title: Evidence for a significant urbanization effect on climate in China.
abstract: China has experienced rapid urbanization and dramatic economic growth since its reform process started in late 1978. In this article, we present evidence for a significant urbanization effect on climate based on analysis of impacts of land-use changes on surface temperature in southeast China, where rapid urbanization has occurred. Our estimated warming of mean surface temperature of 0.05 degrees C per decade attributable to urbanization is much larger than previous estimates for other periods and locations. The spatial pattern and magnitude of our estimate are consistent with those of urbanization characterized by changes in the percentage of urban population and in satellite-measured greenness.
authors.affiliation: School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA. lmzhou@eas.gatech.edu
authors.forename: Liming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Dickinson
authors.forename: Yuhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Jingyun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Qingxiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Robert K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.forename: Compton J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: Ranga B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Myneni
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002681:China; D002980:Climate; D063245:Plant Development; D011156:Population Density; D017215:Satellite Communications; D012621:Seasons; D013696:Temperature; D014505:Urban Population; D014507:Urbanization