Assessing the Cooling Effects of Water Bodies Based on Urban Environments: Case Study of Dianchi Lake in Kunming, China

This research addresses urban heat island intensification driven by urbanization using Dianchi Lake in Kunming, China, as a case study, aiming to quantitatively evaluate the spatial extent, intensity, and land cover sensitivity differences in the cooling effects of large urban water bodies across dr...

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Main Authors: Zhihao Wang, Ziyang Ma, Yifei Chen, Pengkun Zhu, Lu Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Atmosphere
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/7/856
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author Zhihao Wang
Ziyang Ma
Yifei Chen
Pengkun Zhu
Lu Wang
author_facet Zhihao Wang
Ziyang Ma
Yifei Chen
Pengkun Zhu
Lu Wang
author_sort Zhihao Wang
collection DOAJ
description This research addresses urban heat island intensification driven by urbanization using Dianchi Lake in Kunming, China, as a case study, aiming to quantitatively evaluate the spatial extent, intensity, and land cover sensitivity differences in the cooling effects of large urban water bodies across dry/wet seasons and complex urban landscapes (forest, cropland, and impervious surfaces) to provide a scientific basis for optimizing thermal environments in low-latitude plateau cities. Based on Landsat 8/9 satellite data from dry (January) and wet (May) seasons in 2020 and 2023 used for land surface temperature (LST) retrieval combined with land use data, buffer zone gradient analysis was adopted to quantify the spatial heterogeneity of key cooling indicators within 0–1500 m lakeshore buffers. The results demonstrated significant seasonal differences. The wet season showed a greater cooling extent (600 m) and higher intensity (6.0–6.6 °C) compared with the dry season (400 m; 2.4–3.9 °C). The land cover responses varied substantially, with cropland having the largest influence (600 m), followed by impervious surfaces (400 m), while forest exhibited a minimal effective cooling range (100 m) but localized warming anomalies at 200–400 m. Sensitivity analysis confirmed that impervious surfaces were the most sensitive to water-cooling, followed by cropland, whereas forest showed the lowest sensitivity.
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issn 2073-4433
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publisher MDPI AG
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series Atmosphere
spelling doaj-art-af2c6c8f01da4353a2f156884940b73f2025-08-20T03:35:27ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332025-07-0116785610.3390/atmos16070856Assessing the Cooling Effects of Water Bodies Based on Urban Environments: Case Study of Dianchi Lake in Kunming, ChinaZhihao Wang0Ziyang Ma1Yifei Chen2Pengkun Zhu3Lu Wang4Faculty of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, ChinaFaculty of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, ChinaFaculty of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, ChinaFaculty of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, ChinaFaculty of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, ChinaThis research addresses urban heat island intensification driven by urbanization using Dianchi Lake in Kunming, China, as a case study, aiming to quantitatively evaluate the spatial extent, intensity, and land cover sensitivity differences in the cooling effects of large urban water bodies across dry/wet seasons and complex urban landscapes (forest, cropland, and impervious surfaces) to provide a scientific basis for optimizing thermal environments in low-latitude plateau cities. Based on Landsat 8/9 satellite data from dry (January) and wet (May) seasons in 2020 and 2023 used for land surface temperature (LST) retrieval combined with land use data, buffer zone gradient analysis was adopted to quantify the spatial heterogeneity of key cooling indicators within 0–1500 m lakeshore buffers. The results demonstrated significant seasonal differences. The wet season showed a greater cooling extent (600 m) and higher intensity (6.0–6.6 °C) compared with the dry season (400 m; 2.4–3.9 °C). The land cover responses varied substantially, with cropland having the largest influence (600 m), followed by impervious surfaces (400 m), while forest exhibited a minimal effective cooling range (100 m) but localized warming anomalies at 200–400 m. Sensitivity analysis confirmed that impervious surfaces were the most sensitive to water-cooling, followed by cropland, whereas forest showed the lowest sensitivity.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/7/856cooling effecturban water bodyland coverurban heat island effectlow-latitude plateau city
spellingShingle Zhihao Wang
Ziyang Ma
Yifei Chen
Pengkun Zhu
Lu Wang
Assessing the Cooling Effects of Water Bodies Based on Urban Environments: Case Study of Dianchi Lake in Kunming, China
Atmosphere
cooling effect
urban water body
land cover
urban heat island effect
low-latitude plateau city
title Assessing the Cooling Effects of Water Bodies Based on Urban Environments: Case Study of Dianchi Lake in Kunming, China
title_full Assessing the Cooling Effects of Water Bodies Based on Urban Environments: Case Study of Dianchi Lake in Kunming, China
title_fullStr Assessing the Cooling Effects of Water Bodies Based on Urban Environments: Case Study of Dianchi Lake in Kunming, China
title_full_unstemmed Assessing the Cooling Effects of Water Bodies Based on Urban Environments: Case Study of Dianchi Lake in Kunming, China
title_short Assessing the Cooling Effects of Water Bodies Based on Urban Environments: Case Study of Dianchi Lake in Kunming, China
title_sort assessing the cooling effects of water bodies based on urban environments case study of dianchi lake in kunming china
topic cooling effect
urban water body
land cover
urban heat island effect
low-latitude plateau city
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/7/856
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