Development of an operational modeling system for urban heat islands: an application to Athens, Greece
The urban heat island (UHI) effect is one prominent form of localized anthropogenic climate modification. It represents a significant urban climate problem since it occurs in the layer of the atmosphere where almost all daily human activities take place. This paper presents the development of a high...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2014-02-01
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| Series: | Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences |
| Online Access: | http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/14/347/2014/nhess-14-347-2014.pdf |
| _version_ | 1819237559669096448 |
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| author | T. M. Giannaros D. Melas I. A. Daglis I. Keramitsoglou |
| author_facet | T. M. Giannaros D. Melas I. A. Daglis I. Keramitsoglou |
| author_sort | T. M. Giannaros |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The urban heat island (UHI) effect is one prominent form of localized
anthropogenic climate modification. It represents a significant urban climate
problem since it occurs in the layer of the atmosphere where almost all
daily human activities take place. This paper presents the development of a
high-resolution modeling system that could be used for simulating the UHI
effect in the context of operational weather forecasting activities. The
modeling system is built around a state-of-the-art numerical weather
prediction model, properly modified to allow for the better representation of
the urban climate. The model performance in terms of simulating the
near-surface air temperature and thermal comfort conditions over the complex
urban area of Athens, Greece, is evaluated during a 1.5-month operational
implementation in the summer of 2010. Results from this case study reveal an
overall satisfactory performance of the modeling system. The discussion of
the results highlights the important role that, given the necessary
modifications, a meteorological model can play as a supporting tool for
developing successful heat island mitigation strategies. This is further
underlined through the operational character of the presented modeling
system. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T13:22:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bb09cb8a566147688b37c97331a37c99 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1561-8633 1684-9981 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T13:22:16Z |
| publishDate | 2014-02-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-bb09cb8a566147688b37c97331a37c992022-12-21T17:45:26ZengCopernicus PublicationsNatural Hazards and Earth System Sciences1561-86331684-99812014-02-0114234735810.5194/nhess-14-347-2014Development of an operational modeling system for urban heat islands: an application to Athens, GreeceT. M. Giannaros0D. Melas1I. A. Daglis2I. Keramitsoglou3Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Physics, Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics, P.O. Box 149, 54124, Thessaloniki, GreeceAristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Physics, Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics, P.O. Box 149, 54124, Thessaloniki, GreeceNational Observatory of Athens, Institute for Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications and Remote Sensing, Vas. Pavlou & Metaxa, 15236, Athens, GreeceNational Observatory of Athens, Institute for Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications and Remote Sensing, Vas. Pavlou & Metaxa, 15236, Athens, GreeceThe urban heat island (UHI) effect is one prominent form of localized anthropogenic climate modification. It represents a significant urban climate problem since it occurs in the layer of the atmosphere where almost all daily human activities take place. This paper presents the development of a high-resolution modeling system that could be used for simulating the UHI effect in the context of operational weather forecasting activities. The modeling system is built around a state-of-the-art numerical weather prediction model, properly modified to allow for the better representation of the urban climate. The model performance in terms of simulating the near-surface air temperature and thermal comfort conditions over the complex urban area of Athens, Greece, is evaluated during a 1.5-month operational implementation in the summer of 2010. Results from this case study reveal an overall satisfactory performance of the modeling system. The discussion of the results highlights the important role that, given the necessary modifications, a meteorological model can play as a supporting tool for developing successful heat island mitigation strategies. This is further underlined through the operational character of the presented modeling system.http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/14/347/2014/nhess-14-347-2014.pdf |
| spellingShingle | T. M. Giannaros D. Melas I. A. Daglis I. Keramitsoglou Development of an operational modeling system for urban heat islands: an application to Athens, Greece Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences |
| title | Development of an operational modeling system for urban heat islands: an application to Athens, Greece |
| title_full | Development of an operational modeling system for urban heat islands: an application to Athens, Greece |
| title_fullStr | Development of an operational modeling system for urban heat islands: an application to Athens, Greece |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of an operational modeling system for urban heat islands: an application to Athens, Greece |
| title_short | Development of an operational modeling system for urban heat islands: an application to Athens, Greece |
| title_sort | development of an operational modeling system for urban heat islands an application to athens greece |
| url | http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/14/347/2014/nhess-14-347-2014.pdf |
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