Using a GCM to better understand the urban-climate relationship

Abstract

With more than half of the world's population living in urban areas, it is important that the relationships between the urban environment and climate are better understood. The current research aims to continue the effort in assessing and understanding the urban environment through the use of a Global Climate Model. Given the relative newness of the presence of an urban land type and model in a GCM, there are many more facets of the urban-climate relationship to be investigated. The current study examines the differences between inclusion and exclusion of the urban land unit, identifies regions that are most influenced by an 'urban effect', and assesses the impact of an urban environment with relation to the natural land cover and climate.