Observation and Simulation of a Bifurcating Thunderstorm over Beijing

2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (12) ◽  
pp. 2129-2148
Author(s):  
Jingjing Dou ◽  
Robert Bornstein ◽  
Shiguang Miao ◽  
Jianning Sun ◽  
Yizhou Zhang

AbstractThe aim of this study was the analysis and simulation of the life cycle of a bifurcating thunderstorm that passed over Beijing, China, on 22 July 2015. Data from 150 surface weather sites and an S-band radar were used in conjunction with WRF simulations that used its multilevel Building Environment Parameterization (BEP) urbanization option. The Urban-case simulation used Beijing land-use information, and the NoUrban one replaced all urban areas by croplands. The Urban case correctly simulated both the observed weak 10-m winds over Beijing (<1.0 m s−1) and the weak 2-m urban heat island (<0.5°C). Observed radar and rain gauge data, as well as the Urban-case results, all showed precipitation bifurcation around Beijing, with maximum accumulations in convergent flow areas on either side of the city. The Urban case also reproduced the observed precipitation minima over the urban area and in a downwind rain shadow. The observations and Urban-case results both also showed bifurcated flow, even when the storm was still upwind of Beijing. The subsequent bifurcated precipitation areas thus each moved along a preexisting flow branch. Urban-case vertical sections showed downward motion in the divergence areas over the urban core and upward motions over the lateral convergence zones, both up to 6 km. Given that the NoUrban case showed none of these features, these differences demonstrate how the impact of cities can extend upward into deep local convection. Additional case-study simulations are needed to more fully understand urban storm bifurcation mechanisms in this and other storms for cities in a variety of climates.

Atmosphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 792 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dariusz Suszanowicz ◽  
Alicja Kolasa Więcek

This study presents the results of a review of publications conducted by researchers in a variety of climates on the implementation of ‘green roofs’ and their impact on the urban environment. Features of green roofs in urban areas have been characterized by a particular emphasis on: Filtration of air pollutants and oxygen production, reduction of rainwater volume discharged from roof surfaces, reduction of so-called ‘urban heat islands’, as well as improvements to roof surface insulation (including noise reduction properties). The review of the publications confirmed the necessity to conduct research to determine the coefficients of the impact of green roofs on the environment in the city centers of Central and Eastern Europe. The results presented by different authors (most often based on a single case study) differ significantly from each other, which does not allow us to choose universal coefficients for all the parameters of the green roof’s impact on the environment. The work also includes analysis of structural recommendations for the future model green roof study, which will enable pilot research into the influence of green roofs on the environment in urban agglomerations and proposes different kinds of plants for different kinds of roofs, respectively.


2003 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Gad ◽  
I. K. Tsanis

A GIS multi-component module was developed within the ArcView GIS environment for processing and analysing weather radar precipitation data. The module is capable of: (a) reading geo-reference radar data and comparing it with rain-gauge network data, (b) estimating the kinematics of rainfall patterns, such as the storm speed and direction, and (c) accumulating radar-derived rainfall depths. By bringing the spatial capabilities of GIS to bear this module can accurately locate rainfall on the ground and can overlay the animated storm on different geographical features of the study area, making the exploration of the storm's kinematic characteristics obtained from radar data relatively simple. A case study in the City of Hamilton in Ontario, Canada is used to demonstrate the functionality of the module. Radar comparison with rain gauge data revealed an underestimation of the classical Marshal & Palmer Z–R relation to rainfall rate.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wahda Shuker Al-Hinkawi ◽  
Shaema Abbas Al kubaisy

Th6 research deals with the impact of historical citadel on urban development for city cantersand their importance in shaping the urban areas of lhe city, as an attempt to delinethe bestpossible strategies for urban development of historical cities and in particular (citadel cities),which represents a tourist attraction on both global and local levels.Erbil city has been selected, as a case study for this research, since this fortress citadelhaving nowadays a comprehensive urban development, which creates an interactive effecifor the urban fabric of the citadel and the urban fabric of the city of Erbil itself , significantlyin sha.ping the city.of lrbil through centuries and an additional importance for curre;uy beini,a capital of lraq's Kurdistan region and also an urban center which has a tourist atirac{ioifor the northem region in lraq.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wahda Shuker Al-Hinkawi ◽  
Shaema Abbas Al kubaisy

Th6 research deals with the impact of historical citadel on urban development for city cantersand their importance in shaping the urban areas of lhe city, as an attempt to delinethe bestpossible strategies for urban development of historical cities and in particular (citadel cities),which represents a tourist attraction on both global and local levels.Erbil city has been selected, as a case study for this research, since this fortress citadelhaving nowadays a comprehensive urban development, which creates an interactive effecifor the urban fabric of the citadel and the urban fabric of the city of Erbil itself , significantlyin sha.ping the city.of lrbil through centuries and an additional importance for curre;uy beini,a capital of lraq's Kurdistan region and also an urban center which has a tourist atirac{ioifor the northem region in lraq.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Shahmohamadi ◽  
A. I. Che-Ani ◽  
K. N. A. Maulud ◽  
N. M. Tawil ◽  
N. A. G. Abdullah

This paper investigates the impact of anthropogenic heat on formation of urban heat island (UHI) and also determines which factors can directly affect energy use in the city. It explores literally the conceptual framework of confliction between anthropogenic heat and urban structure, which produced UHI intensity and affected energy consumption balance. It then discusses how these two factors can be affected and gives implication to the city and then focuses on whether actions should be taken for balancing adaptation and mitigation of UHI effects. It will be concluded by making the three important strategies to minimise the impact of UHI on energy consumption: landscaping, using albedo materials on external surfaces of buildings and urban areas, and promoting natural ventilation.


2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 116-123
Author(s):  
A. P. Korzh ◽  
T. V. Zahovalko

Recently, the number of published works devoted to the processes of synanthropization of fauna, is growing like an avalanche, which indicates the extreme urgency of this theme. In our view, the process of forming devices to coexist with human and the results of his life reflects the general tandency of the modern nature evolution. Urbanization is characteristic for such a specific group of animals like amphibians, the evidence of which are numerous literature data. Many researchers use this group to assess the bioindicative quality of the environment. For this aim a variety of indicators are used: from the cellular level of life of organization up to the species composition of the group in different territories. At the same time, the interpretation of the results is not always comparable for different areas and often have significantly different interpretations by experts. Urban environment, primarily due to the contamination is extremely aggressive to amphibians. As a consequence, the urban populations of amphibians may be a change in the demographic structure, affecting the reproductive ability of the population, the disappearance of the most sensitive species or individuals, resizing animals, the appearance of abnormalities in the development, etc. At the same time play an important amphibians in the ecosystems of cities, and some species in these conditions even feel relatively comfortable. Therefore, it is interesting to understand the mechanisms of self-sustaining populations of amphibians in urban environments. To assess the impact of natural and anthropogenic factors on the development of amphibian populations were used cognitive modeling using the program Vensim PLE. Cognitive map of the model for urban and suburban habitat conditions were the same. The differences concerned the strength of connections between individual factors (migration, fertility, pollution) and their orientation. In general, factors like pollution, parasites, predators had negative impact on the population, reducing its number. The birth rate, food and migration contributed to raising number of individuals. Some of the factors affected on the strength to of each other as well: the majority of the factors affected the structure of the population, had an influence on the fertility. Thanks to it the model reflects the additive effect of complex of factors on the subsequent status of the population. Proposed and analyzed four scenarios differing strength and duration of exposure. In the first scenario, a one-time contamination occurs and not subsequently repeated. The second and third scenario assumes half board contamination, 1 year (2 scenario) and two years (scenario 3). In the fourth scenario, the pollution affected the population of amphibians constantly. In accordance with the results of simulation, much weaker than the natural populations respond to pollution - have them as an intensive population growth and its disappearance at constant pollution is slow. Changes to other parameters of the model showed that this pollution is the decisive factor -only the constant action leads to a lethal outcome for the populations. All other components of the model have a corrective effect on the population dynamics, without changing its underlying trand. In urban areas due to the heavy impact of pollution maintaining the population is only possible thanks to the migration process – the constant replenishment of diminishing micropopulations of natural reserves. This confirms the assumption that the form of existence metapopulations lake frog in the city. In order to maintain the number of amphibians in urban areas at a high level it is necessary to maintain existing migration routes and the creation of new ones. Insular nature of the placement of suitable habitats in urban areas causes the metapopulation structure of the types of urbanists. Therefore, the process of urbanization is much easier for those species whicht are capable of migration in conditions of city. In the initial stages of settling the city micropopulationis formed by selective mortality of the most susceptible individuals to adverse effects. In future, maintaining the categories of individuals is provided mainly due to migration processes metapopulisation form of the species of existence is supported). It should be noted that the changes in the previous levels are always saved in future. In the case of reorganizations of individuals we of morphology can assume the existence of extremely adverse environmental conditions that threaten the extinction of the micropopulations. 


Author(s):  
Alberto Previati ◽  
Giovanni B. Crosta

AbstractUrban areas are major contributors to the alteration of the local atmospheric and groundwater environment. The impact of such changes on the groundwater thermal regime is documented worldwide by elevated groundwater temperature in city centers with respect to the surrounding rural areas. This study investigates the subsurface urban heat island (SUHI) in the aquifers beneath the Milan city area in northern Italy, and assesses the natural and anthropogenic controls on groundwater temperatures within the urban area by analyzing groundwater head and temperature records acquired in the 2016–2020 period. This analysis demonstrates the occurrence of a SUHI with up to 3 °C intensity and reveals a correlation between the density of building/subsurface infrastructures and the mean annual groundwater temperature. Vertical heat fluxes to the aquifer are strongly related to the depth of the groundwater and the density of surface structures and infrastructures. The heat accumulation in the subsurface is reflected by a constant groundwater warming trend between +0.1 and + 0.4 °C/year that leads to a gain of 25 MJ/m2 of thermal energy per year in the shallow aquifer inside the SUHI area. Future monitoring of groundwater temperatures, combined with numerical modeling of coupled groundwater flow and heat transport, will be essential to reveal what this trend is controlled by and to make predictions on the lateral and vertical extent of the groundwater SUHI in the study area.


Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitja Janža ◽  
Joerg Prestor ◽  
Simona Pestotnik ◽  
Brigita Jamnik

The assurance of drinking water supply is one of the biggest emerging global challenges, especially in urban areas. In this respect, groundwater and its management in the urban environment are gaining importance. This paper presents the modeling of nitrogen load from the leaky sewer system and from agriculture and the impact of this pressure on the groundwater quality (nitrate concentration) in the urban aquifer located beneath the City of Ljubljana. The estimated total nitrogen load in the model area of 58 km2 is 334 ton/year, 38% arising from the leaky sewer system and 62% from agriculture. This load was used as input into the groundwater solute transport model to simulate the distribution of nitrate concentration in the aquifer. The modeled nitrate concentrations at the observation locations were found to be on average slightly lower (2.7 mg/L) than observed, and in general reflected the observed contamination pattern. The ability of the presented model to relate and quantify the impact of pressures from different contamination sources on groundwater quality can be beneficially used for the planning and optimization of groundwater management measures for the improvement of groundwater quality.


2021 ◽  
Vol 263 (6) ◽  
pp. 206-214
Author(s):  
David Montes-González ◽  
Juan Miguel Barrigón-Morillas ◽  
Ana Cristina Bejarano-Quintas ◽  
Manuel Parejo-Pizarro ◽  
Guillermo Rey-Gozalo ◽  
...  

The pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) led to the need for drastic control measures around the world to reduce the impact on the health of the population. The confinement of people in their homes resulted in a significant reduction in human activity at every level (economic, social, industrial, etc.), which was reflected in a decrease in environmental pollution levels. Studying the evolution of parameters, such as the level of environmental noise caused by vehicle traffic in urban environments, makes it possible to assess the impact of this type of measure. This paper presents a case study of the acoustic situation in Cáceres (Spain) during the restriction period by means of long-term acoustic measurements at various points of the city.


Author(s):  
Jieling Xiao ◽  
Andrew Hilton

Square dancing is a popular music-related group physical exercise for health benefits in China mainly participated by mid-aged women and elderly people. This paper investigates the soundscape and enjoyment of the square dancing in urban streets through a case study in Lichuan, a county level city in southwest China, in December 2017. It examines the impact of gender, age, participation and places on perceptions of square dancing soundscape. Two sites along two main urban streets in the city were selected to conduct onsite investigations where residents spontaneously perform square dancing on a daily basis. Ethnographical observations were conducted to identify the social-physical features and sounds of both sites during the dance and without dance. Sound pressure measurements (LAeq and LAmax) were also conducted under the two conditions. An off-site survey was distributed through the local social media groups to understand residents’ everyday experiences and perceptions of square dancing in the city; 106 responses were received for the off-site survey. T-tests and Chi-squared tests were used for statistical analysis of the survey data. The results show gender does appear to be a factor influencing the regularity of participation in square dancing, with a bias towards more female participants. Participation frequency of square dance has an impact on the enjoyment of square dancing. There is no correlation between the dislike of watching square dancing, or dislike of the music and a desire to restrict locations for square dancing.


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