BUCCANEER - Birmingham Urban Climate Change Adaptation

with Neighbourhood Estimates of Environmental Risk

Innovation for Environmental Sustainability Award Winner

Professor John E Thornes University of Birmingham

Rank in Value Atmospheric Services Usage

TrendAtRisk

Entity Service Type

1 The air that we breathe ++ ** O2, N2 etc Provisioning

2 Protection from radiation, plasma and meteors

+ ** Density, Ozone Layer

Supporting

3 Natural global warming of 33 degrees Celsius + ***** CO2, CH4, N2O, H2O ++

Supporting

4 The cleansing capacity of the atmosphere & dispersion of air pollution

+ * OH , Wind, Temp

Regulating

5 The redistribution of water services ++ ** H2O Supporting

6 Direct use of the atmosphere for ecosystems and agriculture

+ * CO2, N2, Filtered Solar

Provisioning &Supporting

7 Combustion of fuel - O2 Provisioning

8 Direct use of the atmosphere for sound, communications and transport

+ * Density, Pressure

Supporting

9 Direct use of the atmosphere for power ++ Wind, Wave Provisioning

10 The extraction of atmospheric gases + O2, N2, Ar etc Provisioning

11 Atmospheric Recreation & climate tourism + * Sun, Wind, Clouds, Snow

Cultural

12 Aesthetic, spiritual and sensual properties of the atmosphere, smell and taste

+ Sky, Clouds Cultural

3

The journey of climate discovery for Birmingham…

UKCP09

Ambulance Response Times v. Temperature (LAS) 8

• Difference in temperature between urban and rural land cover simulations.

• Averaged over 16 – 27 July 2006 (all times of day), the whole region is 0.7°C warmer.

• Maximum UHI intensity, reaching +9.4°C (11pm,

July 17th).

2m Temperature difference between urban and rural model simulations. Average differences in temperature across urban areas is +1.1°C for the whole time period.

Care Homes Hospitals

Difference in 2m temperature at care homes and hospitals compared to the average 2m temperature across the whole domain (21.8°C).

Urban Heat Island - Helen Macintyre

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• Housing types not evenly

distributed across cities.

Some housing types may be

more likely to overheat.

• Accommodation information

at LSOA level from Census

2011.

• Housing types more likely to

over heat (e.g. flats) are

exposed to air temperature

higher than average.

Distribution of ambient temperatures at locations where vulnerable people may present. Average temperature housing is exposed to is 22.4°C. Avg air temp across the region for this period is 21.8°C.

21.8°C

22.4°C

Urban Heat Island - Helen Macintyre

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• Population age

demographics may not be

evenly distributed.

• Gridded population at

100m combined with age

structure from Census

2011 at OA level across

the region.

• Young adults, and the very

young are exposed to

higher air temperatures.

Distribution of ambient temperatures that population age groups are exposed to. Average temperature total population is exposed to is 22.4°C (horizontal line). Average air temp across the whole region for this period is 21.8°C.

21.8°C

22.4°C

Urban Heat Island - Helen Macintyre

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Range of strategies which may reduce UHI intensity and bring multiple benefits, including addressing climate change. Benefits • Lowering temperatures • Reduced air pollution and GHG

emissions • Reduced energy demands

Measures • Increased vegetation • Modifications to urban design

Modifying urban building properties to reflect more energy from the sun can reduce temperature.

Why cool roofs? • Cost and ease of deployment

impacts favourability of schemes. • More cost effective than green

roofs (larger area can be covered; lower maintenance costs).

• Easier to retrofit existing buildings (and high-slope roofs).

Project 2.3 update: Spatial vulnerability and the UHI - Helen

Macintyre

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Volunteers participating in the NYC °Cool Roofs Program paint an urban rooftop with a cool roof coating. [Photo: Samantha Modell coolroofs.org]

Repeat urban simulation, but cover all

roofs with solar panels?

POLLUTANTS AND SOURCE:

DIESEL VS ELECTRIC • Diesel engine exhaust emissions

(DEEEs): - Black Carbon (PM2.5 and PM10) - Nitrogen Dioxide - Carbon monoxide - Carbon dioxide - Oxides of nitrogen - Oxides of sulphur - Aldehydes - Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

• Diesel trains also produce particles from friction and wear

• Particle generation from: - Friction of electric conducting rail

and bow sliding connectors - Wheel-rail contact - Brake linings

• Composition of particles: - Commonly Fe Si-rich

- Depends upon component compositions

(HSE, 2012)

(Abbasi et al., 2012; Salma et al., 2007)

(Abbasi et al., 2013, Ripanucci et al., 2006; Sitzmann et al., 1999)

1000 trains/day passing through

Approximately 50% Diesel 50% Electric

New Ventilation System

98 Fans combined with Fire/Smoke removal

Fans blow with wind direction?

Fans Driven by Carbon Dioxide Levels

Unique tunnel nature – recirculation of Pollutants – Are the fans Effective?

CASE STUDY

WAVERLEY STATION (EDINBURGH, UK)

• Enclosed railway station with 20 platforms in operation

• Study found NO2 levels up to 7 times higher than EU public health thresholds

(Gardner, 2012)

• Study used diffusion tubes only

• Inside the station: 200 – 300gm-3

• Outside the station: 30- 80gm-3

• June 2014 – taxis banned from entering the station

(Edwards, 2012)

(Edwards, 2012)

22/10/2016

22/10/2016

22/10/2016

22/10/2016

www.environment-health.ac.uk

PM in the underground (thanks to Ben Barratt) LHS Oxford St, RHS Hyde Park

22/10/2016

Climate Change, Urban Heat Island, Air Quality are all intimately linked.

A series of recent reports have emphasised the need for an integrated approach.

For urban areas there is need for planning applications to be scrutinised to ensure that they are Climate Ready, Carbon Neutral and Air Friendly.

We must ensure that on public transport, & when walking and cycling we can breathe clean air.

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