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Evaluating the benefits of ecosystem-based urban cooling using a dynamic "on-site" method
Baolong Han1, Tong Wu2, Zhengwu Cai1
1State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
The Science of the Total Environment
|March 22, 2023
Summary
This study introduces a new "on-site" method to measure urban heat-island effects and ecosystem cooling. The method accurately quantifies how green spaces mitigate urban heat, aiding urban planning for better thermal environments.
Area of Science:
- Urban Climatology
- Environmental Science
- Ecosystem Services
Background:
- Urban heat-island (UHI) effect poses significant challenges to residents in densely populated areas.
- Traditional UHI measurements comparing urban and rural areas have limitations in accuracy.
- Ecosystem-based cooling strategies are crucial for mitigating UHI effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel "on-site" method for accurately measuring UHI intensity and ecosystem-based cooling services.
- To assess the cooling impact of urban green and blue spaces using solely urban data.
- To provide a tool for urban planning and management to enhance the residential thermal environment.
Main Methods:
- Utilized regression analysis correlating temperature with green space, blue space, elevation, and vegetation dynamics.
- Simulated temperature patterns under two scenarios: absence of built-up areas (Scenario A) and absence of ecological spaces (Scenario B).
- Defined UHI effect as the temperature difference between actual and Scenario A, and ecosystem cooling as the difference between actual and Scenario B.
Main Results:
- The "on-site" method was tested in Beijing and Shenzhen, China.
- Beijing exhibited an average UHI effect of 4.87°C and ecosystem cooling of 9.07°C.
- Shenzhen showed an average UHI effect of 0.8°C and ecosystem cooling of 2.71°C.
Conclusions:
- The "on-site" method, characterized by local sampling, dynamic coefficients, and a no-positive-coefficient rule, offers improved accuracy in UHI and cooling effect assessment.
- This approach provides valuable data for urban planners to optimize green and blue infrastructure for thermal comfort.
- Effective integration of ecosystem services into urban design can significantly alleviate the urban heat-island problem.
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