Urban Environment and Structure of Lithuanian Cities: Their Assessment in the Context of Climate Change and Other Potential Threats

Evaldas Ramanauskas (), Arūnas Bukantis, Liucijus Dringelis, Giedrius Kaveckis and Gintė Jonkutė-Vilkė
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Evaldas Ramanauskas: Institute of Architecture and Construction, Kaunas University of Technology, Tunelio Str. 60, LT-44405 Kaunas, Lithuania
Arūnas Bukantis: Institute of Geosciences, Department of Hydrology and Climatology, Vilnius University, M.K.Ciurlionio Str. 21-315, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania
Liucijus Dringelis: Institute of Architecture and Construction, Kaunas University of Technology, Tunelio Str. 60, LT-44405 Kaunas, Lithuania
Giedrius Kaveckis: Institute of Architecture and Construction, Kaunas University of Technology, Tunelio Str. 60, LT-44405 Kaunas, Lithuania
Gintė Jonkutė-Vilkė: Institute of Architecture and Construction, Kaunas University of Technology, Tunelio Str. 60, LT-44405 Kaunas, Lithuania

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-38

Abstract: The negative consequences of climate change—such as heatwaves, storms, and floods—together with emerging threats including war, radiation, and pandemics, are increasingly affecting human health, ecosystems, economic stability, and the overall living environment. Consequently, enhancing preparedness has become a key task in shaping the spatial structure of cities. However, despite the growing negative impact and increasing frequency of climate change consequences, along with the prevailing risk of other threats, Lithuania is still not adequately prepared. The article examines the urban environment of Lithuanian cities and its local climatic assessment, aiming to develop proposals to enhance the sustainability and resilience of this environment in addressing the negative consequences of these threats. Three main climatic regions of the country were selected for the research, represented by cities: Klaipėda, Kaunas, and Vilnius. Urban and local climatic research was carried out in the selected cities to assess their spatial structure and environment and identify for microclimatic research the unified morphostructure types commonly used in the country. Accordingly, to selected morphotypes, correlations of the relationship between development density, building height, and the area of impervious surfaces with air and surface temperatures were carried. The most favourable microclimatic conditions were identified in morphotypes characterised by lower development density, more abundant green spaces, and a more open development pattern. Such characteristics of urban morphostructures, considering additional factors of land use such as land saving and the efficient functioning of the city, form the basis for developing the spatial structure of sustainable urban residential areas.

Keywords: urban structure; climate change; air temperature; urban heat island; urban morphostructure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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