A New and Easy Method to Determine the Energy Stored in Urban Areas: A Case Study of Mexico City
Urban areas present different climates from those of their rural surroundings. Energy balance and especially energy storage play important roles in the resulting climate since more than 50% of the net radiation is absorbed in densely urbanized areas. A simple model of energy storage in the urban fab...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Urban Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/8/4/244 |
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| Summary: | Urban areas present different climates from those of their rural surroundings. Energy balance and especially energy storage play important roles in the resulting climate since more than 50% of the net radiation is absorbed in densely urbanized areas. A simple model of energy storage in the urban fabric is presented, fed with the air temperature of a given area and its thermal properties; it can estimate heat storage (Q<sub>S</sub>) with good results. The proposed Q<sub>ST</sub> energy storage model was compared with Q<sub>S</sub> results obtained from two sites in Mexico City, Escandón (objective hysteresis model, Q<sub>SOHM</sub>) and ENP7 (residual, Q<sub>SRES</sub>), and one site in Marseille, France (thermal mass scheme, Q<sub>STMS</sub>). The comparison between Q<sub>ST</sub> and Q<sub>SOHM</sub> showed that r<sup>2</sup> = 0.71, while in ENP7 (Q<sub>N</sub> > 0), Q<sub>SRES</sub> and Q<sub>ST</sub> were 116.5 Wm<sup>−2</sup> and 142 Wm<sup>−2</sup>, corresponding to 49% and 60% of the Q<sub>N</sub>, respectively. The results obtained using the Q<sub>STMS</sub> model in Marseille and Q<sub>ST</sub> in Escandón showed similar behavior, with RMSEs of 109 and 101 Wm<sup>−2</sup>, respectively, in a daily period. Although it is difficult to discern which method is better, it is possible to affirm that the presented method is quite accurate, easier to use, and inexpensive. |
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| ISSN: | 2413-8851 |