BACKGROUND Human activity and decisions drive all life in cities. Worldwide, cities are
characterized by extensive anthropogenic transformation of the landscape, modification of …

The concept of local climate zones (LCZ) has emerged to identify the nature of urban
climate, air quality, and temperature at local levels. Thus, this study reviews the literature on …

Flooding affects more people than any other environmental hazard and hinders sustainable
development,. Investing in flood adaptation strategies may reduce the loss of life and …

Land cover (LC) determines the energy exchange, water and carbon cycle between Earth's
spheres. Accurate LC information is a fundamental parameter for the environment and …

Urban regions across the world have expanded rapidly in recent decades, affecting fragile
natural habitats, including in drylands, and threatening the achievement of the UN …

China has experienced unprecedented urbanization and associated rural depopulation
during recent decades alongside a massive increase in the total population. By using …

Increasing concern over urban heat mitigation creates an emerging necessity to track the
evolution of urban heat island intensity (UHII) to assess the effectiveness of existing plans in …

Disaster losses are increasing and evidence is mounting that climate change is driving up
the probability of extreme natural shocks,–. Yet it has also proved politically expedient to …

Spatial pattern of urban land plays a significant role in the occurrence of pluvial floods. While
landscape metrics have been widely used to reflect land use spatial patterns, the …

The extensive exploitation and use of land resources has caused a variety of land
degradation problems including soil erosion, desertification and salinization in China, which …