Scale Differences and Gradient Effects of Local Climate Zone Spatial Pattern on Urban Heat Island Impact—A Case in Guangzhou’s Core Area

Yan Rao, Shaohua Zhang (), Kun Yang (), Yan Ma, Weilin Wang and Lede Niu
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Yan Rao: Faculty of Geography, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
Shaohua Zhang: Faculty of Geography, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
Kun Yang: Faculty of Geography, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
Yan Ma: Faculty of Geography, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
Weilin Wang: College of Resources, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410127, China
Lede Niu: Faculty of Geography, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 15, 1-22

Abstract: With the continuous development of cities, the surface urban heat island intensity (SUHII) is increasing, leading to the deterioration of the urban thermal environment, increasing energy consumption, and endangering the health of urban residents. Understanding the spatio-temporal scale difference and gradient effect of urban spatial patterns on the impact of SUHII is crucial for improving the climate resilience of cities and promoting sustainable urban development. This paper investigated the characteristics of SUHII changes at different time periods based on local climate zones (LCZs) and downscaled land surface temperature (LST) data. Meanwhile, landscape pattern indicators and the multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) model were utilized to analyze the impacts of urban spatial patterns on SUHII at multiple spatial–temporal scales. The results indicated that the SUHII of each LCZ type exhibited diverse patterns in different time periods. High SUHII occurred in summer daytime and autumn nighttime. Compact and high-rise buildings (LCZ1/2/4) showed markedly higher SUHII during the daytime or nighttime, except for heavy industry. The extent of influence and the dominant factors of LCZ spatial patterns on SUHII exhibit obvious scale differences and gradient effects. At the regional scale, highly regular and compacted built-up areas tended to increase SUHII, while single and continuously distributed built-up areas had a greater impact on increasing SUHII. At the local scale, the impact of the PLAND (1/2/4/5/10) on SUHII exhibited a trend of diminishing from urban to suburban areas. In urban areas, the PLAND of LCZ 1, LCZ 2, and LCZ4 was the major factor affecting the increase in SUHII, whereas, in suburban areas, the PLAND of LCZ 2 and LCZ 10 was the major influencing factor on SUHII. The results can provide a scientific reference for mitigating urban heat island effects and constructing an ecologically ‘designed’ city.

Keywords: local climate zone (LCZ); landscape pattern indicators; surface urban heat island intensity (SUHII); multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR); multiple spatial–temporal scales (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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