The curious case of urban heat island : a systems analysis

Abstract

This thesis provides insights into the urban heat island (UHI) effect using a model of the urban microclimate that integrates the urban geometry, anthropogenic heat emission and the rural weather condition. The study builds upon the Urban Weather Generator (UWG), a numerical simulation program previously developed at MIT, incorporating such improvements as monthly disaggregation of ground sink temperature, Depart of Energy (DOE) commercial reference building templates, hourly schedule of building and non-building anthropogenic heat loads, and the development of an Excel user interface. Simulation generated from the updated model offers an explanation of the underlying mechanisms driving the UHI impact and the interactions between elements of the urban weather system. Based on the sensible energy flux transferred to the urban air mass, an UHI indicator to express the severity of UHI effect by the urban landscape is also developed to help urban planners estimate and mitigate the impact.