International Association for Urban Climate

Issue 78, December 2020

The latest issue of “Urban Climate News” (Issue 78, December 2020) is now available. The issue features studies looking at air quality in cities during COVID-19 lockdowns in Italy and the effect of vertical urban development on microclimates in Balneário Camboriú, Brazil. It further reports on the new IAUC Webinar Series launched by the IAUC Community Engagement Committee.

The IAUC is pleased to invite you to the second IAUC webinar on 15/16 December (depending on your timezone), that will celebrate our very own Timothy Oke Award winners: Chao Ren and Scott Krayenhoff, both winners in 2020.

Date and time: 16 December 01:00 UTC*.

Theme: Celebrating IAUC’s Timothy Oke award winners and discussion on ‘Extreme heat in cities: health impacts and mitigation strategies’.

Program:

• Chao Ren (University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong): Investigating extreme urban heat and its impact on health (~ 15 mins)
• Scott Krayenhoff (University of Guelph, Canada): Infrastructure-based adaptation to extreme urban heat (~ 15 mins)
• Discussion with all of you about extreme heat in cities health impacts and mitigation strategies, lead by Dev Niyogi (University of Texas, USA). (~ 30 mins)

We are looking forward to your joining this webinar and celebrating and engaging with the urban community. Participants can register here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/urban-climate-webinar-series-2-extreme-urban-heat-tickets-132472235021

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Issue 77, September 2020

The latest issue of “Urban Climate News” (Issue 77, September 2020) is now available. In a special section, the membership consultation on ICUC-11 and its postponement to 2022 are summarized. It features the 2020 Luke Howard Award and Timothy Oke Award Winners. The issue further contains a news report on racist housing policies that created oppressively hot neighborhoods in the US and two research reports on turbulent exchange processes in urban canopies and bird species diversity on and around large-scale green buildings.

Issue 76, June 2020

The latest issue of “Urban Climate News” (Issue 76, June 2020) is now available. It features news on the challenges of urban heat under COVID-19, a research contribution on the magnitude and seasonality of global surface urban heat islands, a report on a “mapathon” to identify LCZs in African cities and a tribute to remembering Baruch Givoni (1920-2019).

Professor Baruch Givoni

The Board of the IAUC is saddened to announce the passing of Professor Emeritus Baruch Givoni, on the eve of his 100th birthday. Prof. Givoni was a pioneer in the understanding of urban and building climatology, and his prolific work over many decades included the landmark book “Man, Climate and Architecture” as well as the highly influential WMO publication “Urban Design In Different Climates“. Beyond the respect and admiration that he enjoyed around the world, Baruch was beloved by those who knew him as a modest and unassuming person. His generosity of spirit, his curiosity and his active pursuit of knowledge endured until his final days.

Issue 75, March 2020

The latest issue of “Urban Climate News” (Issue 75, March 2020) is now available. It features first (urban) climate impacts of the unprecedented lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also announces the new Timothy Oke Award, a IAUC research excellence award for early- to mid-career scientists in our field. On the research section the issue features a contribution on the UHI in Beijing and how it is impacted by population migration as well as a call for participation in a new multi-site evaluation project for modelling urban areas.

Issue 74, December 2019

The latest issue of “Urban Climate News” (Issue 74, December 2019) is now available. It features how teenager Greta Thunberg managed to get the world’s attention on climate action – what researchers and activists have struggled for decades. News on the dramatic urban air quality caused by massive bushfires in Australian cities and the relevance of history in contemporary heat island research are included. Further the newsletter reports on the modeling of the distribution of urban cold-air paths.

Issue 73, September 2019

The latest issue of “Urban Climate News” (Issue 73, September 2019) is now available. It features a review of indoor thermal comfort in the tropics, a project report on sunshine changes in Eastern Chinese cities, and reports from the IAUC supported 2019 Urban Climate summer school in Bucharest, Romania.

Issue 72, June 2019

The latest issue of “Urban Climate News” (Issue 72, June 2019) is available. It features research insights such as “effects of micro-scale self-shading on wall surface temperatures”, reports about the recent heatwave in Europe, and presents efforts to create an outdoor thermal comfort database.