UrbanMeteorologie

Urban meteorology is a subfield of meteorology that studies atmospheric processes within and around cities, focusing on how urban form, surface properties, and human activities shape weather and climate at local scales.

Cities alter radiation balance through higher impervious surfaces, shading, and heat storage in concrete and asphalt, contributing to urban heat island effects that raise temperatures relative to surrounding rural areas, especially at night.

Wind and dispersion patterns are strongly influenced by street canyons, roughness, and anthropogenic heat release, leading to complex flows, reduced ventilation in dense districts, and heterogeneous air quality. Turbulence and mixing occur at scales from tens of meters to kilometers.

Data collection relies on dense observational networks, mobile and fixed sensors, and remote sensing, complemented by numerical models such as urban canopy models and integrated urban-atmosphere models that couple to regional weather forecasts.

Applications include urban planning, public health and energy management, and climate adaptation, with strategies such as cool roofs, reflective pavements, green infrastructure, and building design to mitigate heat, improve air quality, and reduce energy demand.

Challenges include high spatial heterogeneity, limited data in many cities, scale interactions between micro and meso scales, and uncertainties in representing complex urban processes within models; ongoing work emphasizes standardized metrics and interdisciplinary collaboration.