Analysis of urban heat island effect using an improved CTTC and STTC model

Abstract

An improved cluster thermal time constant (CTTC) and surface thermal time constant (STTC) numerical model was introduced, which took into account the effect of vegetation coverage and modified the expression of net long-wave radiation of the canyon layer. In the case study the model was used to calculate the air temperature variation at downtown of Tianjin City. The relative error between the calculated and measured air temperatures was less than 3%. The tendency of air temperature variation was predicted when the building aspect ratio, vegetation rate, and wind speed changed respectively. It is demonstrated that when the aspect ratio of a building with south-north orientation increased, the heat island intensity at day time was mitigated; however, it became worse after sunset. The vegetation coverage rate and wind speed both had negative relationship with the urban heat island intensity.

Keywords

urban canopy layer / CTTC and STTC model / net long-wave radiation / building aspect ratio / vegetation coverage rate / wind speed

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