Evaluation of urbanization influences on urban temperature of Nairobi City, Kenya
Date
2013Author
Ongoma, Victor
Muthama, John Nzioka
Gitau, Wilson
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Developing countries are becoming more
urbanized leading to modification on climate
over the cities. Proper urban atmospheric planning and management are thus fundamental
for cities’ sustainability. Urban weather and
climate therefore needs continuous monitoring to offer accurate, reliable and timely
update of any significant changes. This study
examined the long term modification of temperature by urbanization utilizing decadal population data, monthly maximum and minimum
temperature and land surface albedo for forty
years. The data were subjected to homogeneity
test using Short-Cut Bartlett test method that
showed both maximum and minimum temperature increasing, though insignificant.
Urbanization is evidenced by the reducing land
surface albedo and increasing population. The
study revealed the influence of urbanization
on urban climate. The increase in temperatures is harmful to human comfort. Practical
approaches, such as increasing the urban forest cover and a proper planning of the cities,
have been suggested to help prevent further
modification of weather and urban climate by
urbanization. The findings of this work are
thus important for multi-sectoral use in the
Kenyan cities.
URI
http://www.pagepress.org/journals/index.php/gm/article/view/gm.2013.e2/pdfhttp://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/34586
Citation
Global Meteorology 2013; 2:e1Publisher
Department of Meteorology, University of Nairobi, Kenya Kenya Meteorological Department, Nairobi