Urban heat island in the modern tropical Kuala Lumpur: comparative weight of the different parameters

Abstract

Over time, urban dwellers have become increasingly concerned with the thermal characteristics in their neighbourhood. Modern Asian cities with their environmental diversity have introduced complexity to urban heat island (UHI) predictions. This research aimed to discover the relative contribution of different environmental and anthropogenic parameters to the UHI intensity in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Four days of temperature and wind data were collected from seven sites representing various land covers inside and outside the city. Besides, humidity and solar radiation time traces were gathered from selected sites. Delicate weather measuring equipment, such as ultrasonic anemometers, were used with existing equipment at Malaysia's Meteorological Department (Met. Department). Results showed a 6 °C UHI intensity at nighttime and a 4 °C urban cool island intensity at daytime. The effect of land cover on UHI dominates the effects of other factors, including wind speed and turbulence. This modern Asian urban configuration consisting of a few high-rise buildings surrounded by plant and water patches mitigates the UHI through evapotranspiration and shading.