Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
Department of Land Management, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2014 Jul 11;11(7):7045-59. doi: 10.3390/ijerph110707045.
Since reforms carried out in the late 1970s, China has experienced unprecedented rates of urban growth. Remote sensing data and surface observational data are used to investigate the urbanization process and related environmental consequences, focusing on extreme heat events and air pollution, in Zhejiang Province (ZJP, East China). Examination of satellite-measured nighttime light data indicates rapid urbanization in ZJP during the past decade, initially forming three urban clusters. With rapid urban sprawl, a significant Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect has emerged. During extreme heat events in summer, the UHI effect significantly exacerbates nocturnal heat stress in highly urbanized areas. Taking a long-term view, urbanization also causes additional hot days and hot degree days in urban areas. Urbanization also imposes a heavy burden on local and regional air quality in ZJP. Degraded visibility and an increase in haze days are observed at most meteorological stations, especially in the three urban clusters. The results show that urbanization has led to serious environmental problems in ZJP, not only on the city scale, but also on the regional scale. Maintaining a balance between the continuing process of urbanization and environmental sustainability is a major issue facing the local government.
自 20 世纪 70 年代末进行改革以来，中国经历了前所未有的城市增长速度。本研究利用遥感数据和地面观测数据，以中国东部浙江省（ZJP）为研究区域，调查城市化进程及相关环境后果，重点关注极端高温事件和空气污染。对卫星测量的夜间灯光数据的研究表明，在过去十年中，ZJP 经历了快速的城市化进程，最初形成了三个城市群。随着城市的迅速扩张，显著的城市热岛（UHI）效应已经出现。在夏季的极端高温事件中，UHI 效应显著加剧了高度城市化地区的夜间热应激。从长远来看，城市化还会导致城市地区的热日和炎热天数增加。城市化也给 ZJP 的当地和区域空气质量带来了沉重负担。在大多数气象站，特别是在三个城市群，观测到能见度降低和霾日增加。结果表明，城市化给 ZJP 带来了严重的环境问题，不仅在城市层面，而且在区域层面也是如此。如何在城市化进程和环境可持续性之间保持平衡，是当地政府面临的主要问题。
