作者： admin

A groundbreaking study from Chinese scientists has elucidated the critical role of urban surface heat sources in amplifying extreme heat phenomena within major metropolitan clusters. Researchers at the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources (NIEER), operating under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have systematically analyzed how urbanization patterns interact with atmospheric energy dynamics to exacerbate compound high-temperature events.

The investigation focused on China’s four primary urban agglomerations: the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Pearl River Delta, Yangtze River Delta, and Chengdu-Chongqing economic zone. Through comprehensive statistical analysis, the research team documented distinct seasonal and spatial patterns in surface heat distribution, revealing a consistent “strong in summer, weak in winter” cyclical pattern across all regions.

Notably, the study identified significant regional variations in heat distribution. The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region demonstrates stronger southern heat sources with northern areas occasionally transforming into thermal sinks during winter months. Conversely, the Yangtze River Delta exhibits concentrated heat sources along river networks, while major cities surprisingly manifest lower surface heat levels than surrounding areas.

Research lead Gao Xiaoqing emphasized that these thermal patterns result from complex interactions between topography, climatic conditions, and urbanization intensity. The findings demonstrate that while surface heat sources substantially influence the frequency of compound extreme heat events, their effect on event intensity remains comparatively limited.

Published in the prestigious journal Science China Earth Sciences, this research provides crucial insights for urban planning and climate resilience strategies. The identification of specific heat distribution mechanisms enables more targeted approaches to mitigating urban heat island effects and protecting public health during extreme temperature events.

China’s unprecedented transformation toward renewable energy has received prestigious international recognition, with leading scientific journals Science and Nature both highlighting the nation’s clean power transition as one of 2025’s most significant scientific milestones. According to their recent publications, China’s massive renewable expansion has effectively stalled the growth of greenhouse emissions domestically while accelerating the possibility of a global carbon peak.

Science magazine specifically designated China’s renewable energy surge as the 2025 Breakthrough of the Year, attributing this achievement to the country’s formidable industrial capacity. The journal reported that China currently manufactures 80% of global solar cells, 70% of wind turbines, and 70% of lithium batteries at unmatched competitive prices.

Supporting this assessment, Nature magazine featured China’s clean energy accomplishments among its ‘feel-good science stories to restore faith in 2025,’ noting that renewables have overtaken coal as the world’s primary energy source for the first time. This shift was propelled by China’s remarkable achievement of surpassing 1 terawatt of installed solar capacity in May 2025. During the first half of the year alone, China installed new solar systems with twice the capacity of the rest of the world combined.

The statistics demonstrate extraordinary growth: China’s wind and solar capacity exceeded thermal power for the first time in history by March, reaching 1.67 billion kilowatts by June—13.6% higher than thermal power capacity. Over the past five years, China has developed the world’s largest and fastest-growing renewable energy system, increasing renewables’ share in installed power capacity from approximately 40% to 60%.

Concurrently, China has implemented the world’s most extensive carbon market, regulating over 60% of national carbon dioxide emissions through effective permit systems. The country has also announced ambitious new Nationally Determined Contributions for 2035, including reducing economy-wide net greenhouse gas emissions by 7-10% from peak levels—marking China’s first absolute emissions reduction target covering all greenhouse gases across the entire economy.

Beyond domestic transformation, China’s renewable expansion has generated substantial global impact. According to National Energy Administration data, China’s wind and solar exports have helped avoid approximately 4.1 billion tonnes of global carbon emissions over five years. The country has collaborated with over 100 nations on green energy projects, reducing worldwide wind and photovoltaic power generation costs by 60% and 80% respectively. Since 2016, China has provided more than $25 billion in climate funding to developing countries.

As Science editors concluded: ‘China’s burgeoning exports of green tech are transforming the rest of the world too—producing clean energy technologies better, vastly cheaper, and in staggering quantities for global consumption.’