Energetics of Urban Canopies: A Meteorological Perspective

Edson R. Marciotto and Marcos Vinicius Bueno de Morais
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Edson R. Marciotto: Department of Physics, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, Brazil
Marcos Vinicius Bueno de Morais: Departamento de Obras Civiles, Facultad de Ciencias de la Ingeniería, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3480112, Chile

J, 2021, vol. 4, issue 4, 1-19

Abstract: The urban climatology consists not only of the urban canopy temperature but also of wind regime and boundary layer evolution among other secondary variables. The energetic input and response of urbanized areas is rather different to rural or forest areas. In this paper, we outline the physical characteristics of the urban canopy that make its energy balance depart from that of vegetated areas and change local climatology. Among the several canopy characteristics, we focus on the aspect ratio h / d and its effects. The literature and methods of retrieving meteorological quantities in urban areas are reviewed and a number of physical analyzes from conceptual or numerical models are presented. In particular, the existence of a maximum value for the urban heat island intensity is discussed comprehensively. Changes in the local flow and boundary layer evolution due to urbanization are also discussed. The presence of vegetation and water bodies in urban areas are reviewed. The main conclusions are as follows: for increasing h / d , the urban heat island intensity is likely to attain a peak around h / d ? 4 and decrease for h / d > 4 ; the temperature at the pedestrian level follows similar behavior; the urban boundary layer grows slowly, which in combination with low wind, can worsen pollution dispersion.

Keywords: urban energetics; land cover; urban heat island; boundary layer growth (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I1 I10 I12 I13 I14 I18 I19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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