Communications Earth & Environment (May 2022)

Traffic restrictions during the 2008 Olympic Games reduced urban heat intensity and extent in Beijing

  • Bo Yang,
  • Hongxing Liu,
  • Emily L. Kang,
  • Timothy L. Hawthorne,
  • Susanna T. Y. Tong,
  • Song Shu,
  • Min Xu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-022-00427-4
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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Road space rationing policies reduced traffic volume by half in Beijing during the 2008 Olympic Games, which in turn decreased the mean surface temperature by up to 2.4 °C, according to statistical analysis of remotely sensed thermal observations.