Urban Morphometrics and Microclimate Responses in a Typical Residential Neighborhood of a Hot Urban Desert City

Abstract

<p>Urban morphological attributes and surface properties can largely influence near-surface air temperatures. Unpacking such <em>morpho-thermal</em> relationships are of particular importance in hot urban desert (HUDs) cities given the already extreme thermal bioclimatic dynamics, urban-induced heating with rapid urbanization processes, and vulnerability of residents. Satellite-derived investigations may underestimate critical system dynamics of urban thermal stimuli found within sub-diurnal phenomena and sub-meter classifications. High resolution spatiotemporal measurements are therefore required to objectively assess latent magnitudes of heat mitigation and amelioration strategies. This study utilized the natural heterogeneity of morphometric predictors with fixed ground-based measurements in a representative neighborhood unit typology within Kuwait’s residential landscape to build a composite dataset of sub-hourly air temperature measurements with sub-meter morphological attributes. The presentation will share initial findings of the study and preliminary analysis of the drivers of heating/cooling rate’s association to defined morphological factors.</p>