SPATIAL VARIATION OF THE CHRACTERISTICS OF URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT IN HONG KONG

Recent studies by the Hong Kong Observatory show that the urban centre of Hong Kong has considerable Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect that arises from the different thermal properties between urban and the surrounding rural areas. The studies have also shown that the urban-rural temperature difference or UHI intensity in the urban centre of Hong Kong can be greater than 10 degrees C. However, the characteristics of UHI in Hong Kong would not be unique were it not for its complex topography and the significant spatial variation in the degree of urbanization within the territory. Making use of the extensive spatial coverage of the automatic weather stations operated by the Observatory, this study attempts to document the spatial variation of the characteristics of UHI effect in Hong Kong in summer and winter through cases studies. Cases in summer and winter with meteorological conditions typical for high UHI effect (that is, clear sky, light wind and stable atmospheric condition) are selected for the study. The characteristics of UHI effect in terms of the daytime warming rates, nocturnal cooling rates and diurnal temperature ranges at the selected automatic weather stations are analysed. The territory of Hong Kong is then classified into different categories according to the identified characteristics with a view to portraying the spatial morphology of UHI effect in Hong Kong.