Prague metropolitan area counts 2.7 million inhabitants. This city located in the middle of the Bohemian massif partly covers the Vltava River valley. It has an oceanic climate with humid continental influences characterized by cold winters often below-freezing temperatures and mild or warm summers.
The city currently faces the urban heat island effects (when temperature rises are amplified due to the urban area infrastructure material that absorbs sunlight and stores heat). Its consequences are visible in health and air quality under extreme events such as heat waves.
I4C will study the interaction between the urban heat island effect and air quality to assess the mitigation potential of multifunctional green infrastructure in reducing adverse impacts. The methodology employed will be based on close consultations and a co-development process with city stakeholders. Simulations will be run based on high-resolution CPRCM simulations, a Chemical Transport Model (WRF-Chem & WRF- CAMx) using specific local settings of surface characteristics (local materials albedo, emissivity, etc.). This information will lay the groundwork for the understanding of planning needs, with respect to quality, health and green multifunctional infrastructure. It will also guide the planning, monitoring and assessment of specific adaptation measures.