Social-economic Indicators Research Articles

Assessment of natural and cultural landscape capacity to proposals the ecological model of tourism development (case study for the area of the Zamagurie region)

Abstract Agricultural and industrial conditions are not favourable in the uphill and mountain areas of the Zamagurie region, and tourism is often the only opportunity to create new jobs, develop the habitation areas and avoid the emigration of local inhabitants. The Walachian and Sholtys colonization has transformed the landscape and created unique significant spatial landscape elements that are traditionally utilized for agricultural purposes, and create a unique esthetical landscape preserved till the present times. This case study has been aimed at developing and applying the new quantification methods using GIS tools for evaluation of localizing, selective realization and environmental preconditions of the landscape, representing recreational (cultural) services of the landscape ecological systems, based on selected indicators. To evaluate the localizing preconditions of the landscape, we referred to the landscape-ecological complex geo-databases (LEC) (Thematic maps - internal ground document of ZB GIS , 2013), completed with the field survey during the period 2013−2014 and identification of secondary landscape structure elements (SLS) and selected morphometric indicators. While evaluating the selected town-planning, demographical and social-economic indicators, we quantified the selective landscape preconditions of tourism development. The realization preconditions were reviewed according to communication accessibility and material-technical equipment. As for environmental preconditions, we reviewed the presence of protected territory and landscape environmental load.

Socioeconomic correlations and stratification in social-communication networks.

The uneven distribution of wealth and individual economic capacities are among the main forces, which shape modern societies and arguably bias the emerging social structures. However, the study of correlations between the social network and economic status of individuals is difficult due to the lack of large-scale multimodal data disclosing both the social ties and economic indicators of the same population. Here, we close this gap through the analysis of coupled datasets recording the mobile phone communications and bank transaction history of one million anonymized individuals living in a Latin American country. We show that wealth and debt are unevenly distributed among people in agreement with the Pareto principle; the observed social structure is strongly stratified, with people being better connected to others of their own socioeconomic class rather than to others of different classes; the social network appears to have assortative socioeconomic correlations and tightly connected 'rich clubs'; and that individuals from the same class live closer to each other but commute further if they are wealthier. These results are based on a representative, society-large population, and empirically demonstrate some long-lasting hypotheses on socioeconomic correlations, which potentially lay behind social segregation, and induce differences in human mobility.

Wetland ecosystem health assessment through integrating remote sensing and inventory data with an assessment model for the Hangzhou Bay, China

Due to rapid urbanization, industrialization and population growth, wetland area in China has shrunk rapidly and many wetland ecosystems have been reported to degrade during recent decades. Wetland health assessment could raise the public awareness of the wetland condition and guide policy makers to make reasonable and sustainable policies or strategies to protect and restore wetland ecosystems. This study assessed the health levels of wetland ecosystem at the Hangzhou Bay, China using the pressure-state-response (PSR) model through synthesizing remote sensing and statistical data. Ten ecological and social-economic indicators were selected to build the wetland health assessment system. Weights of these indicators and PSR model components as well as the normalized wetland health score were assigned and calculated based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method. We analyzed the spatio-temporal changes in wetland ecosystem health status during the past 20years (1990–2010) from the perspectives of ecosystem pressure, state and response. The results showed that the overall wetland health score was in a fair health level, but displayed large spatial variability in 2010. The wetland health score declined from good health level to fair health level from 1990 to 2000, then restored slightly from 2000 to 2010. Overall, wetland health levels showed a decline from 1990 to 2010 for most administrative units. The temporal change patterns in wetland ecosystem health varied significantly among administrative units. Our results could help to clarify the administrative responsibilities and obligations and provide scientific guides not only for wetland protection but also for restoration and city development planning at the Hangzhou Bay area.

The trans-system polymorbid states and their relationship with social status of patients of therapeutic clinic

The article presents result of analysis of indicator of polymorbidity in sampling of 9871 patients of therapeutic clinic of the research institute of experimental and clinical medicine (Novosibirsk)during 2003-2011. The study was carried out using archive method with statistical analysis of all nosologic forms, groups and classes of ICD-10 irrespective of particular diagnosis being main or concomitant. The gender differences of indicator trans-systemic polymorbidity during 2003-2011consisted in that in males its increasing was more dynamic than in females. The trans-systemic polymorbidity is correlated with social economic indicators considering as stressors having significant importance for its occurrence and development. These regularities are more specific for males due to direct correlation between trans-systemic polymorbidity and level of payroll salary in contrast with females. Hence, necessity to take into account impact of social economic factors on development of polymorbid pathology for improving system of secondary and tertiary prevention, diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation of concomitant nosologies in patients. The development of new medical economic standards of treatment of patients with polymorbid pathology to implement principles of personified medicine is required.

Service users' perspectives on free maternal health services in Malindi District, Kenya

Background: Malindi District sub-county Kilifi County has some of the poorest social economic indicators in the country. It has a poverty rate of 72%, relatively low levels of literacy, high fertility rates, and a significant proportion of the population is exposed to health risk factors. Aims: To explore women's perspectives of elimination of the user fee for accessing maternal health services; and to investigate the facilitators and barriers experienced to using these services following the introduction of this policy. Methods: A qualitative inquiry was used to obtain the views of the maternal health service users of health service facilities in Malindi District, conducted in sub-county Kilifi County. Twenty-eight women, including those seeking prenatal and postnatal care services at the time of the study, participated in the study. Findings: The service users perceived the fee-free maternity services programme to present both opportunities and challenges. The programme was perceived to have lessened the financial burden of seeking skilled care and facilitated the access of skilled care to disadvantaged members of society. However, despite perceived positive outcomes, several participants believed there are challenges affecting the implementation of the programme, including delays in receiving antenatal care and perinatal services, improper cost associated with services in some facilities and lack of essential commodities in the facilities, which forced the users to purchase medicine and supplies to facilitate service provision. Conclusions: The fee-free maternal health service was perceived to improve access to skilled care during pregnancy and birth by the women, irrespective of their socioeconomic status. However, several challenges posed as potential barriers to the sustained perceived increase in service utilisation.

Fragile States and Global Terrorism, The Impact of Social, Economic, Political and Military Indicators on the Level of the Global Terrorism Index/Statistical Analysis

A Multiple stepwise linear Regression was conducted to investigate the level of impact of the fragile state indicator (FSI) components Social Indicators (SIFSI), Economic Indicators (EIFSA), and Political and Military Indicators (PMISFI) on the level of the Global Terrorism Indicator (GTI). The stepwise excludes the Political and Military Indicators (PMISFI) as an independent variable. The result concludes that the Social Indicators (SIFSI), Economic Indicators (EIFSA) variation as a predictor to the dependent variable (Global Terrorism Indicator, (GTI)). The fragile state index content developed in collaboration with Georgetown University, the Institute of peacekeeping. Global Terrorism Index (GTI) contains data referring to terrorist activity, and which combines factors associated with terrorism, and a series of data have been read by specialized researchers, and these data are produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), in collaboration with the Department of the terrorism study at the University of Maryland.

Sensitivity to desertification of a high productivity area in Southern Italy

Calabria (Southern Italy) is one of the Italian regions most affected by desertification phenomena. This study presents a detailed analysis of the sensitivity to desertification of an economically important agricultural area in the province of Crotone. The Environmentally Sensitive Areas methodology, developed during the European Union MEDALUS project, has been applied by means of a consistent set of pedological, vegetation, climatic and management data of the study area. Analysis of 15 biophysical and social-economic indicators and an evaluation of 4 Quality Indices allowed the classification of the study area into potential, fragile and critical areas in relation to desertification. The main result is a pronounced sensitivity to desertification of the area: about 46% of the land emerges as being already affected by degradation phenomena, falling within the worst class (‘critical’), while about 39% of the area belongs to the ‘fragile’ class.

Social Wealth Economic Indicators for a Caring Economy

This essay introduces the reader to an entirely new set of measures that are urgently needed by policymakers and business leaders to foster personal, business, and national economic success. Social Wealth Economic Indicators are measures suggested by a partnership model of society, and they inform us that care work matters tremendously but is grossly undervalued. In our contemporary knowledge-service economy, the essential ingredient for social and economic progress is high-quality human capital, and the way to build such human capital is to support the work of caring and caregiving, traditionally considered “women’s work.” The data presented in this essay clearly show that early childhood care and education, family-friendly workplace practices, and the status of women are key determinants of economic success. But they are also necessary for healthy, creative, and cohesive societies in which members work in partnership with each other and with the natural environment to improve living conditions for all. This is the true meaning of social wealth.

INDICADORES PARA MONITORAMENTO E AVALIAÇÃO DE PROGRAMAS DE GERENCIAMENTO COSTEIRO: O PROJETO ORLA DE FUNDÃO

A degradação e o esgotamento dos recursos costeiros e marinhos demonstram a necessidade de dar aos programas de gerenciamento costeiro um enfoque integrado. O manejo integrado é um processo que reúne os gestores e comunidades para elaborar e executar programas e projetos em busca da sustentabilidade dos ecossistemas costeiros e marinhos. O objetivo desse trabalho é apresentar um conjunto de indicadores ambientais, socioeconômicos e institucionais tendo como finalidade quantificar, monitorar, avaliar as ações a serem desenvolvidas nos programas de Gerenciamento Costeiro Integrado. Adotou-se como critério para definição dos indicadores i) os problemas identificados como prioritários nos municípios litorâneos ii) análise dos diferentes quadros das políticas municipais, estaduais e federais relacionadas à gestão costeira; iv) apresentar características de serem indicadores de fácil mensuração, centrado em aspectos práticos, claros, fáceis de entender e de comunicar; e vi) serem relevantes para os objetivos dos Programas e projetos de Gestão costeira.Os indicadores foram aplicados no âmbito do Plano de Gestão Integrada da Orla de Fundão – Projeto Orla. A aplicação conjunta dos indicadores permitiu compreender os fatores que geram pressão no ambiente, o estado e as relações de dependência entre os sistemas costeiros. O uso desses indicadores para quantificar, monitorar e avaliar a implementação do Projeto Orla nas distintas condições e cenários ambientais, socioeconômico e institucional contribui para a tomada de decisões e determinar intervenções, alcançando as metas necessárias à sustentabilidade da ocupação e uso dos ecossistemas costeiros e marinhos.

The liberalization of air services: prospects and challenges for the Indian economy

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine, with a specific reference to the Indian economy, the interface between the World Trade Organization (WTO)/General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) disciplines and aviation services; the challenges to the incorporation of air services regimes into the world trade treaty; and the alternative routes for the liberalization of air services markets. Design/methodology/approach – The paper adopts the doctrinal approach to legal research in analyzing literature on the integration of air services into the multi-lateral trading system. The paper takes a critical look at the current state of the aviation industry, the rationales and routes for liberalization, as well as the challenges facing it. Findings – The paper reveals the state of the Indian aviation market and its preparedness for integration into the global market system. The merit of a gradual approach is examined. Research limitations/implications – The WTO framework offers the traditional route for the liberalization of trade. However, since the inception of air travel, air traffic rights have been traded between countries on a bilateral basis, involving concepts of sovereignty over national airspace. The paper offers some ideas on how the two can be integrated. Originality/value – The research draws on recent events in the Indian aviation sector. It is of importance, especially to other emerging economies with similar social-economic indicators. It objectively questions the rationales for liberalization or globalization and its merits.

Associations Between Global Population Health Indicators and Dialysis Variables in the Monitoring Dialysis Outcomes (MONDO) Consortium

Background: The number of patients receiving renal replacement therapy (RRT) increases annually and worldwide. Differences in the RRT incidence, prevalence, and modality vary between regions and countries for reasons yet to be clarified. Aims: Gain a better understanding of the association between hemodialysis (HD)-related variables and general population global health indicators. Methods: The present study included prevalent HD patients from 27 countries/regions from the monitoring dialysis outcomes (MONDO) database from 2006-2011. Global population health indicators were obtained from the 2014 World Health Organization report and the Human Development Index from the Human Development Report Office 2014. The Spearman rank test was used to assess the correlations between population social economic indicators and HD variables. Results: A total of 84,796 prevalent HD patients were included. Their mean age was 63 (country mean 52-71), and 60% were males (country mean 52-85%). Significant correlations were found between HD demographic clusters and population education, wealth, mortality, and health indicators. The cluster of nutrition and inflammation variables were also highly correlated with population mortality, wealth, and health indicators. Finally, cardiovascular, fluid management, and dialysis adequacy clusters were associated with education, wealth, and health care resource indicators. Conclusion: We identified socioeconomic indicators that were correlated with dialysis variables. This hypothesis-generating study may be helpful in the analysis of how global health indicators may interfere with access to HD, treatment provision, dialytic treatment characteristics, and outcomes.

Quantitative accounting for social economic indicators

AbstractIn this paper we consider the evolution of quantitative accounting of social indicators for measuring societal progress and sustainable development, with particular reference to economic analysis and social indicators. We examine the use of the System of National Accounts and introduce the concept of using input‐output analysis for the development of social indicators. The use of satellite accounts for input‐output analysis of environmental impacts and the development of environmental footprints has been well documented. The novelty of this paper is the use of a methodology frequently used to develop environmental indicators to quantify social impacts and to further the development of social footprints. We provide a case study of the use of social satellite accounts for labour, using multi‐regional input‐output analysis to develop a global inequality footprint for labour embodied in trade, and argue the case for the development of a system of social economic accounts, similar to the System of Environmental‐Economic Accounts adopted by the United Nations Statistical Commission in 2012. This work contributes to the development of social valuation metrics as a means for measuring societal progress and developing sustainability indicators for use in management and decision‐making.

(Neo-)extractivism – a new challenge for development theory from Latin America

This paper addresses new challenges and identifies starting points for development theory following recent debates in Latin America on ‘new or neo-extractivism’. It focuses on the concept of neo-extractivism and the context of its emergence, and on the changing role of the state. Looking at a number of social economic indicators, we find that, even after considering differences between countries, (neo-)extractivism is not merely a temporary economic strategy in the region. Instead, it exhibits features of a consolidated development project. Empirical evidence from the region shows the fundamental implications of resource-based development paths in politics, social relations and territorial orders. To grasp these implications conceptually, we argue for a shift in theoretical perspectives related to the link between development and resource extraction. Key elements for such a shift are to be found in recent studies in rentier theory and politics and new approaches in the field of political ecology.

基于AD-AS模型的海岸带生态系统综合承载力评估

以舟山海岸带为研究区域，结合采样数据和社会经济发展数据，构建以社会因子、经济因子和自然因子为3个维度因子的海岸带生态系统综合承载力评估的指标体系。并参照经济学中的AD-AS模型，改进成综合总供给-综合总需求模型（SAD-SAS模型），根据生态系统中总供给与总需求之间的平衡关系，来计算舟山海岸带综合承载力量值，并尝试将海岸带综合承载力值的分类标准在原来的基础上分为5类，最后评价其所处的承载力水平。研究结果表明：舟山海岸带综合承载力在2005-2008年时处于微幅上升的阶段，年均增速为6.5%，在2008-2009年开始出现稍微的下降，下降幅度为3%；SAD-SAS模型作为生态学与经济学交叉的模型，为海岸带综合承载力评价提供了一种新思路。;Coastal zone, where terrene, ocean and atmosphere interact on each other, is the richest region on the earth. In this study, it's a range that 0 meter isobaths extends to the city towards land and to -10 meters isobaths towards sea. During a certain period and within the geographical scope, taking the sustainable development of coastal resources and environment as a rule, synthetic carrying capacity refers to the ability how much population size and industry scale that coastal zone can bear. The carrying capacity could warn the state of environment and resource and make ecosystem staying healthy.<br>AD-AS Model puts the aggregate demand and aggregate supply in a frame of reference to explain the decision to GDP and price level in economy. In this research, we regard the carrying capacity as the relation between human demand and ecosystem supply, which makes it to be a modified AD-AS, synthetic aggregate demand synthetic-aggregate supply model, the SAD-SAS model for short. The SAD-SAS model has two forms: the short-run one and long-run one. The former indicates state of carrying capacity, and the latter shows its changes in the time dimension. Divide synthetic aggregate supply by synthetic aggregate demand, and you will get the carrying capacity in coastal ecosystem at some point.<br>Then, with the sample data and yearbook data of coastal zone in Zhou Shan, we build a coastal indicator system for coastal carrying capacity assessment, which includes social indicators, economic indicators and natural indicators. The system consists of two parts: synthetic aggregate supply and synthetic aggregate demand. The former includes resource supply, economic development, technology support and import from outside; while the latter contains social pressure, development intensity, surrounding stress and export to outside. Based on the processed data under the same standard and indicator system, SAD-SAS is used to calculate the value of synthetic carrying capacity. Finally,we assess which level the coastal zone is. Synthetic carrying capacity in coastal zone of Zhou Shan is respectively no-load, no-load, no-load, loadable and loadable from 2005 to 2009. On average, it has increased 6.5% from 2005 to 2008 while it begins to decrease in 2009 by 3%.<br> These results demonstrate that: compared with the developed cities, ecological environment is better in Zhou Shan and has more potential. The carrying capacity value is relative, and it is closely bound up with the normal value. Consequently, the calculated carrying capacity value shows the distance between the study area and normal area, and it changes companying with the chosen area. The assessment result is divided into 5 kinds instead of 3, which is more refined and will reflect the tiny change in ecosystem. Also, there are some focuses to modify and discuss. Firstly, the indicator system needs to improve and complete, especially in marine parts. Secondly, the human activities have a significant effect on coastal environment. But it is hard to quantify, which makes it difficult to assess the carrying capacity. Involving ecology, geography and economic, SAD-SAS model will provide a new method for carrying capacity assessment.

The relationship between property crime and social-economic indicators in Turkey

After Gary Becker’s very crucial contribution to the discussion about the correlation between crime and the economy, this subject has gained world-wide popularity and a very extensive literature has been accumulated. In Turkey however, little research have been done on this subject. In this study, the relationship between crime against property and real minimum wage, unemployment, subsistence index, and per capita income level is analyzed for the period of 1971 to 2005 with annual data of Turkey. By using the co-integration methodology test, it is determined that there is long-run relationship among the variables. This study also investigates the causality relationship among the variables using the Granger causality test and impulse-response functions are included. The empirical findings indicate that there is a causality relationship between the real minimum wage and property crime. Key words: Property crime, Turkey, social-economics indicators.

Access to subsidized artemether-lumefantrine from the private sector among febrile children in rural setting in Kilosa, Tanzania.

The World Health Organization aims at universal access to effective antimalarial treatment by the year 2015. Consequently, an enormous financial resource has been invested on Artemisinin Combination Therapy (ACT) subsidy. In Tanzania, strategies to increase access of artemether-lumufantrine (ALu) rural areas, where the burden is highest, includes subsidy to the Faith-based Organisations (FBO) facilities and accredited drug dispensing outlets (ADDOs). This study was done to assess the extent to which children suffering from malaria access ALu from the private sector in rural areas. A total of 1,235 under fives randomly selected from 12 rural villages were followed up at home on weekly basis for six months in Kilosa district in 2008. Using a structured questionnaire, caretakers were interviewed about the child's history of fever in the past 7 days; type of treatment given and the source. Baseline data were obtained on demographic characteristics, caretakers' knowledge about malaria and social economic indicators of the household. Of the 1,235 children followed-up, 740 care-seeking visits were recorded, of which, 264 (35.7%) were made at government health facilities and nearly a quarter (24.1%; 178/740) at ordinary shops that sell general merchandize including rice and sugar. Only 22% of the caretakers sought care from FBO and ADDOs. While 686 (86.6%) of the episodes were treated with antimalarials, only 319 (43%) received ALu, the recommended antimalarial. Majority (83%) of the visits made at government facilities were prescribed with ALu compared to less than half who went to FBO facilities (40.0%) and ADDOs (25.0%). In conclusion, this study has shown that less than a quarter of fever episodes suspected to be malaria in rural areas were made at FBO facilities and ADDOs, of which, less than half were treated with ALu. This shows that ALu subsidy to formal private sector does not adequately reach children in rural areas, where the malaria burden is highest. This cast some doubts if the target of universal access to effective antimalarial, by 2015, will be reached. There is need to consider enlisting the services of community health workers in the efforts to improve access to ALu in rural areas. Further research is needed to explore providers' / dispensers' preference for non-recommended antimalarials in the private sector and caretakers' preference for ordinary shops.

Application and evaluation of forecasting methods for municipal solid waste generation in an eastern-European city

Forecasting of generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) in developing countries is often a challenging task due to the lack of data and selection of suitable forecasting method. This article aimed to select and evaluate several methods for MSW forecasting in a medium-scaled Eastern European city (Kaunas, Lithuania) with rapidly developing economics, with respect to affluence-related and seasonal impacts. The MSW generation was forecast with respect to the economic activity of the city (regression modelling) and using time series analysis. The modelling based on social-economic indicators (regression implemented in LCA-IWM model) showed particular sensitivity (deviation from actual data in the range from 2.2 to 20.6%) to external factors, such as the synergetic effects of affluence parameters or changes in MSW collection system. For the time series analysis, the combination of autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) and seasonal exponential smoothing (SES) techniques were found to be the most accurate (mean absolute percentage error equalled to 6.5). Time series analysis method was very valuable for forecasting the weekly variation of waste generation data (r (2) > 0.87), but the forecast yearly increase should be verified against the data obtained by regression modelling. The methods and findings of this study may assist the experts, decision-makers and scientists performing forecasts of MSW generation, especially in developing countries.

气候变化背景下水资源脆弱性评价方法及其应用分析

气候变化背景下水资源脆弱性与适应性是当前国内外水资源研究的热点问题之一。本文以中国省级行政区为评价单元，针对水资源供需矛盾问题，开展了气候变化背景下水资源脆弱性评价的指标系统与方法研究。与传统的水资源脆弱性评价不同，本文提出的脆弱性不仅考虑了自然干旱地理分布的脆弱性要素，同时考虑了社会经济和环境等方面的联系，选取了相关的8个指标，并利用层次分析法确定指标权重。初步研究表明，水资源脆弱性在南方地区较低，在北方地区较高；相同或相近的水资源脆弱性评价结果，可能是不同原因造成的；随着水资源脆弱性的增加，社会经济因素逐渐起主导作用。根据评价结果，本研究从提升应对气候变化适应能力、提高用水效率、实施用水总量控制、开发新水源和治理水污染等方面提出了相应的适应性对策。 Water vulnerability research is the focus of water resources research recent days, and is an impor- tant method to assess the impact of natural and social-economic factors to the water resources systems, and also could be the basis of adaptation. In this paper, 8 indicators for water vulnerability were identified and categorized including the natural and social-economic factors. The weights of each indicator were calculated by the Analytic Hierarchy Process. The assessment was applied on China, and each province was one assess- ment unit. The result shows that southChinahas the lower water vulnerability, and the northChinahas the higher water vulnerability. The similar assessment results could be caused by various reasons. As the increase of water vulnerability, the social-economic indicators become overwhelming. According to the results, this paper has advanced some adaptations on improving the adaptive ability to climate change and water efficiency, applying the gross water utilization control, using new water resources and control the water pollution.

Classification of Country Patterns in the World Based on Their Levels of Economy and Emission Process of Greenhouse Gases

Abstract According to the authoritative data involving social economic indicators and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission from the international universal database, the levels and processes of economic development and GHG emission in major economic groups, nations and regions of the world are simultaneously analyzed. Obtaining Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and emission per capita from various countries and regions in the past 40 years as the standard, countries and regions in the world are divided into six groups: countries with low emission per capita and low economic level (IA), countries with low emission per capita and medium economic level (IIA), countries with low emission per capita and high economic level (IIIA), countries with high emission per capita and medium economic level (IIB), countries with high emission per capita and high economic level (IIIB), countries with high emission per capita and low economic level (IB). Countries belong to IB are quite rare in the study period, while the first five groups correspond to the poor regions, main developing countries, economically transitional countries with rapid economic development, rich islands and developed North America and Europe respectively. Data analysis shows that there is a close relationship between emission and economic development of different countries and regions. The composition relationship between economic development of different countries and regions is relatively stable over a long period of time. From 1970 to 2005, rising trends existed in the economic development of most countries and regions. However, the emission had a significant increase in a small part of countries and regions. In other words, for those with high emission, the emission level is always high. But for those with low GHG emission, the emission does not increase too much. The main processes of the change of countries pattern from IA to IIA and from II B to IIIB, occurring in the 1970s and from the late 1970s to the 1980s respectively. That result has a significant enlightening effect in understanding the relationship between emission and economic development and its historical process of various countries and in choosing the position of our country in the future climate diplomatic negotiations.

An Overview and Perspective about Causative Factors of Surface Urban Heat Island Effects

Urban heat island(UHI) is a hotspot in the study about urban ecological and environmental effects.UHI effects are caused by multiple factors,and the synthesized mechanism study can supply a foundation to release the negative effects of UHI.This study proposes a theory framework for causative factors of surface urban heat island(SUHI) by analyzing the process of surface energy on the basis of landscape ecology.Since surface temperature represents the process of surface energy,we examine the causative factors of this process,which includes energy absorption/emission,energy translation,and energy transmission.The internal and external progresses on each kind of causative factors are reviewed in this study.We also compare the internal studies on synthesized mechanism of SUHI with external studies.By the comparison of progresses of causative factor studies and the mechanism of SUHI,we deduce the prospect on this field. The energy absorption and emission of surface represent the ability to absorb solar short-wave radiation,and the capacity to emit earth's surface long-wave radiation,which are controlled by the physical properties of land surface.The studies on this theme focus on land use and biophysical properties.It has reached a consensus on the functions of land use/land cover.The biophysical properties can better describe the relationship between surface characteristics and temperature with higher accuracy.The physical properties of the surface include vegetation,impervious surface,and surface moisture,which are represented by land cover indices derived from remote sensed data including NDVI,ISA,NDBI,NDMI,etc.Energy translation is the process of translating one form of energy into another,which,in this case,is surface heat determined by the intensity of human activities.Population density,energy consumption intensity,and automobile flux are normal indices to depict the intensity of human activities.However,the studies in this field are limited by the spatial resolution of social-economic data.Energy transmission represents the energy flow between different patches referring to the temperature gradient,which primarily depends on the spatial relationship between landscape patches.Two themes in this field have been developed.One is the relationship between temporal heterogeneity of landscape patterns and surface temperature changes.The other is the influence of spatial characteristics of landscape patches on surface temperature.In the field of synthesized causative factors,the external study focuses on the triangle model of temperature,vegetation,and soil moisture.Most of the internal analyses are about the statistical model consisted of land cover and social-economic components. There are two tendencies of the relating studies in the future.Firstly,high resolution data and field survey data will promote the study on the analysis of energy translation and transmission.Secondly,following a description of energy process,we can involve social-economic indicators and landscape patterns in the triangle mechanism model to establish the systemized mechanism of SUHI.