Advances in urban meteorology in China

Over the past decades, a large number of studies have been carried out in the field of urban meteorology in China, and many fruitful results have been obtained. This paper discusses the main research progresses of urban meteorology from four aspects: urban meteorological observation network and field campaign, multi-scale model of urban meteorology, interaction between urban meteorology and atmospheric environment, and the impacts of urbanization on weather and climate. Major advances include: (1) comprehensive urban meteorological observation networks with the characteristics of multi-platform, multi-variable, multi-scale, multi-link and multi-function have been established or are being improved in China's major cities, (2) urban meteorological field campaigns included in the WMO research demonstration project have been carried out in Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai and other cities, (3) wind tunnel experiments and scale-model outdoor experiments have been successfully carried out, (4) a multi-scale urban meteorological and air quality prediction numerical model system has been established and applied to the operation, (5) great progresses have been made in the research fields of urban heat island effect, urban impacts on precipitation, urban meteorology and urban planning, urbanization impacts on regional climate and air quality, and interaction between urban meteorology and atmospheric environment. Finally, in order to provide scientific and technological supports for China's urbanization, construction of ecological civilization, disaster prevention and mitigation, and response to climate change, it is pointed out that the future scientific research and application should focus on: new observation technologies and data assimilation, urban system model, the impact mechanisms of urbanization on weather and climate, the impacts of urbanization on atmospheric environment and human health, and integrated urban hydrometeorological climate and environmental services, etc.