Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 128528 |
| Journal | Urban Forestry and Urban Greening |
| Volume | 101 |
| Early online date | 1 Oct 2024 |
| Publication status | Published - Nov 2024 |
Abstract
The phenomenon of the urban heat island effect requires urban planning adaptation strategies that mitigate heat stress. While the cooling effect of urban green spaces has been well studied, knowledge gaps remain regarding the cooling potential of urban blue spaces. Particularly, how the cooling intensity of an urban blue space is influenced by its features and the context in which it occurs, such as its size, location, and more broadly the local climate and season, requires closer investigation. To address these gaps, we conducted a systematic review of studies exploring the thermal effect of urban blue spaces on the surrounding urban microclimate. We extracted the cooling or heating intensity of urban blue spaces, while considering how season, time of day, climate zone, water body size and methodological approach may influence results. Through analysis of 67 identified articles, we found that the thermal effect of blue spaces varies between seasons and time of day, with daytime temperatures in the surrounding urban climate cooled by 2.6 °C on average and maximum intensities observed during late spring and early summer. While at night-time in the summer, the thermal effect showed an average urban heating intensity of 0.6 °C. These values differ depending on the methodological approach used, with mean daytime cooling intensities varying considerably by method (field measurements: 1.4 °C; remote sensing: 3.4 °C; numerical modelling: 1.7 °C). The thermal effect also differed by climate zone, with results indicating a cooling intensity during the day with higher values in temperate climate zones. At night, both cooling and heating effects were observed in continental and temperate zones. The few studies reporting on water body size indicated a higher cooling intensity with greater size of the water body. These varying cooling or heating characteristics of urban blue spaces suggest they can be utilised in different planning contexts to achieve desired goals, depending on their features, the time and location, making them valuable nature-based solutions aimed at mitigating urban heat.
Keywords
- Climate change, Urban blue space, Urban cooling, Urban heat, Urban microclimate, Urban planning
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Forestry
- Environmental Science(all)
- Ecology
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Soil Science
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, Vol. 101, 128528, 11.2024.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of blue spaces on the urban microclimate in different climate zones, daytimes and seasons
T2 - A systematic review
AU - Fricke, Lukas
AU - Legg, Rupert
AU - Kabisch, Nadja
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Authors
PY - 2024/11
Y1 - 2024/11
N2 - The phenomenon of the urban heat island effect requires urban planning adaptation strategies that mitigate heat stress. While the cooling effect of urban green spaces has been well studied, knowledge gaps remain regarding the cooling potential of urban blue spaces. Particularly, how the cooling intensity of an urban blue space is influenced by its features and the context in which it occurs, such as its size, location, and more broadly the local climate and season, requires closer investigation. To address these gaps, we conducted a systematic review of studies exploring the thermal effect of urban blue spaces on the surrounding urban microclimate. We extracted the cooling or heating intensity of urban blue spaces, while considering how season, time of day, climate zone, water body size and methodological approach may influence results. Through analysis of 67 identified articles, we found that the thermal effect of blue spaces varies between seasons and time of day, with daytime temperatures in the surrounding urban climate cooled by 2.6 °C on average and maximum intensities observed during late spring and early summer. While at night-time in the summer, the thermal effect showed an average urban heating intensity of 0.6 °C. These values differ depending on the methodological approach used, with mean daytime cooling intensities varying considerably by method (field measurements: 1.4 °C; remote sensing: 3.4 °C; numerical modelling: 1.7 °C). The thermal effect also differed by climate zone, with results indicating a cooling intensity during the day with higher values in temperate climate zones. At night, both cooling and heating effects were observed in continental and temperate zones. The few studies reporting on water body size indicated a higher cooling intensity with greater size of the water body. These varying cooling or heating characteristics of urban blue spaces suggest they can be utilised in different planning contexts to achieve desired goals, depending on their features, the time and location, making them valuable nature-based solutions aimed at mitigating urban heat.
AB - The phenomenon of the urban heat island effect requires urban planning adaptation strategies that mitigate heat stress. While the cooling effect of urban green spaces has been well studied, knowledge gaps remain regarding the cooling potential of urban blue spaces. Particularly, how the cooling intensity of an urban blue space is influenced by its features and the context in which it occurs, such as its size, location, and more broadly the local climate and season, requires closer investigation. To address these gaps, we conducted a systematic review of studies exploring the thermal effect of urban blue spaces on the surrounding urban microclimate. We extracted the cooling or heating intensity of urban blue spaces, while considering how season, time of day, climate zone, water body size and methodological approach may influence results. Through analysis of 67 identified articles, we found that the thermal effect of blue spaces varies between seasons and time of day, with daytime temperatures in the surrounding urban climate cooled by 2.6 °C on average and maximum intensities observed during late spring and early summer. While at night-time in the summer, the thermal effect showed an average urban heating intensity of 0.6 °C. These values differ depending on the methodological approach used, with mean daytime cooling intensities varying considerably by method (field measurements: 1.4 °C; remote sensing: 3.4 °C; numerical modelling: 1.7 °C). The thermal effect also differed by climate zone, with results indicating a cooling intensity during the day with higher values in temperate climate zones. At night, both cooling and heating effects were observed in continental and temperate zones. The few studies reporting on water body size indicated a higher cooling intensity with greater size of the water body. These varying cooling or heating characteristics of urban blue spaces suggest they can be utilised in different planning contexts to achieve desired goals, depending on their features, the time and location, making them valuable nature-based solutions aimed at mitigating urban heat.
KW - Climate change
KW - Urban blue space
KW - Urban cooling
KW - Urban heat
KW - Urban microclimate
KW - Urban planning
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85205678604&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128528
DO - 10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128528
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85205678604
VL - 101
JO - Urban Forestry and Urban Greening
JF - Urban Forestry and Urban Greening
SN - 1618-8667
M1 - 128528
ER -