Climate Of City Research Articles

Reimagining urban waste management: Addressing social, climate, and resource challenges in modern cities

Governments worldwide are seeking better solutions for solid waste management. Thermal treatment projects are presented as quick fixes for rising waste challenges, without addressing the limitations of incineration. Currently, there is a rise in proposals for thermal treatment technologies in developing countries. Scrutiny of the risks and impacts of these alternatives is necessary due to social, climate, and resource considerations. Energy from waste incineration is considered fossil energy since about half of the CO2 emissions come from fossil polymers in the waste. From a sustainability perspective, landfilling is a short-term option for materials currently unsuitable for recycling. Landfills act as bioreactors, producing valuable biogas, and serve as “resource banks,” storing unrecyclable resources until better recycling techniques are developed. In developing countries manual labor is abundant and material sorting and landfilling are more valuable and have a lower climate and resource footprint. This paper offers a novel, integrated perspective of waste management in view of poverty reduction, climate change and resource conservation.

The Potentiality of Eco-Library Design in Medan City Towards Sustainability Development

Abstract Sustainable development has become an important concern over the last three decades. The Eco-library design concept has gained popularity due to its environmentally friendly approach. However, the government and citizens of Medan must continue discussing this matter. The library serves as an information hub, significantly promoting sustainable development. This study investigates the benefits of the green building concept and the design strategy for the Eco-Library in Medan City through literature reviews, interviews, and questionnaires distributed to local visitors and experts. In the past, the conventional library used only an air conditioner to maintain its collection, contributing to high electricity expenses. By analysing the context of climate of Medan city, this paper demonstrates how the concept of Eco-Library can reduce negative environmental impacts through the use of sustainable materials, renewable energy sources, solar panels, rainwater harvesting, floating boxes concept, motion-sensor lighting systems, and eco-friendly air conditioners. Contemporary tropical architecture was utilized in the design of this Eco-Library, which includes an overhanging roof and a double facade-oriented east and west, with the longest side facing north and south. In addition, encouraging the use of rooftop gardens in Medan can help reduce indoor heat and air pollution.

Impact of land cover changes on land surface temperature variations in Adama City, Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Land surface temperature (LST) is becoming a serious environmental issue, since it is an essential controller of city climate. Currently, addressing this challenge in urban planning has gained worldwide importance. The study aims to analyze the effect of land cover dynamics on LST using geographic information system and remote sensing techniques. In this study, Landsat 7 ETM+ (2002) and Landsat 8 TIRS (2022) data were used. The LST was retrieved from Landsat datasets. The correlation analyses were conducted on LST, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and normalized difference built-up index (NDBI). The findings suggested that there was a negative correlation between LST and the NDVI, while a positive correlation existed with the NDBI. Moreover, NDBI was found to be a better predictor of LST than NDVI. Additionally, it was revealed that the proportion of dense and sparse vegetation cover was reduced from 24.14 km2 (17.47%) in 2002 to 18.17 km2 (13.15%) in 2022. Similarly, the average LST increased from 28.25 to 31.78°C. This indicated that the rapid growth of urban development was the primary factor behind the rise in LST. Therefore, it was deemed crucial to create a smart urban land use plan to mitigate the impacts of microclimate change.

Synergistic interactions between urban heat islands and heat waves in the Greater Kuala Lumpur and surrounding areas

AbstractThe synergistic interactions between urban heat islands (UHI) and heat waves (HW) continue to be debated. Despite the expectations of UHI intensification during HW, several studies have demonstrated variations. Notably, there is a dearth of investigations concerning the UHI–HW synergy in tropical climate cities amidst the escalating trend of more frequent and severe HW in Southeast Asia. To address this gap, our study aimed to investigate the synergies between the UHI and HW phenomena in Greater Kuala Lumpur (GKL) and its surrounding areas. We employed the advanced research version 4.2.2 of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, coupled with a single‐layer Urban Canopy Model (UCM), to examine the impact of UHI during two heat wave events in 2016 (Case 1) and 2020 (Case 2), against the periods immediately before and after these events, which we refer to as Pre‐Post HW (PPHW), in GKL. An elevated UHI intensity (UHII) was evident during the HW in both observations and simulations, with a noticeable distinction particularly observed in Case 1. During HW, observed data indicates average UHII peaks at 1.8°C (0100 LST (UTC+8)) and 1.7°C (1500 LST) in Cases 1 and 2, respectively. In contrast, those for PPHW days for Cases 1 and 2 are 1.5°C (0000 LST) and 1.2°C (0100 LST), respectively. The maximum observed heat loads are likely to occur at noon, reaching 2.3°C at 1600 LST in Case 1 and 3.7°C at 1500 LST in Case 2. LST stands for local standard time. Heat flux component analysis from the surface energy balance model confirmed the UHI–HW synergy. A notable difference in the Bowen Ratio between urban and rural areas highlights the effect of urbanisation on heat fluxes, potentially exacerbating urban discomfort during HW. Consistent across all measurement methods, the evidence indicates a clear and positive synergy between the UHI and HW in the GKL. This study can potentially deliver valuable insights, especially in urban planning, where the implications of weather events are substantial.

Proposta de alternativa construtiva com enfoque ambiental para loteamento em Cuiabá – MT

This work presents a project proposal for the final year of the Architecture and Urbanism course and covers the creation of a condominium, a linear park and a proposal for a healthy house, with less environmentally impacting materials, to serve as a model for the lots. It is a work that was developed through qualitative research including some case studies for references in the project proposal. The problem arises from the analysis of the effects of climate change that are in evidence all over the world today. The strong temperatures, in addition to the estimated forecast for the municipality of Cuiabá MT, have been significantly exceeded. Among the countless possible actions to help alleviate this impact are project proposals aimed at solutions and the use of more sustainable materials and techniques. Thus, from studies aimed at better identifying the climatic conditions of the city of Cuiabá, information was obtained to support the project. Studies were carried out on the city's climate and temperature, as well as its biome and relative air humidity, aspects that directly influence the population's well-being and construction quality. The choice of materials was also evaluated, which helped in making design decisions, with an emphasis on thermal comfort, increasingly appropriating aspects of implementation and construction with less impact on the environment.

The Moderating Effects of Urban Design on Willingness to Walk in a Tropical City

Walkability and the willingness to walk (WTW) are enhanced with supportive urban design in temperate climate cities. Walking in a tropical city is challenged by the physiological stresses brought on by high air temperature, intense sunlight and humidity but it remains unknown to what extent urban design compensates for these stressors in walking behaviour. In this study, the relative impacts of the walking environment and microclimate on WTW and on walking distance were measured in a field study in Singapore. Participants executed a planned walk and reported assessments of 10 environmental factors, as well as WTW, at assigned locations. Restoration in WTW was observed at certain points on the itinerary across participants, while total voluntary walked distance equalled that of an indoor, air-conditioned walk at the same location. All environmental design variables showed a positive relationship with WTW, but not with objectively measured temperature and humidity. Urban design has a significant impact on willingness to walk in a tropical city.

The Moderating Effects of Urban Design on Willingness to Walk in a Tropical City

Walkability and the willingness to walk (WTW) are enhanced with supportive urban design in temperate climate cities. Walking in a tropical city is challenged by the physiological stresses brought on by high air temperature, intense sunlight and humidity but it remains unknown to what extent urban design compensates for these stressors in walking behaviour. In this study, the relative impacts of the walking environment and microclimate on WTW and on walking distance were measured in a field study in Singapore. Participants executed a planned walk and reported assessments of 10 environmental factors, as well as WTW, at assigned locations. Restoration in WTW was observed at certain points on the itinerary across participants, while total voluntary walked distance equalled that of an indoor, air-conditioned walk at the same location. All environmental design variables showed a positive relationship with WTW, but not with objectively measured temperature and humidity. Urban design has a significant impact on willingness to walk in a tropical city.

Anthropogenic Activities vs Mass Wasting in Shimla City

Encircled by verdant stretches and snow-capped peaks is the highland town of Shimla. Himachal Pradesh's capital, Shimla, is a place of unspoiled natural beauty. It is among the most well-liked travel spots in India. It has several restaurants and motels because it is a popular tourist destination. In addition to the numerous government and private guest houses, there are about 500 hotels in and around Shimla. A population of 25,000 was taken into account when the city was first planned. Not only in Himachal Pradesh but even in Shimla City, the city's climate is being negatively impacted by the sudden increase in human activity due to population growth, which has led to a rising tendency of landslides. . The present paper deals with anthropogenic activities versus mass wasting in Shimla City. The paper is based on secondary data and primary data published in various newspapers namely Amar Ujala , the Times of India and various online publications. The population data is obtained from government organisations of Shimla.

The dynamic spatial effects of education investment on carbon emissions: heterogeneous analysis based on north-south differences in China

This article is based on panel data from 266 cities in China from 2009 to 2020. Classical economics theory and Marxist political economy theory are used as the theoretical basis for the study. Static spatial Durbin model regression and dynamic spatial Durbin model regression are conducted to analyze the impact of education investment on carbon dioxide emissions. The results show that education investment can significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions, not only through spatial spillover effects, but also through dynamic effects over time. The implementation of education investment in one city can have a positive impact on surrounding cities, thereby achieving a certain degree of reduction in carbon emissions. Additionally, the inhibitory effect of education investment on carbon emissions is more significant in the short term. Furthermore, the study found that there is significant heterogeneity in the effect of education investment on carbon dioxide emissions between northern and southern cities, with education investment in southern cities having a more significant effect. This may be related to the industrial structure and climate of southern cities. The conclusions of this study provide useful reference for the development of education policies and environmental protection policies. In the future, the government can increase education investment appropriately to achieve the goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions. And research has shown that education investment can suppress carbon emissions by influencing changes in energy and industrial structures. Therefore, when using measures to reduce emissions in education investment, we can focus on these two aspects.

Energy-saving and economic analysis of the data center cooling system using magnetic bearing chillers under different climate conditions

Magnetic bearing chiller has excellent Coefficient of Performance, but the high initial investment makes it challenging to find a balance between energy-saving efficiency and economic potential. This paper proposes two energy-saving retrofits with water-side economizers, using efficient centrifugal chillers (Plan 1) and magnetic bearing chillers (Plan 2), respectively, to replace the existing cooling system of a case data center in Nanchang. Energy models of three cooling systems are developed to analyze the energy efficiency and performance. Compared to the existing cooling system, the operation time of Full free cooling and Partial free cooling for Plan 1 and Plan 2 reach 2489 and 1324 h, respectively. Result in energy savings of 63.19 % and 64.54 %, and power usage effectiveness reduce 0.341 and 0.349, respectively. Because the annual chiller COP of Plan 2 is 6.7 % higher than that of Plan 2, Plan 2 saves additional 3.96 % annual energy consumption compared to Plan 1. Furthermore, the energy-savings and economy of the retrofit plans in five typical climate cities in China are discussed. The energy savings rates for Plan 1 and Plan 2 are 61.4%–64.7 % and 62.1%–65.6 %, respectively, and their dynamic payback periods are 2.02–5.15 years and 2.16–5.6 years.

Performance and Economic Cost Evaluation of OT-MSF Desalination Unit Integrated with A Solar Collector for Basrah City Climate, Iraq

Performance and Economic Cost Evaluation of OT-MSF Desalination Unit Integrated with A Solar Collector for Basrah City Climate, Iraq

Multi-objective optimization of buildings in urban scale for early stage planning and parametric design

Passive design of buildings in early design stage is essential for energy efficiency and sustainability. In this study, a streamlined tool for parametric study and passive design of buildings in urban scale considering thermal loads and natural lighting performance is presented, which markedly enhances the efficiency of early-stage urban planning. The tool is comprised of three sub-models, including (1) degree-month based annual building thermal load prediction model, (2) simplified climate modification model that takes into account the effects of building layout on solar heat gain and urban heat island, (3) multi-objective optimization algorithm NSGA-II, which optimizes both energy-saving and natural lighting performance. Model validation results show that this tool has an average error of 11.44% and 15.82% in simulating building thermal load compared with Dragonfly and CitySim, and has an average error of 9.9% in predicting average daylight factor compared with Radiance. Multiple optimization scenarios and sensitivity analysis in 10 typical climatic cities were conducted. It is found that in cold and hot climatic cities, it is more beneficial to set energy target as the optimization objective, meanwhile, establishing natural lighting as a constraint, rather than solely minimizing thermal loads. In contrast, the inherently lower thermal loads of buildings in milder climatic cities help to achieve both energy-saving and natural lighting goals, and it is also found that the increased thermal loss due to a higher window-to-wall ratio can be offset by employing thicker wall and roof insulation or by improving building layouts.

Optimization of infrared emissivity design for radiative cooling windows using artificial neural networks: Considering the diversity of climate and building features

Proper design of emissivity is key to promoting passive cooling for radiative cooling (RC) windows. This work developed an artificial neural network (ANN) to guide the design of RC window emissivity. The ANN model demonstrates good predictive performance with a coefficient of determination greater than 0.8 in all verification cases. Long-term predictions were made for RC effects of adjustment of window emissivity under eight tropical climate cities and different building characteristics. Considering the building characteristics, vertical windows are more suitable for selective high emissivity (SE) designs in most cases; while skylights are more recommended for broadband high emissivity (BE) designs when the window-to-wall ratio is large. There exists a critical window-to-wall ratio that makes RC windows more suitable for SE designs into more suitable for BE designs; this value generally fluctuates around 75 %, depending on specific orientations and climates. Considering the climate characteristics, BE designs should be prioritized when RC windows are in dry climates with low ambient temperatures and strong solar radiation; whereas SE designs should be prioritized when RC windows are in humid climates with high ambient temperatures but relatively weak solar radiation. This work provides more convenient and targeted guidance for the design of RC window emissivity.

Multi-objective optimization of building integrated photovoltaic windows in office building

Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) offer a promising solution to enhance building energy efficiency and reduce building energy consumption. Among the various application of BIPV, BIPV windows stand out as an intriguing and notable example. This paper investigates an office building with BIPV windows in five different climatic cities in China. The study considers four variables, including building orientation (BO), window size (WZ), window visible light transmittance (VLT), and type of PV (TOPV). The objective is to minimize both the annual net electricity cost (ANEC) and the extra investment cost of BIPV windows. To simulate the design variables and objective functions, the jEPlus software is employed. Additionally, the jEPlus + EA software uses the SRC and Morris algorithms for sensitivity analysis of design parameters. The multi-objective problem is addressed using the NSGA-II. By conducting optimization, a set of Pareto optimal solutions were obtained. The results demonstrate that the building with BIPV windows can save a minimum of 6.83 % annual electricity costs. Moreover, the static investment payback period for all cities ranges from 7 to 14 years, indicating the economic feasibility of implementing BIPV windows.

Overcoming gridlock? The role of city networks in transnational cooperation on climate mitigation

AbstractLocal governments engage in combating global warming by cooperating in transnational city networks. These networks are often hailed as an alternative to the alleged gridlock of interstate cooperation. Still, it remains unclear if and how the institutional characteristics of city networks can overcome this gridlock. Therefore, we analyze to what extent cooperation in city networks faces the same institutional challenges as those related to interstate collaboration. Our research focuses on six climate networks and draws on 33 in‐depth interviews, which are analyzed through qualitative directed content analysis. Three findings stand out. First, networks struggle with growing multipolarity, as they lack the capacity to engage with all members. While adopting a strongly regionalized approach, the necessary centralization to efficiently coordinate regional suboffices seems lacking. Second, targets tend to be regarded as a general direction rather than proper objectives that must be implemented within a specific time frame. Third, city officials have a less clear overview of the landscape of networks than network employees. At the same time, they indicate that the proliferation of networks complicates the internal organization of networking activities. Taken together, we conclude that climate city networks do not necessarily allow structurally avoiding the causes of interstate gridlock.

Impact of Feature Selection on the Prediction of Global Horizontal Irradiation under Ouarzazate City Climate

AbstractEnsuring accurate forecasts of Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) stands as a pivotal aspect in optimizing the efficient utilization of solar energy resources. Machine learning techniques offer promising prospects for predicting global horizontal irradiance. However, within the realm of machine learning,the importance of feature selection cannot be overestimated, as it is crucial in determining performance and reliability of predictive models. To address this, a comprehensive machine learning algorithm has been developed, leveraging advanced feature importance techniques to forecast GHI data with precision. The proposed models draw upon historical data encompassing solar irradiance characteristics and environmental variables within the Ouarzazate region, Morocco, spanning from 1st January 2018, to 31 December 2018, with readings taken at 60-minute intervals. The findings underscore the profound impact of feature selection on enhancing the predictive capabilities of machine learning models for GHI forecasting. By identifying and prioritizing the most informative features, the models exhibit significantly enhanced accuracy metrics, thereby bolstering the reliability, efficiency, and practical applicability of GHI forecasts. This advancement not only holds promise for optimizing solar energy utilization but also contributes to the broader discourse on leveraging machine learning for renewable energy forecasting and sustainability initiatives.

NPCC4: New York City climate risk information 2022-observations and projections.

New York City (NYC) faces many challenges in the coming decades due to climate change and its interactions with social vulnerabilities and uneven urban development patterns and processes. This New York City Panel on Climate Change (NPCC) report contributes to the Panel's mandate to advise the city on climate change and provide timely climate risk information that can inform flexible and equitable adaptation pathways that enhance resilience to climate change. This report presents up-to-date scientific information as well as updated sea level rise projections of record. We also present a new methodology related to climate extremes and describe new methods for developing the next generation of climate projections for the New York metropolitan region. Future work by the Panel should compare the temperature and precipitation projections presented in this report with a subset of models to determine the potential impact and relevance of the "hot model" problem. NPCC4 expects to establish new projections-of-record for precipitation and temperature in 2024 based on this comparison and additional analysis. Nevertheless, the temperature and precipitation projections presented in this report may be useful for NYC stakeholders in the interim as they rely on the newest generation of global climate models.

Spatio-temporal analysis of LST, NDVI and SUHI in a coastal temperate city using local climate zone

Extreme heat due to changing climate poses a new challenge for temperate climates. The challenge is further aggravated by inadequate research, policy, or preparedness to effectively respond and recover from its impacts. While urban morphology is crucial in mitigating urban heat, it has received limited attention in urban planning, highlighting the need for further exploration, particularly in temperate regions. To illustrate the challenge and its potential mitigations, we use the example of the coastal temperate city of Cardiff. To establish the interrelations between urban morphology and urban heat island patterns, we explored the spatiotemporal variations in land surface temperature (LST), normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI), and surface urban heat island (SUHI) to local climate zone (LCZ) classification for Cardiff. Results showed a significant variation in SUHI in the LCZ zones. Both LST and NDVI land were found to vary significantly across the LCZ zones demonstrating their association with the urban form and morphology of the locality. For built-up areas, a more compact built-environment with smaller vegetation cover and larger building density was 2.0 °C warmer than the open built-environment when comparing the mean summer LSTs. On average, the natural classes exhibit a LST that is 8.0 °C lower than the compact built-environment and 6.0 °C lower than the open built-environment. Consequently, the high-density, built-up LCZs have a greater SUHI effect compared to the natural classes. Therefore, temperate climate cities will benefit from incorporating an open built-environment that has sufficient greenery and open spaces. These findings help determine the optimal urban form for temperate climates and develop heat mitigation strategies while planning, designing, or improving the new and existing urban areas. In addition, the LCZ map applied in this study for Cardiff will enable international comparison and testing of proven climate change adaptation and mitigation techniques for similar urban areas.

Evaluation of Efficiency of a Finned Corrugation Basin in Inclined Basin-Type Solar Stills in Regulating the Water Supply of the CaspiCement Plant

The need for fresh water production is especially high in hot dry climates without any sources of drinking water but with an abundance of sea and underground water. The solution is water desalination with efficient solar-powered water treatment plants. This article proposes a new modification of a basin made of thin-finned corrugation with 43°-angle-inclined sides, equal to the region’s latitude, which provide strong heating. The experiments were carried out in the hot climate of Aktau city (43°49′ N, 51°1′ E). The study’s outcomes can be useful for regions with drinking water scarcity. To define the level of the corrugated basin’s efficiency, two versions (SS-1, SS-2) of experiments were carried out on a two-slope distiller, complete with two basins. In SS-1, basin-2 was heated by air. By 15:00, basin-2 had heated up to 98.5 °C, and the acrylic cover above had heated up to 101.6 °C, which led to its “deformation”. By 12.00 p.m., the temperature differentials between the glass (40.7 °C), the air–water mixture (57.3 °C), and basin-1 (61.1 °C) were 16.6 °C and 20.4 °C. This resulted from the wind speed increasing up to 5.9 m/s. The large temperature differential contributed to the condensate yield increasing from 0.128 kg at 11 o’clock to 0.293 kg at 12 o’clock. The throughput capability of basin-1 per day was equal to 2.094 kg. Basin-2’s input to the performance in SS-1 was only the thermal effect. In SS-2, basin-2 was used as a regular basin. The plexiglass temperature was lower than the temperatures of the water and basin-2. The temperature differential between the glass and air–water mixture at 10:00 a.m. was 20 °C; at 12:00 p.m. it was 30.6 °C; and a value of 30.6 °C was recorded at 3:00 p.m. The thermal differential between the glass and the air-water mixture provided the highest condensate yield of 1.114 kg at 3.00 p.m. The condensate yield from the basins in SS-2 was 8.72 kg, including 3.5 kg from basin-1, which is 1.7 times more than from basin-1 in SS-1. The experimental results are consistent with the equations coming from the models of Clark J.A. and Dunkle R.V. Tcondensation ≠ Tevaporation is an irreversible process. When the basins are heated, the heat is consumed; when the glass cools down, the heat is given off. Heat losses are minimized due to the “gap” and positive energy is provided. The still’s throughput capability can be made larger by increasing the basin’s area, reducing the water layer thickness, and regulating the flowrate of the desalinated water.

Surface urban heat island analysis based on local climate zones using ECOSTRESS and Landsat data: A case study of Valencia city (Spain)

Extreme heat events in cities are becoming more intense, frequent and prolonged. The spatiotemporal dynamics of surface temperature are closely related to land cover and atmospheric conditions, especially for urban areas with extensive surface heterogeneity. Two high spatial resolution satellites, ECOSTRESS and Landsat, provide land surface temperature (LST) for a typical Mediterranean climate city, Valencia, Spain. In total of 17 images throughout two heatwaves in the period of July and August from 2022 to 2023 were selected to monitor LST and surface urban heat island (SUHI). The Local Climate Zone (LCZ) scheme and hotspot analysis were applied to analyze the patterns of LST and SUHI during and after the heatwaves. Daytime images show LCZ 2/3/6/8 and LCZ C/E/F exhibit elevated SUHI intensity, meanwhile the LCZ 4, A/B and G have lower SUHI. The SUHI intensity of compact buildings (LCZ 1/2/3), LCZ 8/E/G are significantly higher at night, especially on heatwave days, the SUHI of all types increased by 0.1–0.9 °C. Furthermore, the meteorological parameters were introduced trying to explain the obvious diurnal difference of SUHI during heatwaves. This research serves as a proxy for understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of SUHI during heatwave events, offering valuable insights for city planners and policymakers to enhance thermal comfortable level and effectively cope with extreme weather.