Application of a semi-empirical approach to map maximum urban heat island intensity in Singapore

Abstract

Differences in land surface characteristics across a city produce great spatial and temporal variability in air temperature. This fact is particularly pronounced between urban and surrounding rural areas giving rise to the canopy-layer urban heat island (CL-UHI) phenomenon. In the present study, we apply the dimensional analysis technique to develop a simple semi-empirical equation to map daily maximum CL-UHI (UHImax) intensities during nighttime over the city of Singapore for specific weather conditions. By adopting the methodology proposed by Theeuwes et al., but selecting meteorological and morphological parameters that affect UHImax intensity most for Singapore, evaluation of the developed equation shows good agreement with observations (RMSE = 1.13 K and IOA = 0.76). Model performance depends strongly on wind conditions and is best during weak winds when ‘ideal’ conditions for UHI development are approached (RMSE = 0.65 K and IOA = 0.85). Results using the simple equation developed to map UHImax intensities in Singapore under dry weather conditions are comparable to those obtained from more sophisticated numerical models, which demand significant computational resources, and the complex parameterizations involved require expertise to carry out the simulations. The resulting maps of the present study can be used to investigate less favorable thermal conditions and assess population vulnerability to a certain temperature excess, as well as provide insights for urban planning strategies of mitigation measures according to the land cover and morphology of a location.