Quantification of anthropogenic heat and simulation of its effects on environment and climate: A comprehensive review

Abstract

Anthropogenic heat (AH), a source of physical pollution, has a profound influence on climate, air quality, and human health. Consequently, it is important to accurately quantify these emissions and assess their potential ramifications. However, methodological and data limitations have imposed constraints on AH research, resulting in insufficient accuracy that falls short of the requisite standards of scientific rigor. This review fully explores the multifaceted dimensions of AH, ranging from its quantification and modeling to its impacts on climate, ecosystems, and human welfare. This discourse investigated a spectrum of techniques employed to estimate AH emissions, including inventory assessments, energy balance analyses, and building energy models. Concurrently, a comprehensive investigation of the effects of AH on climate and air quality was undertaken, presenting an encompassing survey of diverse simulation models harnessed within this domain. Furthermore, this review explores potential avenues for further research, including quantification methodology refinements for heightened accuracy, discernment of spatial and temporal evolutionary patterns, and evaluation of AH effects on air quality and human well-being. This study makes a substantial contribution towards the formulation of efficacious strategies tailored to mitigate the adverse effects of AH.