Science Corner

Chicago's Urban Heat Island

Gray, K. A. and Finster, M. E. 1999. The Urban Heat Island, Photochemical Smog, and Chicago: Local Features of the Problem and Solution. Evanston, IL: Northwestern University.

Exec. Sum. (PDF) (14 pp, 205K)
Chap. 1 & 2 (PDF) (42 pp, 494K)
Chap. 3 (PDF) (38 pp, 2.2MB)
Chap. 4 & 5 (PDF) (36 pp, 653K)
Appendix (PDF) (22 pp, 878K)

Guidance on Meteorological Observations in Urban Areas

Oke, T.R. 2006. Initial Guidance to Obtain Representative Meteorological Observations at Urban Sites. IOM Report No.81, WMO/TD. No. 1250. Geneva, Switzerland: World Meteorological Organization.

Full Report (PDF) (51 pp, 440K)

Homology Mapping Technique for Heat Island Mitigation

Douglas, S. G.; Hudischewskyj, A. B.; and Lundgren, J. R. 2001. Development and Implementation of a Homology Mapping Technique to Aid the Selection of Cities for Modeling of the Effects of Urban Heat Island Mitigation Measures on Ozone Air Quality. SYSAPP-01-008. San Rafael, CA: ICF Consulting/Systems Applications International, Inc.

Full Report (PDF) (28 pp, 86K)

Salt Lake City Fabric Analysis

Akbari, H. and Rose, L. S. 2001. Characterizing the Fabric of the Urban Environment: A Case Study of Salt Lake City, Utah. LBNL-47851. Berkeley, CA: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Body (PDF) (51 pp, 654K)
Appendix (PDF) (18 pp, 2.9MB)

Siting of Meteorological Instruments in Urban Areas

Oke, T.R., 2007. Siting and exposure of meteorological instruments at urban sites. In: Air Pollution Modeling and its Application XVII, Borrego, C. and A.-L. Norman, (eds.), Springer, 615-632. (A draft version is available as: Oke, T.R. 2004. Siting and exposure of meteorological instruments at urban sites. 27th NATO/CCMS International Technical Meeting on Air Pollution Modelling and its Application, Banff, 25-29 October, 2004. To be published by Kluwer.)

Full Report (PDF) (14 pp, 124K)

Air Quality Benefits of Heat Island Mitigation

Taha, H.; Chang, S.; and Akbari, H. 2000. Meteorological and Air Quality Impacts of Heat Island Mitigation Measures in Three U.S. Cities. LBNL-44222. Berkeley, CA: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Full Report (PDF) (61 pp, 344K)

Heat-health Benefits of Urban Heat Island Mitigation

Taha, H.; Kalkstein, L.; Sheridan, S.; and Wong, E. 2004. The potential of urban environmental control in alleviating heat-wave health effects in five U.S. regions. Paper J4.3, 16th Symposium on Biometeorology and
Aerobiology, American Meteorological Society, Vancouver BC, August 2004.

Full Report (PDF) (8 pp, 184K)

Urban Heat Island Mitigation Analysis in New York City

Rosenzweig, C.; Solecki, W.; and Slosberg, R. 2006. Mitigating New York City’s Heat Island with Urban Forestry, Living Roofs, and Light Surfaces. Report 06-06. Albany, NY: New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

Full Report (PDF) (173 pp, 3.8MB)

Urban Heat Island Mitigation Effects on Air Quality in California

Taha, H. 2008. Urban surface modification as a potential ozone air-quality improvement strategy in California: A mesoscale modeling study. Boundary-Layer Meteorology, Vol 127,  No. 2 (May 2008), pp. 219-239. doi:10.1007/s10546-007-9259-5

Abstract (full paper may be purchased).

Urban Heat Island Mitigation Effects on Air Quality in Houston

Taha, H. 2008. Episodic performance and sensitivity of the urbanized MM5 (uMM5) to perturbations in surface properties in Houston TX. Boundary-Layer Meteorology, Vol. 127, No. 2 (May 2008), pp. 193-218. doi:10.1007/s10546-007-9258-6.

Abstract (full paper may be purchased).

Urban Heat Island Mitigation Effects on Air Quality in Northeast U.S.

Hudischewskyj, A. B.; Douglas, S. G.; and Lundgren, J. R. 2001. Meteorological and Air Quality Modeling to Further Examine the Effects of Urban Heat Island Mitigation Measures on Several Cities in the Northeastern U.S.. SYSAPP-01-001. San Rafael, CA: ICF Consulting/Systems Applications International, Inc.

Full Report (PDF) (19 pp, 36K)

Urban Heat Island Mitigation Effects on Energy in Toronto

Konopacki, S. and Akbari, H. 2001. Energy Impacts of Heat Island Reduction Strategies in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada. LBNL-49172. Berkeley, CA: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Full Report (PDF) (49 pp, 540K)

Urban Heat Island Mitigation Strategies

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2008. Reducing Urban Heat Islands: Compendium of Strategies. [insert EPA pub number when available] Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Chapter 1: Urban Heat Island Basics (PDF) (22 pp, 1.5MB)
Chapter 2: Trees and Vegetation (PDF) (32 pp, 4.5MB)
Chapter 3: Green Roofs (PDF) (29 pp, 4.2MB)
Chapter 4: Cool Roofs (PDF) (31 pp, 2.6MB)
Chapter 5: Cool Pavements (PDF) (40 pp, 6.2MB)
Chapter 6: Heat Island Reduction Activities (PDF) (23 pp, 2.7MB)

Green Roof Building Performance Field Study

Cummings, J.B.; Withers, C.R.; Sonne, J.; Parker, D.; and Vieira, R.K. 2007. UCF Recommissioning, Green Roofing Technology, and Building Science Training; Final Report. Cocoa, FL: Florida Solar Energy Center.

Full Report (PDF) 64 pp, 644K)

Green Roof Industry Survey 2004 & 2005

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. 2007. Final Report, Green Roof Industry Survey, 2006. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Green Roofs for Healthy Cities.

Full Report (PDF) (5 pp, 224K)

Cool Roofs Energy Savings Potential

Konopacki, S.; Akbari, H.; Pomerantz, M.; Gabersek, S.; and Gartland, L. 1997. Cooling Energy Savings Potential of Light-Colored Roofs for Residential and Commercial Buildings in 11 U.S. Metropolitan Areas. LBNL-39433. Berkeley, CA: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Body (PDF) (53 pp, 2.9MB)
Appendix (PDF) (64 pp, 3.6MB)

Cool Pavement Report - EPA Cool Pavements Study

Cambridge Systematics, Inc., 2005. Cool Pavement Report: EPA Cool Pavements Study, Task 5. Chevy Chase, MD: Cambridge Systematics, Inc.

Full Report (PDF) (72 pp, 581K)

Pavement Reflectance Report

Levinson, R. and Akbari, H. 2001. Effects of Composition and Exposure on the Solar Reflectance of Portland Cement Concrete. LBNL-48334. Berkeley, CA: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Chap. 1 & 2 (PDF) (21 pp, 1.4MB)
Chap. 3 & 4 (PDF) (20 pp, 2.6MB)
Appendix (PDF) (11 pp, 491K)

Chicago's Urban Heat Island

Gray, K. A. and Finster, M. E. 1999. The Urban Heat Island, Photochemical Smog, and Chicago: Local Features of the Problem and Solution. Evanston, IL: Northwestern University.

Exec. Sum. (PDF) (14 pp, 205K)
Chap. 1 & 2 (PDF) (42 pp, 494K)
Chap. 3 (PDF) (38 pp, 2.2MB)
Chap. 4 & 5 (PDF) (36 pp, 653K)
Appendix (PDF) (22 pp, 878K)

Salt Lake City Fabric Analysis

Akbari, H. and Rose, L. S. 2001. Characterizing the Fabric of the Urban Environment: A Case Study of Salt Lake City, Utah. LBNL-47851. Berkeley, CA: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Body (PDF) (51 pp, 654K)
Appendix (PDF) (18 pp, 2.9MB)

Urban Heat Island Mitigation Analysis in New York City

Rosenzweig, C.; Solecki, W.; and Slosberg, R. 2006. Mitigating New York City’s Heat Island with Urban Forestry,
Living Roofs, and Light Surfaces. Report 06-06. Albany, NY: New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

Full Report (PDF) (173 pp, 3.8MB)

Urban Heat Island Mitigation Effects on Air Quality in California

Taha, H. 2008. Urban surface modification as a potential ozone air-quality improvement strategy in California: A mesoscale modeling study.
Boundary-Layer Meteorology, Vol 127,  No. 2 (May 2008), pp. 219-239.
doi:10.1007/s10546-007-9259-5

Abstract (full paper may be purchased).

Urban Heat Island Mitigation Effects on Air Quality in Houston

Taha, H. 2008. Episodic performance and sensitivity of the urbanized MM5 (uMM5) to perturbations in surface properties in Houston TX. Boundary-Layer Meteorology, Vol. 127, No. 2 (May 2008), pp. 193-218. doi:10.1007/s10546-007-9258-6.

Abstract (full paper may be purchased).

Urban Heat Island Mitigation Effects on Air Quality in Northeast U.S.

Hudischewskyj, A. B.; Douglas, S. G.; and Lundgren, J. R. 2001. Meteorological and Air Quality Modeling to Further Examine the Effects of Urban Heat Island Mitigation Measures on Several Cities in the Northeastern U.S.. SYSAPP-01-001. San Rafael, CA: ICF Consulting/Systems Applications International, Inc.

Full Report (PDF) (19 pp, 36K)

Urban Heat Island Mitigation Effects on Energy in Toronto

Konopacki, S. and Akbari, H. 2001. Energy Impacts of Heat Island Reduction Strategies in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada. LBNL-49172. Berkeley, CA: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Full Report (PDF) (49 pp, 540K)

Arizona State University Pavements/Materials Conference(Tempe, Arizona, November 2010)

Asphalt and concrete pavement technology, recent innovations in pavement design and construction management, and updates on federal pavement performance research. Papers and presentations are available by clicking on the individual days listed in the conference agenda.

American Meteorological Society, Ninth Annual Symposium on the Urban Environment(Keystone, Colorado, August 2010)

Urban energy balance, extreme heat events, urban heat islands, urban precipitation patterns, measurements in the urban environment, modeling and forecasting, heat island mitigation, and other topics.

Second International Conference on Countermeasures to Urban Heat Islands (Berkeley, California, September 2009)

Measuring heat islands, pavements, reflective materials, building design, vegetation, air modeling, urban planning, quality of life and health, policies, and more.

Seventh International Conference on the Urban Climate(Yokohama, Japan, June 2009)

Measurements of airflow, exchange processes, building climates, climate performance of impervious surfaces, climate performance of urban parks and plants, design and planning, maps and tools, impacts of climate change on cities, urban impacts on precipitation, urban heat islands, urban heat island mitigation, and more.

American Meteorological Society, Eighth Symposium on the Urban Environment(Phoenix, Arizona, January 2009)

Urban energy balance, urban heat islands, urban precipitation patterns, measurements in the urban environment, modeling and forecasting, heat island mitigation, and other topics.

American Meteorological Society, Seventh Symposium on the Urban Environment(San Diego, California, September 2007)

Coastal urban environments, heat island trends and comparisons, heat island mitigation, heat island modeling, and more.

International Workshop on Countermeasures to Urban Heat Islands(Tokyo, August 2006)

Environmental impacts of heat islands, current state and future prospects of research and development, and current state and future policies to reduce heat island effects.