CMCC Talks
24 March 2025, 12:00 CET
To join the webinar, register here

Speaker:
Angelo Campanale – CMCC

Moderator:
Jeremy Pal – CMCC

Abstract
As urban areas continue to expand and global temperatures rise, understanding the complex interactions between cities and the atmosphere is critical. Regional atmospheric models incorporating urban parameterizations play a crucial role in addressing urban climate challenges, particularly in predicting and mitigating the effects of extreme heat, air pollution, and urban heat islands (UHI). By integrating detailed urban processes into high resolution climate simulations, we can enhance our ability to assess urban climate risks and develop effective adaptation strategies.

Different levels of sophistication exist in urban parameterization, ranging from simple bulk schemes to highly detailed multi-layer models. Recently, the TERRA_URB (TU) bulk urban canopy scheme, known for its accuracy and low additional computational cost, has been implemented in the next-generation Earth system model ICON. This advancement enhances ICON representation of urban surfaces, leading to improved simulations of key urban meteorological features at high resolutions. The urbanized model has been successfully tested across various case study areas, demonstrating its effectiveness in capturing urban climate dynamics. However, several challenges persist, including the need for high-quality observational data and ensuring the accuracy of urban canopy parameters to properly capture the heterogeneity of urban environments.

By continuing to refine urban parameterizations and leveraging high-resolution modeling, we can advance urban climate research, providing valuable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and climate scientists.