Characterization of local climate zones using ENVI-met and site data in the city of Al-Ain, UAE

Lindita Bande, Prajowal Manandhar, Raghad Ghazal, Prashanth Marpu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The rapid urbanization of the UAE, including medium sized cities like Al Ain City, has a significant relationship to local micro-climatic change. Al-Ain city in the southeast of the UAE and was originally an oasis. It has a hot and arid climate with a very dry and hot summer. The climate of the city is affected by the desert areas of red sand and the eastern Rocky Mountains. The local micro-climatic evolution can be studied and tracked using the local climate zone (LCZ) classification map. The districts of Al Ain are classified based on different factors, including surface cover and surface temperature, which were analysed using WUDAPT (World Urban Database and Access Portal Tools) software. The LCZ map is based on high-resolution satellite images, which were used to classify regions based on building morphology and district pattern. The LCZ map results were compared with CFD (computational fluid dynamic) models that were simulated using ENVI-met software tool. The CFD models were optimized and validated based on on-site surveys and information taken from the local authorities, while the boundary conditions were validated using site measurements. Both models were analysed over the spring and summer seasons. Based on the results provided from WUDAPT and ENVI-met, a higher temperature was observed in the densest areas (downtown) and lower temperatures in the green zones (park, city date farms) and the result precision was higher in the colder season (autumn in this case).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)751-760
Number of pages10
JournalInternational Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning
Volume15
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 1 2020

Keywords

  • City mapping
  • ENVI-met
  • Heat island effect
  • Local climate zone
  • WUDAPT

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geography, Planning and Development
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

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