Work

Analyzing Urban Microclimate (UMC) Parameters and Comprehensive Review of UHI and Air Quality Interconnections

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This review analyzes the relationship between Urban Heat Island (UHI) microclimate parameters and poor air quality in urban environments, focusing on how temperature variations, wind dynamics, and urban morphology influence pollutant concentrations. Experimental studies and numerical simulations emphasize the necessity of pedestrian-level sensing combined with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to accurately capture spatial variations in UHI-related parameters. Ozone concentrations have been observed to increase by up to 4 ppbv, while PM2.5 levels rise by 1–2 µg/m3 in response to UHI effects. Additionally, ANSYS Fluent 2020.R1. simulations demonstrate a 0.93 °C error in temperature predictions and a 1.35 m/s error in wind speed estimations. These findings highlight the critical role of sustainable urban planning strategies in mitigating UHI effects and improving air quality in densely populated areas.

Source: Environments

DOI: 10.3390/environments12040104

Authors: Lirane Kertesse Mandjoupa, Kibria K. Roman, Hossain Azam, Max Denis

Institutions: University of the District of Columbia, SUNY Canton

Language: English

Topic: Urban Heat Island Mitigation

Subfield: Environmental Engineering

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,172