Ever felt like city summers are cranked up to eleven? A new study from the Chinese mainland's Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources under the Chinese Academy of Sciences sheds light on how urban surfaces supercharge extreme heat events. ☀️🌆
As cities grow into clusters—such as Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, the Pearl River Delta, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Chengdu-Chongqing region—their roads, buildings, and human activities become powerful heat sources. Researchers led by Gao Xiaoqing mapped how these surface heat sources change across seasons and regions, and how they link to compound high-temperature events.
Key findings include:
- Seasonal swings: heat sources peak in summer and dip in winter.
- Regional twists: in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei cluster, heat is stronger in the south and weaker in the north, where it even acts as a heat sink in winter.
- River vibes: in the Yangtze River Delta, major heat sources cluster along the rivers, while big cities have slightly cooler surfaces.
These patterns reflect a mix of topography, climate, and how fast each area has urbanized. The study also found that stronger surface heat sources drive up the frequency of extreme heat events, even if they don't always increase each event's intensity. 🔥
Published in Science China Earth Sciences, these insights are crucial for boosting urban climate resilience and improving life for city residents, says Gao. As global warming and rapid urban growth collide, knowing where our cities heat up most can help planners cool things down—and keep our downtowns livable for everyone. 🏙️🌿
Reference(s):
Study reveals how urban heat sources intensify extreme heat events
cgtn.com
