Temperature Response from the Change of Surface Heat Flux and Vertical Diffusivity by Urbanization

• Main Authors: Shuzhan Ren, Craig A. Stroud
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-09-01
• Series: Atmosphere
• Subjects: urbanization; urban temperature response; urban surface heat fluxes; vertical diffusivity; 1-D diffusion model; air quality model
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/9/978

A 1-D diffusion model of temperature is employed to understand important features of temperature response to the changes of surface heat flux (SHF) and vertical diffusivity shown in 3-D model simulations. Analytical results show that the temperature response to the SHF change is the convolution of the SHF change and Green’s function (GF). Because the GF is inversely proportional to the square root of diffusion coefficient near the surface, weak/strong diffusivity in the early morning/noontime tends to generate a large/small temperature response by slowing/accelerating heat flow from surface to the atmosphere. The modulation effect of the GF and the convolution effect explain very different temperature responses to the SHF change during each period. Analytical results also show that the temperature response to the change of DF is equal to the convolution of the product of diffusion coefficient change, vertical gradients of reference temperature and the GF. Because the vertical gradient of the GF is negative below 80 m, enhanced/reduced diffusivity would enhance/weaken the urban temperature, if the vertical gradient of reference temperature is negative/positive. Numerical results with typical values of the changes of SHF and diffusivity suggest that the changes of SHF has the dominant contribution to the temperature response.