Microclimate Modelling for Vancouver Neighborhoods

Extensive urbanized land surfaces, anthropogenic heat emissions, and lack of vegetation and tree cover contribute to the formation of distinct urban climates where warmer air and surface temperatures intensify outdoor heat exposure and thermal discomfort for pedestrians. To assess outdoor thermal comfort in urban environments, mean radiant temperature (Tmrt) is a commonly used indicator. The main research questions we investigate are:
(a) How and to what extent does Tmrt vary spatially within and between select neighborhoods in Vancouver?
(b) How much increase in spatial average Tmrt will occur in selected neighborhoods under future climate change scenarios, without urban heat mitigation measures?
(c) To offset the effects of future climate, what changes in tree cover and albedo are required if the spatial average Tmrt are to be kept at the same level as in the current climate situation in selected neighborhoods? TO BE CONT”D

Faculty Supervisor:

Kirsten Zickfeld;Anders Knudby

Student:

Partner:

Göteborgs universitet

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Environmental Science and Technology; Green/Alternative Energy

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program: