Recent Progress in Urban Heat Island Studies: Focusing on the Case Studies in Tokyo

• MIKAMI Takehiko

  首都大学東京大学院都市環境科学研究科

Bibliographic Information

Other Title

• 都市ヒートアイランド研究の最新動向―東京の事例を中心に―

Abstract

In recent years, urban heat island studies in Japan show dramatic progress. Annual mean temperature in central Tokyo increased 3 degrees C for the last 100 years, which is 5 times faster than global mean temperature increasing rates. There are two causing factors for urban warming: the first one is a direct heating effect of urban atmosphere due to the increase in anthropogenic energy consumptions, and another one is the changes in urban structures such as the increase of artificial materials and high-rise buildings, along with the decrease of green spaces and water surface. Recently, a series of research projects revealed epoch-making phenomena caused by urban heat islands. For example, the cool island effect of large green parks in central Tokyo and the effect of high-rise buildings along the bayside on the weakening of sea breeze from the bay of Tokyo. Also, diurnal variations in summer temperature patterns of Tokyo city area based on the high density monitoring system have been clarified. In order to resolve those urban heat island problems, climatologists should make efforts to promote interdisciplinary studies by collaborating with the researchers of architecture, civil engineering, medical and ecological sciences.

Journal

• E-journal GEO

  E-journal GEO 1 (2), 79-88, 2006

  The Association of Japanese Geographers

Keywords

• urban heat island
• urban climatology
• anthropogenic energy consumption
• sea breeze
• cool island effect

Details

• CRID: 1390282680301579136
• NII Article ID: 130000255102
• NII Article ID: 10024354139
• DOI: 10.4157/ejgeo.1.79
• ISSN: 18808107
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed