Spatial-temporal changes of compound temperature-humidity extremes in humid subtropical high-density cities: An observational study in Hong Kong from 1961 to 2020

Abstract

In the humid subtropics, rising temperatures can cause higher humidity via enhanced evaporation which exacerbates heat-related health problems. This study uses multi-station observational data to reveal the spatial-temporal changes of compound temperature-humidity extreme events in Hong Kong during 1961–2020. Based on the 90th and 10th percentiles of temperature and specific humidity, four types of compound events were identified, i.e., Compound Hot and Wet (CHW), Hot and Dry (CHD), Cold and Wet (CCW), and Cold and Dry (CCD) events. Over the past six decades, there has been a significant increase of CHW (+3.45 events/decade) and decrease of CCD (−3.00 events/decade). The greatest increase of CHW was observed during the warm period of the 2010s (+4 events/year/month). Meanwhile, the trends of CHD and CCW were less evident. Spatially, more frequent compound events (especially those with high humidity (CHW and CCW)) were observed in built-up areas compared to rural areas, while the intensity of these events remained similar. The results imply that both regional climate and urban factors contribute to the increase of extreme hot and humid weather. The study generalizes mechanisms for these spatial-temporal changes, and discussed implications for compound extremes management in Hong Kong and other similar cities.