First Workshop for Urbanization Modeling, July 22, 2003

A collaborator workshop for Urban Heat Islands, Neighborhood Scale Meteorology and Air Quality Modeling was held at the University of Houston. The Institute for Multi-dimensional Air Quality Modeling, a Texas Learning and Computation Member center, played host. Daewon Byun, Ph.D. presented an introduction of the center and also information about modeling of Houston’s Meteorology. The twenty participants came from British Columbia, Arizona and California and included post-docs, research scientist and students. During the summer, the air in urban areas can be 6-8°F hotter than its surrounding areas due to dark surfaces--that absorb more heat from the sun--and less vegetation that would provide shade and cool the air. Scientists call these cities "urban heat islands." Finding ways to reduce the temperature would conserve energy and improve air quality. The Texas Learning and Computation Center provided logistical support.