Compound Heat Vulnerability in the Record-Breaking Hot Summer of 2022 over the Yangtze River Delta Region

Abstract

Hourly meteorological data and multisource socioeconomic data collected in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region were used to analyze its heat vulnerability during the record-breaking hot summer of 2022 in both daytime and nighttime. Over forty consecutive days, daytime temperatures exceeded 40 °C, and 58.4% of the YRD region experienced 400 h with temperatures hotter than 26 °C during the nighttime. Only 7.5% of the YRD region was under low heat risk during both daytime and nighttime. Strong heat risk combined with strong heat sensitivity and weak heat adaptability led to strong heat vulnerability during both daytime and nighttime in most areas (72.6%). Inhomogeneity in heat sensitivity and heat adaptability further aggravated the heterogeneity of heat vulnerability, leading to compound heat vulnerability in most regions. The ratios of heat-vulnerable areas generated by multiple causes were 67.7% and 79.3% during daytime and nighttime, respectively. For Zhejiang and Shanghai, projects designed to decrease the urban heat island effect and lower the local heat sensitivity are most important. For Jiangsu and Anhui, measures aiming to decrease the urban heat island effect and improve heat adaptability are most important. It is urgent to take efficient measures to address heat vulnerability during both daytime and nighttime.