NUMERICAL STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF URBAN HEAT-ISLAND ON THE CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF THE SEA-BREEZE CIRCULATION

A two-dimensional numerical model is employed to study the effect of t he coastal urban heat island on the sea breeze front and the thermal i nternal boundary layer height. The temperature at the land surface is determined by solving an energy budget equation. The effect of the urb an heat island is studied by varying the width of the region and its i ntensity. During the early afternoon, the presence of the urban heat i sland enhances the strength of convergence of the sea breeze front and also reduces its inland penetration. The presence of the urban heat i sland causes increased thermal internal boundary layer height. Larger urban width causes larger vertical velocity and higher thermal interna l boundary layer. Stronger convergence and higher thermal internal bou ndary layer are also obtained in case of larger heat island intensity.