodland types and urban contexts. In this study, we analyse associations between urban woodland and LST within and between five cities in different Köppen climate zones. Our consistent methodology is framed around local climate zones and conducted at a fine spatial scale. We find that urban woodland fragmentation, connectedness, and shape complexity all influence LST, though much less than overall cover. The importance of cover holds for all climates except for hot-desert (Cairo). Otherwise, every 1% increase in woodland cover corresponds to a reduction of LST of around 0.07 °C to 0.02 °C (London-Cfb > Toronto-Dfa > Nanjing-Cfa > Shenyang-Dwa). Within cities, increasing urban woodland cover generally reduces LST more in built-up compared to vegetated zones. Nevertheless, associations between local LST and urban woodland composition and configuration are highly heterogeneous across cities, especially in cooler climates. Thus, to unravel the complexities of urban woodland cooling, systematic analysis of contemporaneous local and regional factors is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Yangtze River Midstream Urban Agglomeration is a pivotal economic zone in China. Over the past 35 years, climate change has increased ecosystem vulnerability and instability in this area. Therefore, assessing landscape ecological risk (LER) is vital for this region. This study analyzed LER variations from 1985 to 2020 using statistical methods and landscape indices, and forecasted LER changes from 2025 to 2050 with multi-model meteorological data. Results show the following: (1) LER indices have decreased over the last 35 years, with a notable shift from high-risk to medium-risk areas. High LER areas remained concentrated in low-elevation, densely urbanized central regions, indicating severe ecological damage compared to high-elevation areas. (2) Climate change significantly impacts the LER index, with temperature exerting a stronger influence than precipitation. Overall, LER decreases with rising temperatures and precipitation, though some cities exhibit opposite trends. (3) Future multi-Shared Socioeconomic Pathway scenarios suggest a general decrease in LER with increased temperature and decreased precipitation, predominantly resulting in low- and medium-risk zones. High LER areas will persist in low-elevation zones, particularly in the southern and central plains. Given the high LER in the plains, the timely governmental regulation and control measures are essential for ensuring ecologically sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities have become increasingly vocal in addressing climate change, crafting climate mitigation strategies, and committing to ambitious emission reductions. Previous studies found no evidence that ambitious targets, analyzed as a single factor, translate into actual emission reductions in cities. Yet, is this still the case if ambitious targets are analyzed in combination with other institutional and socioeconomic factors? We carry out a fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis of all cities reporting their emissions to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) where data are available for at least four years between 2000 and 2020. The analysis tests whether ambitious emission reduction targets, in conjunction with size, affluence, and favourable domestic enabling conditions are systematically associated with substantial emission reductions. Results show different configurations leading to emission reductions. In some configurations, ambitious targets are redundant or counterproductive. In other configurations, ambitious targets are necessary to achieve emission reductions. These results call for greater attention to cities' heterogeneity when studying urban climate governance. Key policy insights Three configurations seem systematically associated with downward emission trends: being large and affluent; being small and without ambitious emission reduction targets; and being large, with ambitious emission reduction targets but without favourable domestic enabling conditions. Ambitious emission targets and favourable conditions at the national level seem redundant for emission reductions in cities that are both large and affluent. These cities seem to achieve emission reductions regardless of the presence of ambitious targets. Small cities need to cooperate with other actors to reduce emissions and therefore need to be pragmatic and strategic in setting their targets. Large cities may need to set ambitious targets to exploit the benefits of their size for emission reduction. This seems to be necessary when they are lacking favourable conditions at the national level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses articles in the issue on topics including urban climate finance, private financialization, and the roles of cities in managing climate vulnerabilities and justice.

Many urban areas are characterized by both a growing population and an intensification of summer heat events in the context of climate change. Thus, more and more people are exposed to heat stress and corresponding health consequences. Measures for climate change adaptation, such as unsealing strategies, are needed in the existing urban fabric to reduce sensible heat flux by increasing latent heat flux to cool down the urban environment without requiring additional space or changing the basic function of the area. Unsealing measures like grass grid pavers (GGPs) can also help to reduce flooding risks due to increased infiltration and water storage capacities. Up to now, a parameterization of GGPs for microclimatic simulations is not available. To fill this research gap, we present a new GGP model parameterization developed for the fluid dynamics microclimate ENVI-met model based on field measurements with double-ring infiltrometers, etc., which can also be implemented in other microscale models in the field of urban climatology. To analyse the microclimatic effects and the cooling potential of this GGP parameterization, scenario analyses were performed using a validated ENVI-met model setup for an urban high-density study area in Cologne, Germany. An extreme scenario was designed to address the maximum cooling potential of the GGPs in comparison to the dominant sealed asphalt surfaces in the study area, along with a more realistic scenario with a usage-compatible installation of GGPs in the model domain only in side streets and inner courtyards while main streets remain sealed. We found a maximum cooling potential of up to -20.1 K for ground surface temperature and up to -7.1 K for air temperature at 1 m above ground level for the hottest hour of a simulated 3 d heat wave in summer 2022, which represents a 20-year heat event in Cologne. On spatial average, a decrease of up to -11.1 K for surface temperature and up to -2.9 K for air temperature was determined. On temporal average for the 3 d heat event, statistically significant mean temperature differences of -5.8 K for surface temperature and -1.1 K for air temperature were simulated. Cooling effects are more pronounced during the daytime for surface temperature, especially in unshaded areas, while cooling effects for air temperature are strongest during the nighttime. Model results also show that the entire air volume in the study area is cooled down due to this adaptation measure, even in areas of the domain where no surfaces have been unsealed in the scenario design. The more realistic GGP scenario shows cooling effects of a comparable magnitude to the extreme GGP scenario. Thus, even partial GGP unsealing is an effective adaptation measure for reducing extreme temperatures in cities if water availability is not limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the personal experiences of Sandra Kaire as a postdoctoral researcher who worked with Margaret Somerville in relation to methodological approaches. The ideas were initially developed in consultation when Sandra worked together with Margaret at Western Sydney University, Australia. The paper explores Sandra's personal commitments and intimate engagement with young climate activists, and the development of visual, place-based and posthuman methodological approaches in relation to Sandra's postdoctoral research with young climate activists in three European counties. It includes photographs of their activist environments, observations, and transcripts of in-depth interviews. The paper reveals the significance of climate activism experiences of young people to their educational concerns, and the relationships of the locations of their activism to experiences of becoming more than itself by adding new ways of thinking about human and more-than-human relation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As living beings that change with the seasons, urban trees both indicate and structure time in the city. They do so through their own agency and life cycles and through the care and management they require in urban environments where they often stand in conflict with other land uses. In temperate zones, urban trees have been planted for centuries especially to provide cooling shade in hot summers. Their changeable and seasonal aesthetic effects, including their color, form, sound, and smell, have not only fostered individual urban identities but also impacted human psychological wellbeing. Focusing on cities in the temperate climate zone in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, this article shows how some tree species were bred and introduced in urban areas to create seasonal effects, while others were eliminated or manipulated to avoid unwanted seasonal characteristics. Scientists and citizen scientists from an early time onwards considered urban trees as indicators of seasonal variations of the urban climate and of the urban heat island effect. Urban tree phenology transgressed the popular Western notion of the four seasons by offering a more nuanced structure of the year. It also revealed variations of seasonal change as climate change, and it anticipated that the trees growing in our future cities will likely be of different species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we present three instruments: (1) a social vulnerability to extreme heat index to identify the areas of a city (and populations thereof) more vulnerable to extreme heat due to climate change (heat islands); (2) a new overall fragility index that incorporates social vulnerability to extreme heat as well as socioeconomic indicators; and (3) a climate shelter index (CSI) to identify areas within a city that can provide relief from extreme heat based on green and blue solutions. We elaborated these three indexes to measure social vulnerability to extreme heat in the municipality of Bologna, which serves as this article's case study. By analyzing the connections between social vulnerability to extreme heat and several socio-demographic variables in Bologna, we found that a decrease in income is significantly correlated with an increase in social vulnerability to extreme heat in urban contexts. A comparison between our new overall fragility index and the existing index adopted by the municipality of Bologna (Indice di fragilità, Comune di Bologna) showed that about 75% of the statistical areas observed are worse off when social vulnerability to extreme heat is also considered. Considering social vulnerability to extreme heat shows vulnerabilities in a city (here: Bologna) that the pre-existing index did not consider. These findings and our new indexes can support the Bologna administration (and other local administrations) in addressing the consequences of climate change for their most vulnerable residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This article examines the urban heat load (UHL) of Dubrovnik, a small Mediterranean city located in the complex terrain of the eastern Adriatic coast. In the study, the characteristics of the UHL are investigated in three special scenarios that mimic the different climate conditions: the recent climate (1981–2010), the hypothetical extreme climate (consisting of the 10 years with the hottest summers in the period 1961–2021) and the future climate (2041–2070) according to the RCP4.5 scenario. The UHL is quantified in terms of climate indices with fixed thresholds, defined as the annual number of days on which the daily minimum or maximum temperature exceeds certain thresholds. The analysis was carried out using the microscale urban climate model MUKLIMO_3. In addition, the potential benefits of certain measures to reduce UHL were investigated. In relation to the recent climate, the results show an increase in the amplitude of UHL under extreme and future climate conditions, with the UHL being strongest under the projected future climate conditions. In all three scenarios, the UHL is the highest in the built‐up parts of the city. However, a strong increase in UHL is obtained in the green parts of the domain indicating a possible reduction in the cooling capacity of green areas under warmer climate conditions. Applied land use/land cover (LULC) changes of the model area, which include changes in the albedo of roofs, the proportion of low vegetation, impervious surfaces and built‐up areas, have some influence on the reduction of UHL, but their effect is quite weak and mostly local. The greatest effect on reducing diurnal UHL is achieved by changing albedo, while the most effective reduction in nocturnal UHL is achieved by a combination of changes in albedo, the proportion of low vegetation, impervious surfaces and built‐up areas. Considering the relatively weak cooling effect of the LULC modifications and the potential reduction in vegetation efficiency under warmer climate conditions as well as the expected increase in heatwaves, it is likely that Dubrovnik will suffer from extremely high UHL in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban areas are recognized as critical zones for climate research due to the high number of people living in these areas and their significant impacts on local and regional climates. However, understanding urban boundary layer processes remains a challenge, as existing mesoscale models cannot resolve their fine-scale features and dynamics, while microscale fluid dynamics simulations remain computationally expensive or unfeasible for the full extent of the urban atmosphere. To address this gap, we present PALM-SLUrb, a single-layer urban canopy model for the PALM model system, offering a computationally efficient and physics-based model to represent urban surfaces on non-building-resolving grids. Together with the model description, we present sensitivity tests and a model comparison against grid-resolved urban canopies to demonstrate the model's performance. The results demonstrate the model's ability to extend the representation of key urban–atmosphere interactions in PALM into coarser grid resolutions on the order of 10 metres. By bridging the gap between computational efficiency and physical detail, PALM-SLUrb broadens PALM's capabilities in advancing urban climate research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban populations are increasingly exposed to excessive heat. Heat distribution in the urban environment can be affected by several factors, including the spatial arrangement of land use/land cover (LULC) that is specific to a given city. This study applies a climate model with urban canopy parameterisation to downscale future climate projections and simulate the spatio‐temporal pattern of heat in the urban environment to better understand the effect of LULC structure on its distribution. Heat conditions are characterised by climate indices that are well representative in two mid‐sized Central European cities of Brno and Ostrava (Czech Republic). Our results show that the annual number of hot days (HOT), summer days (SUD), tropical nights (TRN) and warm nights (WAN) will increase significantly (p < 0.01) in the 21st century in both cities. The model also simulates a more intensive increase and a higher spatio‐temporal variability in all indices in Brno compared to Ostrava. In Brno, the annual number of HOT and TRN is projected to be more than 500% of the 1981–2010 reference period's value by the end of the 21st century under the RCP 8.5 scenario. To determine the causes of the differences in heat distribution, we applied LULC configuration metrics and correlation analysis using various geographical factors. The higher risk of urban heat in Brno compared to Ostrava can be attributed to a more homogenised and less fragmented LULC structure and to the more substantial role of altitude in the complex terrain of Brno. Other factors, such as the presence of impervious surfaces and vegetation, have a similar effect on the variability of the studied indices in both cities. Urban planners should consider the role of the LULC structure and the changes that can be made in a city when designing adaptation measures to mitigate the effects of urban heat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the issue of air cooling in outdoor areas of human habitation. An analysis of air parameters during the summer season was carried out to determine the thermal comfort zone for a part of the northern platform of the local station in Rzeszow (Poland). The cooling capacity required for thermal comfort was calculated using outdoor air parameters and heat gains in the vicinity of the research object. Ten potential air-cooling systems were proposed for the outdoor zones. The systems differed in terms of cooling equipment, primary energy source, cooling medium, and recipients. They were divided into three categories: compressor, adsorption, and evaporative cooling. The electricity yield of the existing photovoltaic installation at the research facility was evaluated to identify potential synergies between the cooling demand and solar energy. An analysis assessed the energy, economic, and environmental impact of each proposed option. The best option for cooling the outdoor areas was found to be an evaporative cooling system with a PV system. Solar radiation can be effectively used for cooling outdoor zones in Poland in the summer. The optimal solution for the research facility is an evaporative cooling system based on direct evaporation combined with a photovoltaic system. The subject matter covered can be used as an effective tool for the optimal selection of outdoor air-cooling systems to ensure the thermal comfort of the occupants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the intersection of urban security and climate resilience, emphasizing the urgent need to prioritize climate adaptation and mitigation in urban planning. Through a comprehensive global survey of 256 experts across various fields, we uncover a consensus on climate change as a major threat to urban areas, affecting water, ecosystem, health, economic, and food security. Despite this recognition, our findings reveal a significant lack of preparedness and confidence in governmental responses. We highlight the interconnectedness of climate and economic factors, underscoring the challenges in decoupling economic growth from fossil fuel dependency. Furthermore, we explore the potential of smart technologies, such as early warning systems, data analytics, and green infrastructure, to enhance urban resilience. Our study advocates for a proactive and comprehensive approach to climate resilience, emphasizing the need for urban planners to incorporate innovative technological solutions that address both climate adaptation and mitigation. By focusing on these distinct yet interconnected strategies, we aim to foster secure, sustainable, and livable urban environments that effectively respond to current and future climate challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local Climate Zoning (LCZ) appears as a crucial framework, intricately deciphering the nuanced climatic variations within urban landscapes, centering on the physical structure and surface attributes of cities. With 17 distinct classes standing for diverse features, LCZ provides a nuanced lens for studying urban microclimates. In this study, a meticulous classification of Tehran's local climate classes was conducted using the Automated Geoscientific Analyses (SAGA) GIS software, complemented by sample verification through Google Earth. The findings illuminate Tehran's diverse urban climate, revealing two predominant classes: dense semi-tall and denser, shorter categories. A granular district-wise analysis unfolds varying climatic scenarios: Central and Northern Districts (e.g., Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, and 17): Marked by densely built-up areas (LCZ1 and LCZ2). Southern and Western Districts (e.g., Districts 9, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22): Hosting a mix of industrial zones and green expanses. While green spaces nestled among buildings are less conspicuous, predominantly confined to city parks (LCZ4 to LCZ6), the classifications strategically show areas with implications for high urban heat loads, pollution hotspots, best air circulation, and air quality. This insightful district-level analysis supplies a robust foundation for steering sustainable urban development. Field validation through on-site visits and meticulous photo documentation rigorously substantiates the accuracy of the output map. The research underscores the profound significance of LCZ, unraveling Tehran's climatic intricacies at a district level. This comprehensive understanding proves essential for steering sustainable urban development, navigating the complexities within the diverse topography of Tehran's districts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how cities develop climate plans is crucial to capture their potential to achieve ambitious climate goals. Previous literature has highlighted the role of external pressures or heroic actors in driving local changes. By highlighting the everyday practices of actors in urban climate planning, we reveal new sets of contradictions in climate governance. Drawing from social practice theory, this paper examines how contradictions were managed in the process of developing a new climate plan in Bergen, Norway. Through a variety of empirical sources, we explore the strategic value these offer, and the organisational work accomplished by the navigation of contradictions. We highlight three strategic benefits of negotiating contradictions: the legitimisation, expansion and signalling of climate work. In conclusion, the paper argues that considering practices of climate planning reveals novel forms of agency, namely the potential of mundane organisational processes and the pivotal role of civil servants in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As urbanization continues to accelerate, the urban heat island effect has become an increasingly severe environmental issue globally. Urban green spaces, as an important form of green infrastructure, have significant thermodynamic effects that can effectively regulate urban temperatures, alleviate the heat island effect, and improve the urban climate. However, with the expansion of cities and the reduction of green spaces, the thermodynamic effects of these spaces have not been fully utilized, and urban thermal environment issues have become more pronounced. Therefore, researching the thermodynamic effects of urban green spaces and optimizing their layout has become a crucial topic in urban environmental planning and management. Current studies primarily focus on the macroscopic evaluation of thermodynamic effects of urban green spaces through remote sensing data, meteorological monitoring, and other methods. However, these studies often neglect spatially refined analysis and fail to accurately reveal the thermodynamic effects of urban green spaces at different scales and across various types. Additionally, existing methods mainly focus on single-factor impacts, lacking a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between green space thermodynamic effects and factors such as urban morphology and land use. Therefore, a refined assessment method based on GIS technology and a comprehensive analysis of influencing factors are urgently needed to improve the accuracy and applicability of evaluating the thermodynamic effects of urban green spaces. This paper aims to conduct a refined assessment and layout optimization study of urban green space thermodynamic effects based on GIS technology. The research includes two main parts: first, using GIS technology to spatially represent the thermodynamic effects of urban green spaces, with detailed analysis through indicators such as thermodynamic effect footprints, effect capacity, and effect centers; second, combining GIS technology to perform a correlation analysis of the main influencing factors of urban green space thermodynamic effects and propose optimization strategies for green space layout based on effect evaluation. This study will provide a theoretical basis for urban green space planning and optimization and offer data support for mitigating the urban heat island effect and improving urban environmental quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urban heat island (UHI) effect has become a prominent urban characteristic in the last few decades and brings significant changes to the local urban climate. Such changes have severe impacts on the lifetime efficiency and performance of "critical urban infrastructure" (CUI). As CUI forms the backbone of vital urban systems and socio-economic processes, it becomes important to understand the various impacts of UHI on different CUI elements. The impacts of UHI on CUI have consequently become a prominent study area within the urban research domain. This study presents a systematic bibliometric review of 118 relevant articles published within the last decade (2012–2022), selected from a variety of indexed, scholarly databases. The articles mainly focused on developed regions and large urban areas. The review shows a consistent upward trend in the annual number of publications on UHI effects with a peak reached in 2020. Of the four major CUI groups studied for UHI impacts, built form and energy and communication (with a strong focus on increased energy consumption) are the most prominent topics in the current literature, followed by transportation, and water and sanitation. Research on other CUI elements is still quite sparse, and significant efforts would be needed to identify the nature of UHI's impacts on these factors. This review highlights that the UHI impact on CUI is a developing research area that requires further attention and illustrates the state of knowledge and gaps present in current research. These findings provide a clear direction for future UHI impact studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating solar radiation distribution at the urban scale is crucial for optimizing the placement and size of solar installations and managing urban heat. This study introduces a method for predicting urban solar radiation using 2D mapping data, applying a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) model to the city of Boston. Traditional solar radiation simulation methods, such as 3D modeling and satellite imagery, require complex and resource-intensive data inputs. In contrast, this research allows open-source 2D urban geographic information—such as building footprints, heights, and terrain—to predict solar radiation at various spatial scales (150 m, 300 m, and 500 m). The GAN model, using detailed 3D urban modeling and simulation results, trained paired datasets of geographic information and solar radiation heatmaps. It achieved high accuracy and resolution, with the 300 m scale model demonstrating the best performance (R2 = 0.864). The model's capability to generate high-resolution (2 m) solar radiation maps from simplified inputs demonstrates the potential of GANs for urban climate data prediction, offering a rapid and efficient alternative to traditional methods. This approach holds significant potential for urban planning, particularly in optimizing photovoltaic (PV) system layouts and managing the UHI effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urban heat island (UHI) effect, marked by higher temperatures in urban areas compared to rural ones, is a key indicator of human-driven environmental changes. This study aims to identify the key morphological parameters that primarily contribute to the development of surface urban heat island intensity (SUHII) and investigates the relationship between SUHII and urban morphology using land surface temperature (LST) data from the Sentinel-3 satellite. The research focuses on Milan and Lecce, analyzing how urban geometry affects SUHII. Factors such as building height, aspect ratio, sky visibility, and surface cover are examined using approximately 1000 satellite images from 2022 and 2023. The study highlights seasonal and diurnal variations in SUHII, with particular emphasis on HW periods. Through multicollinearity and multiple regression analyses, the study identifies the main morphological drivers influencing SUHII in the two cities, specifically the Impervious Surface Fraction (ISF) and Mean Building Height (HM). Milan consistently exhibits higher SUHII, particularly during HWs, while Lecce experiences a negative SUHII, especially during the summer, due to lower urban density, more vegetation, and the low soil moisture around the urban area. Both cities show positive SUHII values at night, which are slightly elevated during HWs. The heat wave analysis reveals the areas most susceptible to overheating, typically characterized by high urban density, with ISF and HM values in some cases above the 90th percentile (0.8 and 13.0 m, respectively) compared to the overall distribution, particularly for Milan. The research emphasizes the importance of urban morphology in influencing SUHII, suggesting that detailed morphological analysis is crucial for developing climate adaptation and urban planning strategies to reduce urban overheating and improve urban resilience to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, green spaces have the potential to mitigate the negative effects of urban microclimate. They play an important role in regulating the urban climate and have a positive effect on air temperature. The aim of the study is to test an urban green space in Erzurum, a city with a cold climate and different urban texture/density around it, through climate simulations and to determine the effect of different urban textures around it on the microclimate. During the study, vegetation cover, density analysis of the surrounding residential area and temperature measurements were made for the selected urban green area. ENVI-met program was used to produce maps of the analyzes. As a result of the simulation, it was determined that the urban green area was 2.01 oC cooler in summer and 1.2 oC warmer in winter compared to its built environment. As you move away from the urban green area, the temperature increases in summer and decreases in winter. In the built-up areas around the urban green area, it was found that the region with less dense / high-rise construction was warmer in summer and colder in winter compared to other regions. The results show that the temperature differences vary according to the urban texture, the microclimate effect of the urban green area is not only dependent on the green area and the characteristics of the immediate built environment are also effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerical simulation of urban heat islands – Evaluation of simulation results by thermal measurements Urban development, including urban surfaces, vegetation, and water bodies, influence the urban climate in various ways. In addition to the geometric features of the built environment, material properties such as thermal storage capacity and the radiative behavior of roofs, façades, and transportation infrastructure significantly impact the local climate and the formation of heat islands. To predict these effects, urban climate simulations are increasingly used and are now scientifically established. However, the question of the accuracy of these results frequently arises. This paper focuses on the evaluation of simulation results through thermal measurements, including temperature, wind speed, and thermography, conducted both at ground level and using drones. By comparing simulation outputs with measured data, input parameters for the simulations can be refined. This enables the development of reliable forecasts regarding the effectiveness of green infrastructure, such as green roofs and façades, in mitigating urban heat island effects. These insights form the basis for designing appropriate adaptation strategies to enhance urban resilience against increasingly intense heat events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance urban resilience to climate change in the future, this study quantitatively assesses the climate carrying capacity of the Beibu Gulf Urban Agglomeration (BGUA) in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from 2000 to 2020 and in a future projected study from 2021 to 2060. The data used includes real-time data from the National Meteorological Observatory, prediction data from the National Climate Center's global climate model BCC-CSM2-MR under different Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5), and socio-economic development data. The assessment is conducted using four criteria dimensions: climate natural capacity (CNC), extreme climate event pressure (ECP), urban climate pressure (UCP), and urban coordinated development capacity (UCC). The results indicate that from 2000 to 2020, there was a significant interannual fluctuation in the CNC and ECP in the BGUA. The UCP and the UCC showed an increasing trend, while the overall climate-carrying capacity of the BGUA showed a fluctuating decrease. It is estimated that the climate carrying capacity will exhibit a non-significant decreasing trend from 2021 to 2060, with the capacity in the period from 2021 to 2040 generally higher than that in the period from 2041 to 2060 and the SSP2-4.5 scenario higher than the SSP5-8.5 scenario overall. Currently and in the future, the climate-carrying capacity of the BGUA is primarily influenced by normal climate conditions and extreme events such as strong winds and temperature extremes. With the passage of time, climate instability will increase. Under the planned implementation of China's carbon peak and carbon neutrality pathway, the rate of increase in the capacity for coordinated urban development is expected to surpass the rate of increase in urban climate pressure. Industrial production and energy consumption are the main drivers of future urban climate pressure growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the climate has admittedly always been hot and humid in cities like Karachi, increasingly hotter temperatures are exacerbating the impact of heat on informal, precariously employed outdoor workers such as street vendors, guards and rickshaw drivers, who must negotiate their right and access to shade at the everyday scale. Recalling Mike Davis' radical, political claim that shade is an inalienable human right, this paper proposes that few people working in the outdoor spaces of the South Asian city today understand or experience shade in these terms. Rather shade is something that must be claimed, alongside other rights and entitlements. Moreover, shade alone is insufficient as it cannot reduce the exposure of bodies to harmful ambient radiations and overall thermal discomfort. This paper makes three broad propositions for outlining a theory for the social study of shade in the South Asian city. By paying closer attention to the ways that outdoor workers negotiate shade in Karachi, this paper opens up for analysis a wider spectrum of claims-making activity in changing South Asian urban climates. It places workers' search for shade in the broader context of shade policing and urban management aimed at creating spatial as well as social order. Finally, this article emphasises key directions and questions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until the 1990s and the spread of air-conditioning, cooling down during the hot, humid and windless summers in the city of Chongqing (Southwest China) was mainly practised outdoors: sleeping on the rooftops of multistorey buildings, playing mah-jongg in the streets, fanning oneself with a hand fan or installing bamboo beds in the compounds' leafy courtyards. With the availability of affordable electricity and the popularisation of mechanical cooling, refreshing oneself has been relocated to the indoors. The transforming practices in and around the house have led not only to an increasing dependency on electricity for cooling but also to a socio-economic stratification. This paper traces the history of heat mitigation in Chongqing since the 1950s. Based on five months of anthropological fieldwork, semi-structured interviews, and oral history, I analyse how Chongqing residents cope with heat in and around the built environment. Practices of cooling are closely intertwined with the architectural history of the city, for example, building design, construction materials, green spaces, or the arrangement of houses. Staying cool in the socialist era buildings from the 1960s meant something different compared to the high-rise buildings in the early-21st century. Theoretically, the paper engages with urban energy landscapes as 'connective tissue' where everyday heat mitigating practices are intertwined with the locally built environment including architecture, energy infrastructure and technologies. By focusing on the material culture involved in cooling, I shift our perspective from the large infrastructure to the small objects that co-constitute the energy landscape of urban heat mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local wind, such as sea breezes, play a crucial role in cooling coastal cities. This study presents new insights about the thermo‐hygrometric influence of the Tagus and Atlantic Ocean breezes (sea and estuarine breezes [SEBs]) in Lisbon's urban climate (Portugal). SEB events were identified in the summer of 2022 according to a wind rotation criterion: the interruption of prevailing North and Northwest (Nortada) winds during the morning, the wind shift to Northeast/East/Southeast and, sometimes, to further South/Southwest/West (rotation between 22.6° and 292.5°) and the return of the regional flow at late afternoon. Additionally, air temperature and absolute humidity anomalies (ΔT/Haurb) were calculated according to the distance to the riverfront area. Results show that SEB occurred on 37 (31%) out of 120 days, mainly in July (43%) and August (32%), between, on average, 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, and average wind speeds of 3.4 m/s. According to the daily thermo‐hygrometric cycle, the areas up to 4 km of the Tagus estuary were, on average, cooler than northern Lisbon during SEB events, especially the areas up to 500 m (average ΔTurb reached −1.7°C). Additionally, there was a significant increase in the moisture content during SEB hours across the city but especially close to the riverfront area: the areas up to 500 m registered, on average, ΔHaurb of 4.2 g/m3 on SEB events (12:00 PM) against 2.1 g/m3 during typical Nortada days. This research is a starting point for a future delimitation and preservation of SEB penetration zones in Lisbon to address outdoor thermal discomfort during summer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate and reliable estimation of rainfall is crucial for scientific research and various applications. However, the observed rainfall data is often limited. With the advancements in technology, many global gridded rainfall products are now available, but their accuracy levels vary across the world. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the reliability and effectiveness of 23 publicly available global rainfall datasets against the observed rainfall for Patna, representing a typical urban monsoon climate in India. Thirteen continuous and ten categorical statistical metrics were applied at daily, weekly, monthly, and annual intervals over 16 years (2000–2015). The results indicate that the reliability of all derived rainfall datasets varied on different temporal scales and reference datasets used. Overall, in continuous metrics, MERRA2 and MSWEP consistently outperformed in all the temporal scales whereas in categorical metrics for analyzing the rainfall detection ability, AIMERG, followed by MERRA2 demonstrated superior performance among others. Furthermore, IMD GRID, GSMAP, PCCS, AIMERG, and IMERG performed well in estimating different rainfall intensities. MERRA2 and MSWEP, which have not been widely considered for evaluation in a monsoon climate were found to be outstanding performers consistently. Therefore, we suggest broadening the selection of global rainfall products in the evaluation to fully utilize the potentiality of all available options. Furthermore, our approach offers a reliable framework to comprehensively assess the performance of different gridded rainfall products and assist in the selection of the best rainfall product for a particular region and purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid urbanization worldwide offers numerous benefits but also introduces challenges, particularly concerning urban climate comfort, which affects the physical and social well-being in cities. This study examined the microclimatic characteristics of the Burç neighborhood in the historical core of Burdur city, using ENVI-Met models with temperature, relative humidity, wind and PET data collected over a 33,665 m2 area at 06:00, 09:00, 12:00, 15:00, 18:00 and 21:00 on 15 August 2023. The analysis revealed that thermal comfort decreases significantly from 09:00 onwards, especially on hard surfaces like asphalt, concrete and parquet, which lack vegetation and intensify heat retention. By contrast, green areas were found to enhance bioclimatic comfort by reducing perceived temperatures by up to 20% in shaded and vegetated zones. Based on these findings, it is recommended that urban areas reduce heat-absorbing materials, such as asphalt and concrete and prioritize green spaces in landscape planning to improve thermal comfort and create more sustainable urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban surfaces such as rooftops, facades, and infrastructure offer significant potential for solar energy integration, contributing to energy efficiency and sustainability in cities. This article introduces an advanced multi-criteria assessment (MCA) framework designed to evaluate the suitability of various urban surfaces for solar energy deployment. The framework extends beyond traditional economic, environmental, and technological factors to include social, political, legal, health and safety, cultural, and psychological dimensions, providing a comprehensive evaluation of photovoltaic (PV) applications in urban contexts. By synthesizing existing literature and applying this holistic MCA framework, this research offers valuable insights for urban planners, architects, and policymakers, enabling strategic optimization of solar energy integration in urban environments. The findings underscore the importance of sustainable urban development and climate resilience, highlighting key factors influencing solar technology deployment and proposing actionable recommendations to address existing challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify the current panorama of theses and dissertations on the theme of urban climate in Geographic Sciences, this article presents the contribution of the Urban Climate System to studies in the Southern Region of Brazil, with a focus on the Subtropical climate. We select theses and dissertations contained in the databases, the Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (BDTD), and to complement it, it was also searched year by year in the Catalog of Theses and Dissertations in Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CTD - CAPES) in period 2012 to 2022. Tables were created to guide the construction of graphs, maps, and word clouds, in which it was possible to have a quantitative, qualitative, and spatial overview of the studies carried out. The results allow us to observe the growth of research and the importance of urban climate issues, thus, in the thermodynamic subsystem, 169 works were obtained, 117 of which were dissertations, 52 theses. 18 studies were identified, 10 dissertations and 8 theses in the southern region of Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along with the environmental discussion promoted by the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in 1972, Carlos Augusto Figueiredo Monteiro proposed, as a free teaching thesis in 1975, the theory of the Urban Climate System, a methodology that would profoundly guide the Brazilian geographical scientific production regarding the climate of cities. Within his theory, a specific aside is intended for the issue of air quality. This article proposes to analyze Monteiro's proposal for the analysis of air pollution in cities, carrying out a bibliometric survey that aims to attest to the influence that his theory exerts on geographic academic production regarding atmospheric pollution up to the present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This text reflects on cherished memories and explores key concepts and theories that shaped Professor Monteiro's work within the realm of Brazilian Geography. It highlights his notable contributions to geographical climatology, particularly urban climatology, and their influence on the author's professional journey. Additionally, it delves into the professor's forays beyond the epistemology of Geography, including, in more recent years, his thoughtful efforts to bridge Geography with literary creation in our country. This author concludes by expressing deep gratitude and affection for the beloved professor, sentiments shared by his many friends and students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urban heat island effect (UHI) is among the major challenges of urban climate, which is continuously intensifying its impact on urban life and functioning. Against the backdrop of increasingly prolonged heatwaves observed in recent years, practical questions about adaptation measures in cities are growing—questions that traditional meteorological monitoring can hardly answer adequately. On the other hand, UHI has long been the focus of research interest, but due to the technological complexity of providing accurate spatially referenced data at high spatial resolution and the requirement to survey at strictly defined parts of the day, information provision is becoming a major challenge. This is one of the main reasons why UHI research results are less often used directly in urban spatial planning. However, advances in geospatial technologies, including unmanned aerial systems (UASs), are providing more and more reliable tools that can be applied to achieve better and higher-quality information resources that adequately characterize the UHI phenomenon. This paper presents a developed and tested methodology for the rapid and efficient assessment and mapping of the effects of surface urban heat island (SUHI). It is entirely based on the integrated use of data from unmanned aerial systems (UAS)-based remote sensing methods, including thermal photogrammetry and GIS-based analysis methods. The study follows the understanding that correct SUHI research depends on a proper understanding of the urban geosystem, its spatial and structural heterogeneity, and its functional systems, which in turn can only be achieved by supporting the research process with accurate and reliable information resources. In this regard, the possibilities offered by the proposed methodological scheme for efficient geospatial registration of SUHI variations at the microscale, including the calculation of intra-urban SUHI intensity, are discussed in detail. The methodology builds on classical approaches for using local climate zoning (LCZ), adding capabilities for precise delineation of individual zone types and for geostatistical characterization of the urban surface heat island (SUHI). Finally, the proposed scheme is based on state-of-the-art technological tools that provide flexible and automated capabilities to investigate the phenomenon at microscales, including by enabling flexible observation of its dynamics in terms of heat wave manifestation and evolution. Results are presented from a series of sequential tests conducted on the largest residential area in Bulgaria's capital city, Sofia, in terms of area and population, over a relatively long period from 2021 to 2024. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meteorological mesoscale models with different urban parametrization are used to predict the local urban climate at 250 m resolution. The authors propose a hybrid machine learning approach to improve the mesoscale prediction accuracy using measured air temperature data from a sensor network and remove simulation bias. The simulation of the urban climate of Zurich during a hot summer is used as case study showing the improvements of the simulation accuracy. Based on the hybrid model results, a cumulative heat exposure index is proposed to map local hotspots in the city and assess the difference of cooling loads between rural and urban environments. Furthermore, intra-urban microclimatic differences of a typical mid-latitude city are explored to highlight the benefits of detailed simulations for building physics purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-resolution urban climate projections are needed for local decision-making on climate change adaptation. Regional climate models have resolutions that are too coarse to simulate the urban climate at such resolutions. A novel statistical–dynamical downscaling (SDD) approach is used here to downscale the EURO-CORDEX ensemble to a resolution of 1 km while adding the effect of the city of Paris (France) on air temperature. The downscaled atmospheric fields are then used to drive the Town Energy Balance urban canopy model to produce high-resolution temperature maps over the period 1970–2099, while maintaining the city's land cover in its present state. The different steps of the SDD are evaluated for the summer season. The regional climate models simulate minimum (maximum) temperatures (TN/TX) that are too high (low). After correction and downscaling, the urban simulations inherit some of these biases but give satisfactory results for summer urban heat islands (UHIs), with average biases of −0.6 K at night and +0.3 K during the day. Changes in future summer temperatures are then studied for two greenhouse gas emission scenarios, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. Outside the city, the simulations project average increases of 4.1 and 4.8 K for TN and TX for RCP8.5, respectively. In the city, warming is lower, resulting in a decrease in UHIs of −0.19 K at night (from 2.1 to 1.9 K) and −0.16 K during the day. The changes in UHIs are explained by higher rates of warming in rural temperatures due to lower summer precipitation and soil water content and are partially offset by increased ground heat storage in the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzing the temporal dynamics of ecological communities can shed light on coexistence mechanisms and help understand how populations and communities will behave in the face of climate change. However, little is known about how frog communities respond to climate in urban ecosystems, especially in tropical countries. Here, we analyzed how frog species richness and abundance are influenced by weather variables both intra‐ and inter‐annually. We surveyed a peri‐urban area in central Brazil, monthly for 3 years. To test the effect of weather variables on species richness and abundance, we used Generalized Additive Mixed‐effects Models. We assessed seasonality using circular statistics. We also tested for differences in temporal beta diversity within and among years by estimating species disappearance and temporal rank shift, in addition to a multivariate model‐based method to test the effect of year on species composition. Finally, we tested how taxonomic and phylogenetic alpha diversity changed through time using a novel approach based on Hill numbers. We found that species richness varied little among years and was affected only by photoperiod, while species abundance was more variable both between and within years, being mostly affected by humidity, temperature, and photoperiod. Species composition varied little between years, mostly between the first and subsequent years. Conversely, beta diversity was highest within years. Only the effective number of species changed significantly through time. Our results help not only understand temporal mechanisms that allow species coexistence, but also allow to make inferences about the impact of urbanization on biodiversity in recently urbanized landscapes, showing that species composition in peri‐urban sites remains unaltered in a mid‐timescale, especially when climate conditions change little across years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Local Climate Zone (LCZ) scheme representing urban structure and land use pattern is essential for urban heat island (UHI) research. Fine-grained LCZ mapping considering spatial and temporal heterogeneity can provide a more precise characterization of surface thermal properties, thereby enabling a comprehensive analysis and understanding of spatiotemporal trends in climate change research. However, data-driven deep learning-based methods have limitations in coping with the complex urban landscapes of the real-world scenarios, including the spectral similarity of different LCZ and the geospatial heterogeneity of urban LCZ categories. In this study, we constructed a geographic knowledge base for enhanced LCZ characterization with the consideration of prior surface spatial information, including a set of spectral indices and urban morphological parameters (UMPs). Then, we integrated the explicable geographic knowledge base into a learnable deep learning framework in an end-to-end manner for accurate LCZ mapping by fusing multi-source heterogeneous data with a multi-level fusion strategy. The constructed Chinese Climate Zone Time Series LCZ (CClimate-TLCZ) dataset derived from Landsat-8 data with a 30 m spatial resolution, covering 18 representative cities in China, were used to evaluate the proposed framework. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed framework achieved optimal outcomes across 18 cities, with an average overall accuracy exceeding 94 %, which is more than 20 % higher than that obtained by the standard WUDAPT method. Furthermore, the analysis of LCZ mapping-driven land surface temperature (LST) and surface UHI (SUHI) applications shows that cities within the same climate zone have similar LST distribution patterns, while significant heterogeneity exist between different zones. The annual consistency of LST patterns within each climate zone supports the validity of the LCZ classification scheme and accurate LCZ mapping for urban thermal environment studies. From 2016 to 2022, SUHI intensity initially increases and then decreases, indicating improvements in the urban thermal environment. These findings underscore the critical role of precise LCZ mapping in urban climate resilience and sustainable urban planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complexities of urban climate and environmental challenges have garnered significant attention in the 21st century. Numerical simulations, offering high spatiotemporal resolution meteorological data, are essential tools in meteorological research and atmospheric science. Accurate representation of urban morphology parameters is crucial for enhancing the precision of these simulations in urban areas. Despite the availability of urban canopy parameter (UCP) data for 44 major cities in the United States and 60 in China for the weather research and forecasting (WRF) model, a comprehensive global dataset representing urban morphology remains absent. This study addresses this gap by leveraging existing global three-dimensional vector data of buildings, including footprints and heights, to compile a global 1 km spatially continuous UCP (GloUCP) dataset for the WRF model. Our findings indicate that GloUCP not only surpasses existing datasets in accuracy but also provides superior spatial coverage. In key urban agglomerations such as Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in China, GloUCP offers detailed and reliable urban morphological information that closely aligns with reference datasets, outperforming other available sources. Similarly, in U.S. cities like Seattle, San Francisco, and Philadelphia, GloUCP consistently achieves lower RMSE values and higher correlation coefficients, demonstrating its robustness in modeling diverse urban environments. Furthermore, GloUCP's capability to effectively capture the vertical distribution of buildings, particularly in high-rise areas, highlights its utility in urban climate modeling and related applications. As UCPs are pivotal in regulating atmospheric responses to urbanization, the availability of this globally consistent urban description is a crucial prerequisite for advancing model development and informing climate-sensitive urban planning policies. The GloUCP dataset, converted to WRF binary file format, is available for download at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.27011491 (Liao et al., 2024). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote sensing satellite data have been a crucial tool in understanding urban climates. The variety of sensors with different spatiotemporal characteristics and retrieval methodologies gave rise to a multitude of approaches when analyzing the surface urban heat island effect (SUHI). Although there are considerable advantages that arise from these different characteristics (spatiotemporal resolution, time of observation, etc.), it also means that there is a need for understanding the ability of sensors in capturing spatial and temporal SUHI patterns. For this, several land surface temperature products are compared for the cities of Madrid and Paris, retrieved from five sensors: the Spinning Enhanced Visible and InfraRed Imager onboard Meteosat Second Generation, the Advanced Very-High-Resolution Radiometer onboard Metop, the Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer onboard both Aqua and Terra, and the Thermal Infrared Sensor onboard Landsat 8 and 9. These products span a wide range of LST algorithms, including split-window, single-channel, and temperature–emissivity separation methods. Results show that the diurnal amplitude of SUHI may not be well represented when considering daytime and nighttime polar orbiting platforms. Also, significant differences arise in SUHI intensity and spatial and temporal variability due to the different methods implemented for LST retrieval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-resolution urban climate modeling has faced substantial challenges due to the absence of a globally consistent, spatially continuous, and accurate dataset to represent the spatial heterogeneity of urban surfaces and their biophysical properties. This deficiency has long obstructed the development of urban-resolving Earth System Models (ESMs) and ultra-high-resolution urban climate modeling, particularly at large scales. Here, we present a first-of-its-kind 1km-resolution present-day (circa-2020) global continuous urban surface parameter dataset – U-Surf. Using the urban canopy model (UCM) in the Community Earth System Model as a base model for developing dataset requirements, U-Surf leverages the latest advances in remote sensing, machine learning, and cloud computing to provide the most relevant urban surface biophysical parameters, including radiative, morphological, and thermal properties, for UCMs at the facet- and canopy-level. Our high-resolution U-Surf dataset significantly improves the representation of the urban land heterogeneity both within and across cities globally. U-Surf provides essential, high-fidelity surface biophysical constraints to urban-resolving ESMs, enables detailed city-to-city comparisons across the globe, and supports the next-generation kilometer-resolution Earth system modeling across scales. U-Surf parameters can be easily converted or adapted to various types of UCMs, such as those embedded in weather and regional climate models, as well as air quality models. The fundamental urban surface constraints provided by U-Surf are also relevant as features for machine learning models and can have other broad-scale applications for socioeconomic, public health, and urban planning contexts. We expect U-Surf to promote the research frontier on urban systems science, climate-sensitive urban design, and coupled human-Earth systems in the future. The dataset is publicly available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11247599 (Cheng et al., 2024). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Model for Prediction Across Scales–Atmosphere (MPAS-A) has been widely used for larger scale simulations, but its performance in mesoscale, particularly in tropical regions, is less evaluated. This study aimed to assess MPAS-A in simulating extreme surface air temperature in Jakarta during the hot spells of October 2023 with eight different simulation setups. Several validation metrics were applied to near-surface meteorological variables, land surface temperature (LST), and vertical atmospheric profile. From the eight simulations, MPAS-A captured diurnal patterns of the near-surface variables well, except for wind direction. The model also performed well in LST simulations. Moreover, the biases in the vertical profiles varied with height and were sensitive to the initial/boundary conditions used. Simulations with modified terrestrial datasets showed higher LST and air temperatures over the sprawling urban areas. MPAS-A successfully simulated the extreme event, showing higher air temperatures in southern Jakarta (over 36 °C) compared to the northern part. Negative temperature advection by sea breeze helped lower air temperature in the northern area. This study highlights the role of sea breezes as natural cooling mechanisms in coastal cities. Additionally, MPAS-A is feasible for several applications for urban climate studies and climate projection, although further development is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is a major challenge for the global tourism sector, affecting destinations worldwide. Greece, known for its scenery and abundant cultural history, is particularly vulnerable to these impacts. Tourism is a key driver of Greece's economy, yet climate change threatens both natural environments and cultural sites. To evaluate the impacts of climate change on different types of Greek tourism (beach, sightseeing, winter tourism in mountainous areas), the widely used Holiday Climate Index (beach and urban versions) alongside three additional climatic indices customized for Greek climatic conditions, namely the Urban Climate Comfort Index, the Beach Utility Index, and the Mountainous Winter Climate Index were utilized for top tourist destinations of Greece. The results indicate that urban tourism may face challenges during peak summer months due to rising temperatures, but the shoulder seasons (April–May and September–October) will offer improved conditions, potentially extending the tourist season. For beach tourism, favorable conditions are expected to increase from April to October, with significant gains in June and September. Winter tourism in mountainous areas, especially snow-dependent activities like skiing, is at risk due to the declining snow availability. Overall, the study highlights both the challenges and opportunities posed by climate change for Greece's tourism sector. It emphasizes the importance of adaptation strategies, including infrastructural improvements and promoting alternative activities, to minimize negative impacts and enhance the future attractiveness of Greek tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urban heat island (UHI) effect is a widely recognized phenomenon consisting of heat accumulation by dense urban construction and human activities, resulting in higher temperatures across urban areas compared to their surroundings. This article aims to quantify the UHI effect on several areas throughout the city of Lisbon, Portugal, with the main goal of validating, evaluating, and reinforcing urban climate adaptation and resilience strategies proposed in the recent scientific literature. A set of nine quality-controlled weather stations from the "Lisboa Aberta" network that are compliant with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) standards and installation requirements were used to characterize Lisbon's UHI, in comparison to a reference weather station from the Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA), located at Lisbon Airport. By applying a principal component analysis (PCA) in an innovative way to 10 urban indexes, it is shown that the thermal inertia in Lisbon's urban areas is positively correlated with the UHI intensity and urban density, regardless of the daily heating/cooling cycle. Furthermore, the results show that land use also has an impact on the UHI effect, with continuous, vertical building areas showing the greatest deviations in comparison to the reference, averaging +1.8 °C. Contrastingly, horizontal building areas reveal an average deviation of +1.3 °C, with sparse, discontinuously built areas representing an average UHI effect of +0.2 °C. Finally, through a climatope analysis, it is determined that, across Lisbon, high-density urban areas and ventilation corridors are responsible for inducing average UHI effects of +1.7 °C and +0.2 °C, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a methodology aimed at bridging the gap between building energy simulation and urban climate modeling. A coupling method was developed through the Building Control Virtual Test Bed (BCVTB) and applied to a case study in Taipei City, Taiwan, to address the microclimate factors of street trees crucial to cooling energy consumption. The use of the Urban Weather Generator for weather file modification revealed a 0.63 °C average air temperature disparity. The coupling method emphasized the importance of accurate wind speed and convective heat transfer coefficients (CHTCs) on building surfaces in determining cooling energy. The results indicated that elevated CHTC values amplify heat exchange, with higher wind velocities playing a crucial role in heat dissipation. The presence of street trees was found to significantly reduce heat flux penetration, leading to a reduction in building surface temperatures by as much as 9.5% during hot months. The cooling energy was lowered by 16.7% in the BCVTB simulations that included trees compared to those without trees. The EnergyPlus-only simulations underestimated the cooling energy needs by approximately 9.3% during summer months. This research offers valuable insights into the complex interactions between buildings and their environments. The results highlight the importance of trees and shading in mitigating the heat island effect and improving energy-efficient urban planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban parks, as a vital component of green infrastructure, significantly contribute to alleviating the impacts of climate change and enhancing the urban ecosystem. This paper examines the EVFBS Cemetery Park in Berlin as a case study to elucidate the significant role of centralized urban greening, exemplified by urban cemetery parks, in addressing the challenges posed by urban climate change. Through field research, data collection, and various methodologies, this study examines the specific planning and design measures employed to address climate-related challenges, including air purification, temperature regulation, and mitigation of the urban heat island effect. Additionally, it explores the multifaceted roles of urban parks in enhancing the quality of the urban ecological environment, promoting biodiversity, and providing recreational spaces for residents. The aim is to elucidate the significance of diverse urban parks within the climate regulation strategies of contemporary metropolises. By comparing and discussing relevant practices and successful experiences in climate-adaptive design from Berlin, and summarizing advanced concepts and planning experiences that may serve as valuable references for the development of urban green spaces in China, it examines the significance of urban park greening for climate regulation in contemporary cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban Land Surface Models (ULSMs) simulate energy and water exchanges between the urban surface and atmosphere. However, earlier systematic ULSM comparison projects assessed the energy balance but ignored the water balance, which is coupled to the energy balance. Here, we analyze the water balance representation in 19 ULSMs participating in the Urban‐PLUMBER project using results for 20 sites spread across a range of climates and urban form characteristics. As observations for most water fluxes are unavailable, we examine the water balance closure, flux timing, and magnitude with a score derived from seven indicators expecting better scoring models to capture the latent heat flux more accurately. We find that the water budget is only closed in 57% of the model‐site combinations assuming closure when annual total incoming fluxes (precipitation and irrigation) fluxes are within 3% of the outgoing (all other) fluxes. Results show the timing is better captured than magnitude. No ULSM has passed all water balance indicators for any site. Models passing more indicators do not capture the latent heat flux more accurately refuting our hypothesis. While output reporting inconsistencies may have negatively affected model performance, our results indicate models could be improved by explicitly verifying water balance closure and revising runoff parameterizations. By expanding ULSM evaluation to the water balance and related to latent heat flux performance, we demonstrate the benefits of evaluating processes with direct feedback mechanisms to the processes of interest. Plain Language Summary: Urban environments have their own local climates including typically higher nocturnal temperatures compared with rural areas. Ideally, modeling cities should capture their influences on the atmosphere above them. As the energy and water balances are linked by evaporation, a good water balance representation will support a good energy balance simulation. Focusing on the water balance, we find the water balance in models could be improved by paying attention to closure and runoff. Key Points: We evaluate the water balance in 19 urban land surface models (ULSM) from the Urban‐PLUMBER projectULSMs capture the timing of water fluxes more accurately than their magnitudeThe water balance appears unclosed in 43% of the model runs (19 models at 20 sites) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]