Seasonal variation in the effects of urban environmental factors on land surface temperature in a winter city

Authors: WU, WEN - Key Laboratory Of Textile Science & Technology; Li, Lidong; LI, CHUNLIN - Key Laboratory Of Textile Science & Technology

Submitted to: Journal of Cleaner Production
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/25/2021
Publication Date: 3/30/2021
Citation: Wu, W., Li, L., Li, C. 2021. Seasonal variation in the effects of urban environmental factors on land surface temperature in a winter city. Journal of Cleaner Production. 299. Article 126897. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126897.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126897

Interpretive Summary: Land surface temperature is an important for urban thermal environment and therefore for urban living. Land surface temperature is affected by environmental factors such as urban landscape patterns, local climate, topography, and socioeconomic conditions. The effects of these environmental factors vary with season. Our study examined the relative contribution of these environmental factors. Our results can be useful for regulating the urban thermal environment and mitigating predicted climate change impacts on the quality, health, and safety of urban living.

Technical Abstract: Environmental factors such as urban landscape patterns, local climate, topography, and socioeconomic conditions have significant impacts on land surface temperature (LST), especially through the urban heat island effect. At present, in-depth studies on the mechanisms determining LST in different seasons in winter cities are lacking. In this study, we used structural equation modeling for 12 environmental factors to characterize how these factors affect the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of the urban thermal environment in the winter city of Shenyang, China. We found that the most critical factors affecting LST varied with season (p < 0.001). Specifically, the distances from the nearest water body and nearest green space had the largest impacts on the LST in spring and summer. In winter, the main factors affecting LST were elevation, slope, and population density. Two-dimensional indices (i.e. building coverage ratio) more strongly influenced seasonal variations in LST than three-dimensional indices (i.e. building height, building shape coefficient), which was related to seasonal variations, index selection, urban morphology, green space, and street tree configuration. Our findings suggest that the urban thermal environment in this winter city can be improved by: (1) optimizing the landscape pattern of green spaces and water bodies; and (2) reducing the population density by establishing satellite cities to decentralize urban functions . This study highlights how landscape pattern can be used to regulate the urban thermal environment and mitigate predicted climate change impacts on the quality, health, and safety of urban living.