Theoretical Urban Heat Island Circulation in the Temperature Inversion Profile

The characteristics of urban heat island (UHI) circulation are analytically expressed as functions of the surface temperature in both temperature inversion and non-temperature inversion (NTI) profiles, in which the temperature declines with increasing altitudes. To identify how the inversion layer a...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yaokun Li, Jiping Chao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2018-03-01
Series:Atmosphere
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/9/3/98
Description
Summary:The characteristics of urban heat island (UHI) circulation are analytically expressed as functions of the surface temperature in both temperature inversion and non-temperature inversion (NTI) profiles, in which the temperature declines with increasing altitudes. To identify how the inversion layer affects UHI circulation, two temperature profiles are specified to be nearly similar except within the temperature inversion layer. Theoretical calculations suggest that the UHI circulation in the temperature inversion case is weaker and lower than in the NTI case and that there is no significant difference between the two cases. When the inversion layer thickness is fixed, the relative size difference between the weakening inversion intensity and the strengthening temperature influence above the inversion lid controls the decrease or increase in UHI circulation.
ISSN:2073-4433