Publication
Urbanization Amplifies Nighttime Heat Stress on Warmer Days Over the US
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DEC 28
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Citation
Sarangi, C. ., Qian, Y. ., Li, J. ., Leung, L. ., Chakraborty, T. ., & Liu, Y. . (2021). Urbanization Amplifies Nighttime Heat Stress on Warmer Days Over the US. GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, 48(24). https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL095678 (Original work published)
Abstract
The impact of heat on human health is well-recognized, with excess heat stress in urban areas (urban heat stress intensity, UHSI) adversely affecting rapidly growing urban populations. However, the physical associations of UHSI with urban heat island (UHI), urban-induced change in moisture (UQI) and background temperature are not well understood. Multi-year convection-permitting simulations over the US show that UHI effect peaks during nighttime (2-5 degrees C) but maximum UQI occurs in daytime (0.01-2 g kg(-1)), resulting in competing effects on UHSI. UHI dynamics dominate the diurnal variations in UHSI with intensified urban-induced human discomfort during nighttime (3-5 hr day(-)(1)). UHSI is very sensitive to the background temperature, especially over the southeastern US, with distinct nightime UHSI amplification of similar to 0.5 hr day(-1) degree(-)(1) rise in the background temperature. Spatial variability of UHSI is also dominated by the UHI with possible constrains from background moisture availability.