The response of urban canyon energy budgets to variable synoptic weather types— A simulation approach

Abstract

The response of urban canyon energy budgets to variable synoptic weather types is examined via a numerical simulation model. Urban canyon energy budgets for an asymmetrical east-west-oriented urban canyon are simulated for a characteristic day from six synoptic groups previously identified by a synoptic weather typing scheme. For warm weather synoptic types the urban canyon was a daytime net source and night-time net sink for the substrate heat flux and turbulent flux of sensible heat, respectively. For cold weather synoptic types the urban canyon provided a continuous net sink for the substrate heat flux and net source for the turbulent flux of sensible heat, because of anthropogenic heat production. Individual energy balance terms exhibited varying degrees of sensitivity to synoptic conditions when examined on an absolute and relative basis. The results are considered indicative of the continuum of urban canyon energetic patterns obtained under stratified synoptic weather regimes.