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GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 34, L05711, doi:10.1029/2006GL027927, 2007

Implications of temporal change in urban heat island intensity observed at Beijing and Wuhan stations

G. Y. Ren

Laboratory for Climate Studies, National Climate Center, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing, China


Z. Y. Chu

Laboratory for Climate Studies, National Climate Center, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing, China


Z. H. Chen

Wuhan Regional Climate Center, China Meteorological Administration, Wuhan, China


Y. Y. Ren

Laboratory for Climate Studies, National Climate Center, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing, China


Abstract

Temporal change in urbanization-induced warming at two national basic meteorological stations of China and its contribution to the overall warming are analyzed. Annual and seasonal mean surface air temperature for time periods of 1961∼2000 and 1981∼2000 at the two stations of Beijing and Wuhan Cities and their nearby rural stations all significantly increase. Annual and seasonal urbanization-induced warming for the two periods at Beijing and Wuhan stations is also generally significant, with the annual urban warming accounting for about 65∼80% of the overall warming in 1961∼2000 and about 40∼61% of the overall warming in 1981∼2000. This result along with the previous researches indicates a need to pay more attention to the urbanization-induced bias probably existing in the current surface air temperature records of the national basic stations.

Received 25 August 2006; accepted 5 February 2007; published 8 March 2007.

Keywords: urban warming; surface air temperature; climate change.

Index Terms: 1616 Global Change: Climate variability (1635, 3305, 3309, 4215, 4513); 1620 Global Change: Climate dynamics (0429, 3309); 1632 Global Change: Land cover change; 1637 Global Change: Regional climate change; 3305 Atmospheric Processes: Climate change and variability (1616, 1635, 3309, 4215, 4513).

Subscriber Access to Full Article (Nonsubscribers may purchase for $9.00, Includes print PDF, file size: 198785 bytes)

Citation: Ren, G. Y., Z. Y. Chu, Z. H. Chen, and Y. Y. Ren (2007), Implications of temporal change in urban heat island intensity observed at Beijing and Wuhan stations, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L05711, doi:10.1029/2006GL027927.