Assessing the relationship between anthropogenic heat release warming and building characteristics in Guangzhou: A sustainable development perspective

Zheng Cao; Zhifeng Wu; Lin Liu; Yinbiao Chen; Yuxuan Zou

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.133759

Assessing the relationship between anthropogenic heat release warming and building characteristics in Guangzhou: A sustainable development perspective

Sci Total Environ. 2019 Dec 10:695:133759. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.133759. Epub 2019 Aug 3.

Authors

Zheng Cao¹, Zhifeng Wu², Lin Liu³, Yinbiao Chen⁴, Yuxuan Zou⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Geographical Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Province Engineering Technology Research Center for Geographical Conditions Monitoring and Comprehensive Analysis, Guangzhou 510006, China; Center of Geo-Informatics for Public Security, School of Geographic Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China.
² School of Geographical Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Province Engineering Technology Research Center for Geographical Conditions Monitoring and Comprehensive Analysis, Guangzhou 510006, China. Electronic address: gzuwzf@163.com.
³ School of Geographical Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; Center of Geo-Informatics for Public Security, School of Geographic Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China; Department of Geography, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0131, USA. Electronic address: liulin1@gzhu.edu.cn.
⁴ School of Geographical Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Province Engineering Technology Research Center for Geographical Conditions Monitoring and Comprehensive Analysis, Guangzhou 510006, China.

PMID: 31756862
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.133759

Abstract

We assessed the spatial heterogeneity of warming due to total anthropogenic heat release (AHR) and building anthropogenic heat release under different heat release scenarios and its relationship with building properties in the highly urbanized portion of Guangzhou using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The simulation results show that different AHR scenarios result in different temperature rise outcomes. A rise of 0.40 °C and 0.23 °C results from a normal total AHR scenario and normal building AHR scenario, while a rise of 0.71 °C and 0.41 °C arises when total AHR and building AHR is doubled. This indicates that more anthropogenic heat results in a more serious warming effect. Moreover, the spatial heterogeneity of the AHR-caused temperature rise is affected by the building area. The AHR-derived warming effect is most serious in high-height-medium-density (H-M) and high-height-high-density (H-H) building areas, where temperature rose by 0.36 °C and 0.34 °C due to building AHR under two AHR scenarios, while it was least serious in low-height-high-density (L-H) and high-height-low-density (H-L) areas, where temperature rose by 16 °C and 0.25 °C under two building AHR scenarios. When AHR is doubled, the hot spot of AHR-derived warming tends to become more concentrated. The quantitative relationship between building AHR-derived warming and building property data was assessed using a multiple linear regression model. The model shows that the combination of building height and building density provides better predictor of building AHR warming than either property alone; and the relationship is best predicted in L-H and H-L areas, with R² values of 0.68 and 0.79, respectively. Warming due to AHR should be considered as one of the most serious urban warming forces and the land surface properties are the key factors that influence AHR-derived warming. This study provides evidence for the significance of AHR in the urban environment and offers suggestions for mitigating urban thermal heating.

Keywords: Anthropogenic heat release; Building characteristics; Multiple linear relationship; WRF model; Warming effect.