Mitigation of the heat island effect in urban New Jersey

Implementation of urban heat island (UHI) mitigation strategies such as increased vegetative cover and higher-albedo surface materials can reduce the impacts of biophysical hazards in cities, including heat stress related to elevated temperatures, air pollution and associated public health effects. Such strategies also can lower the demand for air-conditioning-related energy production. Since local impacts of global climate change may be intensified in areas with UHIs, mitigation strategies could play an increasingly important role as individuals and communities adapt to climate change. We use CITYgreen, a GIS-based modeling application, to estimate the potential benefits of urban vegetation and reflective roofs as UHI mitigation strategies for case study sites in and around Newark and Camden, New Jersey.

The analysis showed that urban vegetation can reduce health hazards associated with the UHI effect by removing pollutants from the air. Less affluent, inner-city neighborhoods are the ones in which the hazard potential of the UHI effect is shown to be greatest. However, these neighborhoods have less available open space for tree planting and therefore a lower maximum potential benefit. As the climate warms, these neighborhoods may face greater consequences due to interactions between the UHI effect and global climate change. Results also show that urban vegetation is an effective and economically efficient way to reduce energy consumption and costs at the sites.     

国内外城市热岛研究进展

城市热岛现象是人类活动对气候系统产生的最显著的影响之一。在分析城市热岛效应概念和内涵的基础上,论述了国内外在城市热岛效应研究方面的进展,以期为缓解城市热岛效应提供科学依据。     

A case study of urban heat islands in the Carolinas

Urbanization tends to aggravate the negative effects of climate. The objective of this research is to aid in the understanding of the spatial variation of urban heat islands within selected cities in North and South Carolina. This understanding will help guide efforts to cool cities in order to increase human comfort, conserve energy and resources, and reduce air pollution in both of these states.     

A case study of urban heat islands in the Carolinas

Urbanization tends to aggravate the negative effects of climate. The objective of this research is to aid in the understanding of the spatial variation of urban heat islands within selected cities in North and South Carolina. This understanding will help guide efforts to cool cities in order to increase human comfort, conserve energy and resources, and reduce air pollution in both of these states.     

城市热岛研究方法概述

论述了国内外有关城市热岛效应的研究方法,包括传统的气象观测法、基于遥感技术的定量反演法和基于边界层模型的模拟计算法,分析了各种研究方法的进展和优缺点,供城市热岛效应研究方法创新参考。     

杭州城市热岛空间分布及缓减对策

以夏季的杭州市为例,利用Landsat 5 TM热红外遥感数据提取并反演了杭州市地表的覆盖类型与地表温度,通过热场分级分析和剖面分析的方法,对杭州城市尺度下热岛的空间分布特征进行了分析,并揭示了杭州热岛的分布格局与城市用地类型、功能布局之间的空间对应关系,从城市用地类型的演化、城市空间格局的改变、城市用地布局的合理性以及人为热排放等方面剖析了杭州城市热岛的产生与影响机理.最后,从城市规划视角提出了合理控制城市用地扩展、构建开敞的城市生态空间、优化城市用地功能布局以及开展城市下垫面规划设计等城市热岛缓减对策,供未来杭州城市热环境改善工作参考.     

Small island developing states: natural disaster vulnerability and global change

Abstract

This paper sets out an examination of natural disaster amongst small island developing states (SIDS), and presents a framework for assessing the interaction of global pressures and local dynamics in the production of human vulnerability. Change at the global level is found to be a source of new opportunities as well as constraints on building local resilience to natural disaster. Much depends on the orientation of the state in global economic and political systems. The United Nations is a key global actor with relevance to shaping vulnerabilityin island states, and the impact of the UN Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction is reviewed. It is concluded that this is a critical time for SIDS which must contend with ongoing developmental pressures in addition to growing pressures from risks associated with global environmental change and economic liberalisation that threaten their physical and economic security.     

Present and future economic impacts of climate extremes in the United States

Recent studies have yielded definitive information about the nation's economic impacts from extreme climates, although some sectoral values rely on educated estimates since hard data does not exist. Review of existing measures of the national impacts from weather—climate conditions reveals annual average losses of $36 billion from extremes and gains averaging $26 billion when conditions are favorable (good growing seasons, mild winters, etc.). Comparison of these values with various measures of the national economy reveals that the impacts are relatively small, typically about 1% of the Gross Domestic Product and less than 2% of the federal budget. The current impact information provides a basis for assessing various estimates of the nation's financial impacts resulting from a future climate change due to global warming. Most such estimates predict values similar to the magnitude of current climate impacts. Moreover, most economists attempting such estimates express a large degree of uncertainty about their projections.     

哈尔滨市热岛效应与植被的关系——基于RS和GIS的定量研究

利用遥感和地理信息系统技术对Landsat ETM＋热红外遥感数据进行处理，反演和计算了哈尔滨城区的地面亮温和植被指数。通过剖面分析，研究了城区温度场的空间格局与植被盖度的关系；通过多元回归分析，揭示了城区热岛效应同多个指数的相关关系。结果表明：市内的道外区是热岛效应的主要分布区，道里区、香坊区的情况也比较严重；铁路沿线区域是城区主要的热岛效应地带；植被盖度和地面亮温呈反相关关系；植被和水体区域可以缓解城市的热岛效应。通过对市区热岛效应分析，可以监测城市化进程，为城市热环境质量评价和热源调查提供准确、丰富的信息。     

Concerns and future preparedness plans of a vulnerable population in New Jersey following Hurricane Sandy

Knowing how people prepare for disasters is essential to developing resiliency strategies. This study examined recalled concerns, evacuation experiences, and the future preparedness plans of a vulnerable population in New Jersey, United States, following Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Understanding the responses of minority communities is key to protecting them during forthcoming disasters. Overall, 35 per cent of respondents were not going to prepare for an event. Intended future preparedness actions were unrelated to respondents' ratings of personal impact. More Blacks and Hispanics planned on preparing than Whites (68 versus 55 per cent), and more Hispanics planned on evacuating than did others who were interviewed. A higher percentage of respondents who had trouble getting to health centres were going to prepare than others. Respondents' concerns were connected to safety and survival, protecting family and friends, and having enough food and medicine, whereas future actions included evacuating earlier and buying sufficient supplies to shelter in place.     

新亚欧大陆桥新疆段风沙流活动特性及停积规律

通过对新亚欧大陆桥新疆段不同区段风沙流实测资料的分析,探讨了砾漠区和沙漠区的风沙流活动特性及其停积规律.研究表明,风沙流随风力条件、下垫面状况而变化,其搬运能力与风力大小呈正相关;高程与含沙量(%)对数尺度之间具有良好的线性关系,含沙量随高度增加成指数规律衰减;砾漠区沙粒粗大,在2.0m以下高程其含量随高度增大而明显增大,沙漠区风沙流物质成分以细粒为主(占71%);物质运动以跃移为主,易在低路堤边坡,半填、半挖路基和浅路堑处沉降积沙;在风沙流运动方向与线路走向的夹角＜30°时,积沙厚度较小,而当其＞45°时,积沙量随夹角增大呈明显增多的趋势.     

温室效应对我国长江中下游地区气候的影响--数值模拟

利用RegCM2区域气候模式嵌套一个全球模式,进行了CO2加倍情况下对中国区域气候影响的数值试验,对长江中下游地区的情况进行了重点分析.结果表明,在CO2加倍的情况下,长江中下游地区的气温将明显升高,升高值一般在2.3～2.5℃以上,但低于全国平均值.同时,其大部分区域的降水也将增加,特别是在冬季和夏季,但年平均的增加率仅为7%,也低于全国平均值.温室效应会使该地区的日平均最高和最低气温升高,降水日数增多.夏季降水的增多可能会导致这一地区夏季更多的洪涝灾害.     

Community-based disaster preparedness and climate adaptation: local capacity-building in the Philippines

Community-based disaster preparedness (CBDP) approaches are increasingly important elements of vulnerability reduction and disaster management strategies. They are associated with a policy trend that values the knowledge and capacities of local people and builds on local resources, including social capital. CBDP may be instrumental not only in formulating local coping and adaptation strategies, but also in situating them within wider development planning and debates. In theory, local people can be mobilised to resist unsustainable (vulnerability increasing) forms of development or livelihood practices and to raise local concerns more effectively with political representatives. This paper focuses on the potential of CBDP initiatives to alleviate vulnerability in the context of climate change, and their limitations. It presents evidence from the Philippines that, in the limited forms in which they are currently employed, CBDP initiatives have the potential both to empower and disempower, and warns against treating CBDP as a panacea to disaster management problems.     

辽宁气候变化及若干气象灾害的事实分析

利用辽宁省1961~2005年39个气象观测站的常规地面观测资料,采用趋势分析等统计方法,分析了辽宁省近45年的气候变化特征。采用沙道夫干湿指数分析了辽宁省近45年的旱涝变化趋势;同时研究了辽宁省夏季低温冷害和沙尘天气的变化。结果表明,近45年来辽宁气温升高、降水减少,气候向暖干化方向发展。在气候变暖背景下,近45年来辽宁的干旱有增加趋势、洪涝减少,夏季低温冷害明显减少,沙尘日数减少。     

长江中下游地区21世纪气候变化情景预测

利用IPCC数据分发中心提供的7个模式的模拟结果,分析了由于人类活动影响,温室气体(GG)增加以及温室气体和硫化物气溶胶(GS)共同增加时,长江中下游地区未来50～100年的气候变化情景.结果表明,长江中下游地区21世纪的未来温度变化与全球和全国一样,都将呈增加的趋势.GG作用下,2050年和2100年长江中下游地区的变暖幅度分别为2.2℃和4.5℃左右,比全国以及东部和西部地区的变暖幅度小;GS作用下2050年和2100年,其分别为1.2℃和3.9℃,总体上,长江中下游地区的变暖幅度低于全球与全国的变暖幅度.各个季节相比,春季和冬季的增温幅度最大,夏季最小,在两种情形下,长江中下游地区21世纪中期夏季温度将分别增加2.3和0.8℃,2100年将分别增加4.1和3.1℃.对降水变化的分析表明,GG作用下,长江中下游地区与全球、全国以及中国西部和东部地区相比,降水增加的幅度最大;GS作用下,降水增加趋势不明显;综合7个模式的模拟结果,GG作用下,春季和秋季降水增加最明显,夏季次之;GS作用下,长江中下游地区的年平均降水变化不明显,夏季降水增加.同时,本文还对长江中下游地区21世纪中期和末期的温度和降水变化的地理分布进行了分析,两种情形下,都是长江以北的增温幅度大于长江以南.GG作用下,春季长江中下游地区21世纪中期降水将增加5%～7.5%,夏季则是长江下游地区降水增加较大,将增加10%,而长江中游地区降水增加不明显;21世纪末,春季和夏季长江中下游地区的降水增加幅度都将加大,尤其是长江以南地区的降水增加最明显;考虑GG和GS的共同影响后,长江以南的地区降水增加,长江以北地区降水减少.     

气候变化视角下的我国沿海地区防潮设计标准研究 ——以福州滨海新城为例

分析了福州滨海新城所面临的洪潮灾害风险和海堤建设规划情况.从全球气候变化导致福建沿海海平面上升的影响出发,介绍了国外沿海城市在考虑气候变化背景下如何确定海堤设计标准和我国防潮堤设计标准确定方法,分析了我国防潮堤现行设计标准存在的问题和风险,并对未来福州滨海新城防潮堤设计标准改进提出了建议,可供我国沿海地区相关问题参考.     

近50年辽宁省作物生长季气候条件变化及对农业生产的影响

利用辽宁省35个气象观测站点1956-2005年的逐月地面观测资料,对辽宁省近50年的农业气候条件的长期变化情况和空间分布特征进行了详细的分析,并初步分析了农业气候条件的变化对农业生产的影响。结果表明：近50年辽宁省生长季（4-9月）日照时数明显减少,每10年减少29.4 h;生长季日照百分率减少也很明显,平均每10年减少1.2%;生长季降水量呈微弱的减少趋势,蒸发量明显减少,平均每10年减少17.3 mm。潜在蒸发量也呈明显的减少趋势。生长季≥10℃界限温度的积温值在近50年明显增加,且全省≥10℃界限温度开始的日期明显提前,大部分地区近50年提前6 d左右。辽宁省生长季3 350℃积温等值线在最近的10年里有明显的北移和东移。     

古代黄河中游的环境变化和灾害——对都城迁移发展的影响

都城的选址、建设和迁移发展必须以环境资源为基础。我国古代的国家都城在黄河中游反复迁移，以至最后东迁南迁。在这个过程中，环境变迁和灾害一直是重要的驱动因素之一。通过统计分析历史时期洪涝和干旱灾害，以及气候水文变化资料，结合古都所在地的环境资源条件分析讨论，揭示了黄河中游环境变化和灾害对都城迁移发展的影响。都城在长安与洛阳之间的反复迁移，以及后来的东移开封，和南移到长江下游平原，环境的变迁是重要的驱动力之一。     

"We all knew that a cyclone was coming": disaster preparedness and the cyclone of 1999 in Orissa, India

Imagine that a cyclone is coming, but that those living in the affected areas do nothing or too little to protect themselves. This is precisely what happened in the coastal state of Orissa, India. Individuals and communities living in regions where natural hazards are a part of daily life develop strategies to cope with and adapt to the impacts of extreme events. In October 1999, a cyclone killed 10,000 people according to government statistics, however, the unofficial death toll is much higher. This article examines why such a large loss of life occurred and looks at measures taken since then to initiate comprehensive disaster-preparedness programmes and to construct more cyclone shelters. The role of both governmental organisations and NGOs in this is critically analysed. The good news is that, based on an assessment of disaster preparedness during a small cyclone in November 2002, it can be seen that at community-level awareness was high and that many of the lessons learnt in 1999 were put into practice. Less positive, however, is the finding that at the state level collaboration continues to be problematic.     

Superstorm Sandy and voter vulnerability in the 2012 US Presidential Election: a case study of New Jersey and Connecticut

Superstorm Sandy was an unprecedented meteorological event that devastated the Caribbean and the Northeastern Coast of the USA in October 2012. While many research efforts will focus on the atmospheric conditions that led to the creation and unusual track of the storm, this study evaluates the impact of Sandy on voter turnout in the 2012 US Presidential Election. The goals of this paper are to (1) determine if any alterations in voter turnout occurred, (2) assess the extent to which Sandy was responsible for any voter turnout changes and (3) investigate if the influence of Sandy on voter turnout was contingent upon social vulnerability. To accomplish these goals, voter turnout change between the 2008 and 2012 US Presidential Elections was analysed at the county and municipal level for both New Jersey and Connecticut. The notable decreases in voter turnout discovered in both states were likely due to the election occurring in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. The correlation, spatial clustering analysis, analysis of variance and multiple regression results all suggest that storm surge was more likely to be responsible for reduced voter turnout in New Jersey than in Connecticut. Specifically in New Jersey, the findings indicate that storm surge coverage, rather than height, was influential in reducing voter turnout and that this relationship was contingent upon the racial composition of the municipalities. Overall, understanding how Sandy affected voter turnout will help improve the resiliency of electoral systems to future natural disasters.