IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v13y2016i3p317-d65666.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Spatially Analyzing the Inequity of the Hong Kong Urban Heat Island by Socio-Demographic Characteristics

Author

Listed:
  • Man Sing Wong

    (Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
    Joint Spatial Information Research Laboratory between The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China)

  • Fen Peng

    (Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China)

  • Bin Zou

    (School of Geosciences and Info-Physics, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China)

  • Wen Zhong Shi

    (Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
    Joint Spatial Information Research Laboratory between The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China)

  • Gaines J. Wilson

    (Department of Biological Sciences, Huston-Tillotson University, Austin, TX 78702, USA)

Abstract

Recent studies have suggested that some disadvantaged socio-demographic groups face serious environmental-related inequities in Hong Kong due to the rising ambient urban temperatures. Identifying heat-vulnerable groups and locating areas of Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI) inequities is thus important for prioritizing interventions to mitigate death/illness rates from heat. This study addresses this problem by integrating methods of remote sensing retrieval, logistic regression modelling, and spatial autocorrelation. In this process, the SUHI effect was first estimated from the Land Surface Temperature (LST) derived from a Landsat image. With the scale assimilated to the SUHI and socio-demographic data, a logistic regression model was consequently adopted to ascertain their relationships based on Hong Kong Tertiary Planning Units (TPUs). Lastly, inequity “hotspots” were derived using spatial autocorrelation methods. Results show that disadvantaged socio-demographic groups were significantly more prone to be exposed to an intense SUHI effect: over half of 287 TPUs characterized by age groups of 60+ years, secondary and matriculation education attainment, widowed, divorced and separated, low and middle incomes, and certain occupation groups of workers, have significant Odds Ratios (ORs) larger than 1.2. It can be concluded that a clustering analysis stratified by age, income, educational attainment, marital status, and occupation is an effective way to detect the inequity hotspots of SUHI exposure. Additionally, inequities explored using income, marital status and occupation factors were more significant than the age and educational attainment in these areas. The derived maps and model can be further analyzed in urban/city planning, in order to mitigate the physical and social causes of the SUHI effect.

Suggested Citation

  • Man Sing Wong & Fen Peng & Bin Zou & Wen Zhong Shi & Gaines J. Wilson, 2016. "Spatially Analyzing the Inequity of the Hong Kong Urban Heat Island by Socio-Demographic Characteristics," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-17, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:3:p:317-:d:65666
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/13/3/317/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/13/3/317/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Harlan, Sharon L. & Brazel, Anthony J. & Prashad, Lela & Stefanov, William L. & Larsen, Larissa, 2006. "Neighborhood microclimates and vulnerability to heat stress," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(11), pages 2847-2863, December.
    2. Bin Zou & Fen Peng & Neng Wan & Keita Mamady & Gaines J Wilson, 2014. "Spatial Cluster Detection of Air Pollution Exposure Inequities across the United States," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(3), pages 1-14, March.
    3. Helen Berry & Kathryn Bowen & Tord Kjellstrom, 2010. "Climate change and mental health: a causal pathways framework," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 55(2), pages 123-132, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Aubrey C. DeVine & Phuong T. Vu & Michael G. Yost & Edmund Y. W. Seto & Tania M. Busch Isaksen, 2017. "A Geographical Analysis of Emergency Medical Service Calls and Extreme Heat in King County, WA, USA (2007–2012)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-16, August.
    2. Justin D Stewart & Peleg Kremer, 2022. "Temporal change in relationships between urban structure and surface temperature," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 49(9), pages 2297-2311, November.
    3. John Dialesandro & Noli Brazil & Stephen Wheeler & Yaser Abunnasr, 2021. "Dimensions of Thermal Inequity: Neighborhood Social Demographics and Urban Heat in the Southwestern U.S," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-15, January.
    4. Xinping Zhang & Dexiang Wang & Hongke Hao & Fangfang Zhang & Youning Hu, 2017. "Effects of Land Use/Cover Changes and Urban Forest Configuration on Urban Heat Islands in a Loess Hilly Region: Case Study Based on Yan’an City, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-25, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Raissa Sorgho & Isabel Mank & Moubassira Kagoné & Aurélia Souares & Ina Danquah & Rainer Sauerborn, 2020. "“We Will Always Ask Ourselves the Question of How to Feed the Family”: Subsistence Farmers’ Perceptions on Adaptation to Climate Change in Burkina Faso," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-25, October.
    2. S. Brent Jackson & Kathryn T. Stevenson & Lincoln R. Larson & M. Nils Peterson & Erin Seekamp, 2021. "Outdoor Activity Participation Improves Adolescents’ Mental Health and Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Jianbo Jin & Zhihu Xu & Ru Cao & Yuxin Wang & Qiang Zeng & Xiaochuan Pan & Jing Huang & Guoxing Li, 2023. "Long-Term Apparent Temperature, Extreme Temperature Exposure, and Depressive Symptoms: A Longitudinal Study in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-11, February.
    4. Holly Vins & Jesse Bell & Shubhayu Saha & Jeremy J. Hess, 2015. "The Mental Health Outcomes of Drought: A Systematic Review and Causal Process Diagram," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-25, October.
    5. Frijters, Paul & Johnston, David W. & Knott, Rachel & Torgler, Benno, 2021. "Resilience to Disaster: Evidence from Daily Wellbeing Data," IZA Discussion Papers 14220, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Anna Yusa & Peter Berry & June J.Cheng & Nicholas Ogden & Barrie Bonsal & Ronald Stewart & Ruth Waldick, 2015. "Climate Change, Drought and Human Health in Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-54, July.
    7. Lisa Reyes Mason & Bonita B. Sharma & Jayme E. Walters & Christine C. Ekenga, 2020. "Mental Health and Weather Extremes in a Southeastern U.S. City: Exploring Group Differences by Race," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-18, May.
    8. H. Allen Klaiber & Joshua K. Abbott & V. Kerry Smith, 2017. "Some Like It (Less) Hot: Extracting Trade-Off Measures for Physically Coupled Amenities," Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, University of Chicago Press, vol. 4(4), pages 1053-1079.
    9. Young Chin & Hyo Lee & Eun So, 2011. "Suicidal ideation and associated factors by sex in Korean adults: a population-based cross-sectional survey," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 56(4), pages 429-439, August.
    10. Susan Williams & Peng Bi & Jonathan Newbury & Guy Robinson & Dino Pisaniello & Arthur Saniotis & Alana Hansen, 2013. "Extreme Heat and Health: Perspectives from Health Service Providers in Rural and Remote Communities in South Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-19, October.
    11. Xuena Liu & Hui Liu & Hua Fan & Yizhi Liu & Guoyong Ding, 2018. "Influence of Heat Waves on Daily Hospital Visits for Mental Illness in Jinan, China—A Case-Crossover Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    12. Daghagh Yazd, Sahar & Wheeler, Sarah Ann & Zuo, Alec, 2020. "Understanding the impacts of water scarcity and socio-economic demographics on farmer mental health in the Murray-Darling Basin," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    13. Weihua Dong & Zhao Liu & Lijie Zhang & Qiuhong Tang & Hua Liao & Xian'en Li, 2014. "Assessing Heat Health Risk for Sustainability in Beijing’s Urban Heat Island," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(10), pages 1-24, October.
    14. Hans Sanderson & Michael Goodsite, 2015. "Editorial—Global Climate Change and Contaminants," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-3, July.
    15. Zac Coates & Michelle Kelly & Scott Brown, 2024. "The Relationship between Climate Anxiety and Pro-Environment Behaviours," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-14, June.
    16. Hee Jin Yang & Heeyeun Yoon, 2021. "Revealing an Integrative Mechanism of Cognition, Emotion, and Heat-Protective Action of Older Adults," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-12, March.
    17. Ghasem Toloo & Gerard FitzGerald & Peter Aitken & Kenneth Verrall & Shilu Tong, 2013. "Evaluating the effectiveness of heat warning systems: systematic review of epidemiological evidence," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 58(5), pages 667-681, October.
    18. Sarya Natur & Odeya Damri & Galila Agam, 2022. "The Effect of Global Warming on Complex Disorders (Mental Disorders, Primary Hypertension, and Type 2 Diabetes)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-9, July.
    19. Chen, Yanran & Sun, Ruochen & Chen, Xi & Qin, Xuezheng, 2023. "Does extreme temperature exposure take a toll on mental health? Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 28(5), pages 486-510, October.
    20. Fei Li & Tan Yigitcanlar & Madhav Nepal & Kien Nguyen Thanh & Fatih Dur, 2022. "Understanding Urban Heat Vulnerability Assessment Methods: A PRISMA Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-34, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:3:p:317-:d:65666. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.