Title: Quantifying the cooling effect of urban heat stress interventions

Authors: Aiman Mazhar Qureshi; Ahmed Rachid; Debbie Bartlett

Addresses: Laboratory of Innovative Technologies (LTI), University of Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, 80000, France ' Laboratory of Innovative Technologies (LTI), University of Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, 80000, France ' Faculty of Engineering and Science, University of Greenwich Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK

Abstract: This review evaluates the existing studies of blue, green, and grey interventions based on field measurements and modelling aiming to quantify the cooling impact that reduces outdoor heat stress. Based on findings from literature, it is concluded that water bodies can reduce the mean air temperature (T_a) by 3.4°C and universal thermal climate index (UTCI) by 10.7°C, while natural vegetation can improve T_a by 2.3°C and physiological equivalent temperature (PET) by 10.3°C during summer. Vertical greenery systems (VGS) provide cooling effect of T_a up to 4°C, whereas architectural shades reduce it by approximately 3.8°C and PET up to 6.9°C under shade structure.

Keywords: interventions; urban heat stress; UHS; urban heat island; UHI; mitigation; cooling effect.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2023.130493

International Journal of Global Warming, 2023 Vol.30 No.1, pp.60 - 80

Received: 05 Apr 2022
Received in revised form: 06 Sep 2022
Accepted: 06 Sep 2022
Published online: 24 Apr 2023 *