Publications

Jun 2026

Humidity-enhanced Excess Heat Factor (EHF) analysis for heatwaves in the Pearl River Delta with CMIP6-WRF dynamical downscaling

Ziping Zuo, Zhenning Li, Edward Y.Y. Ng, Chao Ren, Jimmy C.H. Fung
Journal of Weather and Climate Extremes, Volume 52, June 2026, 100907

Heatwave; Heat Index (HI); Excess Heat Factor(EHF); Bias correction; Dynamical downscaling

Oct 2024

Comprehensive analysis of HVAC control factors for elderly residents in hot and humid regions: A case study in Hong Kong

Kai Gao, Zhixuan Lin, Rui Wang, Jie Feng, Helene Fung, Edward Ng
Journal of Energy and Buildings, Volume 321, 15 October 2024, 114678

Occupants' behaviour; HVAC control; Physiological and social factors

Jan 2024

Balancing thermal comfort and energy efficiency in high-rise public housing in Hong Kong: Insights and recommendations

Kai Gao, K.F. Fong, C.K. Lee, Kevin Ka-Lun Lau, Edward Ng
Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 437, 15 Januray 2024, 140741

Thermal comfort; Energy efficiency; High-rise residential buildings; Public housing

Sep 2023

Projection of Future Heatwaves in the Pearl River Delta through CMIP6-WRF Dynamical Downscaling

Zuo, Z., Fung, J. C. H., Li, Z., Huang, Y., Wong, M. F., Lau, A. K. H., Lu, X. (2023)
Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 62(9), 1297-1314.

Heat wave; Downscaling; Mesoscale models

Jul 2023

Hot Instantaneous Temperature and Affect: Meaningful Activities as a Buffer for Older Adults With Low Socioeconomic Status

Lin, Z., Chin, D. C. W., Fung, H., Lay, J. C., Tse, D. C. K. (2023)
Innovation in Aging, 7(6), iga057.

Daily affect; Extremely hot weather; Meaningfulness; Psychological well-being; Socioeconomic status

Jul 2023

Evaluation on the performance of tree view factor in a high-density subtropical city: A case study in Hong Kong

Cheng, K. Y., Lau, K., Shek, Y. T., Liu, Z., N, E. (2023)
Building and Environment, 239: 110431.

Outdoor thermal comfort; Tree view factor; ENVI-met; Subtropical summer; High-rise metropolis

Feb 2023

Perception of extreme hot weather and the corresponding adaptations among older adults and service providers-A qualitative study in Hong Kong

Lai, E. T. C., Chau, P. H., Cheung, K., Kwan, M., Lau, K., Woo, J.(2023)
Frontiers in Public Health, 11: 99. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1056800

Extreme heat; Older adult; Health inequalities; Adaptation; Climate change

Feb 2023

Urban heat island effect-related mortality under extreme heat and non-extreme heat scenarios: A 2010–2019 case study in Hong Kong

Ho., J. Y., Shi, Y., Lau, K.K-L., Ng, E. Y. Y., Ren, C., Goggins, W. B. (2023)
Science of The Total Environment, 858, 159791. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159791

Urban heat island; Temperature; Heatwave; Elderly; Heat-mortality

Jan 2023

Constructing air temperature and relative humidity-based hourly thermal comfort dataset for a high-density city using machine learning

Chen, G., Hua, J., Shi, Y., Ren, C. (2023)
Urban Climate, 47, 101400. doi: 10.1016/j.uclim.2022.101400

Hourly mapping; Machine learning; High spatiotemporal resolution; Air temperature; Relative humidity; Thermal comfort

Oct 2022

Residential Building Performance Analysis At Near Extreme Weather Conditions in Hong Kong Through a Thermal-Comfort-Based Strategy

Fong, K. F., Lee, C. K., Lau, K.K-L., Ng, E. Y. Y. (2022)
Building Simulation, 16(1), 13-25. doi:10.1007/s12273-022-0934-8.

Predicted Mean Vote; Thermal Comfort; Ventilation Potential; Building Performance Simulation; Residential Housings

Jul 2022

Visits to the accident and emergency department in hot season of a city with subtropical climate: association with heat stress and related meteorological variables

Chau, P. H., Lau, K. K.-L, Qian, X. X., Luo, H. & Jean, W. (2022).
International Journal of Biometeorology, 66(10), 1955-1971. doi:10.1007/s00484-022-02332-z

Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI); Accident and Emergency Department; Heat stress; Subtopical Climate; Older Adult; Hong Kong

Jul 2022

Systematic identification of heat events associated with emergency admissions to enhance the heat-health action plan in a subtropical city: a data-driven approach

Ho, C. H., Lau, K., Ren, C. & Wang, D. (2022).
Environmental Science and Pollution Rsesearch, 29(59), 89273-89282. doi:10.1007/s11356-022-21963-8

Heat wave definitions; Heat duration; Heat-health; Emergency admissions; Asian cities; Subtropical cities

Jun 2022

Integrating weather observations and local-climate-zone-based landscape patterns for regional hourly air temperature mapping using machine learning

Chen, G., Shi, Y., Wang, R., Ren, C., Ng, E., Fang, X. & Ren, Z. (2022).
Science of The Total Environment, 841, 156737.

Machine learning; Hourly air temperature mapping; High spatial resolution; Local climate zone

Dec 2021

The influence of perceived aesthetic and acoustic quality on outdoor thermal comfort in urban environment

Lau, K.K.L & Choi, C.Y. (2021).
Building and Environment, 206, 108333

Outdoor thermal comfort; Aesthetic; Acoustic; Perceived environmental quality; Urban environment

Jul 2021

Predicting long-term monthly electricity demand under future climatic and socioeconomic changes using data-driven methods: A case study of Hong Kong

Liu, S., Zeng, A., Lau, K., Ren, C., Chan, P.W. & Ng, E. (2021).
Sustainable Cities and Society, 70, 102936

Long-term prediction; Electricy demand; Climate change; Data-driven methods, Machine learning methods

Jul 2021

Investigations of high-density urban boundary layer under summer prevailing wind conditions with Doppler LiDAR: A case study in Hong Kong

He, Y., Ren, C., Mak, H.W.L., Lin, C., Wang, Z., Fung, J.C.H., Li, Y., Lau A.K.H. & Ng, E. (2021).
Urban Climate, 38, 100884.

Urban boundary layer; Wind speed profile; Gradient height; High-density city; Weak wind condition; Doppler LiDAR

Jun 2021

Long-term association between urban air ventilation and mortality in Hong Kong

Wang, P., Goggins, W. B., Shi, Y., Zhang, X., Ren, C., & Lau, K. K. L. (2021).
Environmental Research, 111000.

Wind; Air ventilation; Mortality; Health; Urban design

May 2021

Investigating the urban heat and cool island effects during extreme heat events in high-density cities: A case study of Hong Kong from 2000-2018.

Ren, C., Wang, K., Shi, Y., Kwok, Y.T., Morakinyo, T.E., Lee T.C., Li, Y. (2021).
International Journal of Climatology, 1-19.

Extreme heat events; Heat waves; High-density cities; Observational weather data; Urban cool island; Urban heat island

May 2021

Applicability of different extreme weather datasets for assessing indoor overheating risks of residential buildings in a subtropical high-density city

Liu, S., Kwok, Y.T., Lau K.K.L. & Ng. E. (2021).
Building and Environment, 194, 107711.

Extreme weather data; Indoor overheating risk; Building thermal performance; Climate change; Residential buildings

Mar 2021

Utilizing world urban database and access portal tools (WUDAPT) and machine learning to facilitate spatial estimation of heatwave patterns

Shi, Y., Ren, C., Luo, M., Ching, J., Li, X., Bilal, M., Fang, X., & Ren, Z. (2021).
Urban Climate, 36, 100797.

Heatwave; Random forest; WUDAPT; Machine learning; Spatial estimation

Jan 2021

Spatiotemporal assessment of extreme heat risk for high-density cities: A case study of Hong Kong from 2006 to 2016

Hua, J., Zhang, X., Ren, C., Shi, Y., & Lee, T. C. (2020).
Sustainable Cities and Society, 102507.

Extreme hot weather; Heat vulnerability; Heat risk; Spatial assessment; High-density cities; Hong Kong

Nov 2020

Multi-layer coupling between SURFEX-TEB-v9. 0 and Meso-NH-v5. 3 for modelling the urban climate of high-rise cities.

Schoetter, R., Kwok, Y. T., de Munck, C., Lau, K. K. L., Wong, W. K., & Masson, V. (2020).
Geoscientific Model Development, 13(11), 5609-5643.

Jul 2020

Investigating Future Urbanization’s Impact on Local Climate under Different Climate Change Scenarios in MEGA-urban Regions: A Case Study of the Pearl River Delta, China

Yeung, P.S., Fung, J.C.H., Ren, C., Xu, Y., Huang, K., Leng, J. & Wong, M.M.F.
Atmosphere, 11(7): 771.

Urban climate; WRF; Land use land cover; Wet-bulb globe temperature; Thermal comfort; Future urbanization prediction; Climate change

Jun 2020

Cause-specific mortality attributable to cold and hot ambient temperatures in Hong Kong: a time-series study, 2006–2016

Liu, J., Hansen, A., Varphese, B., Liu, Z., Tong, M., Qiu, H., Tian, L., Lau, K.K.L., Ng, E., Ren, C., Bi, P. (2020).
Sustainable Cities and Society, 57: 102131.

Temperature; Cause-specific mortality; Attributable risk; Time-series; Hong Kong

Feb 2020

Development and application of future design weather data for evaluating the building thermal-energy performance in subtropical Hong Kong

Liu, S., Kwok, Y.T., Lau, K.K.L., Tong, H.W., Chan, P.W., Ng, E. (2020).
Energy and Buildings, 209: 109696.

Climate change; Morphing method; Building energy simulation; Adaptive thermal comfort; Future weather data

Nov 2019

The impact of extremely hot weather events on all-cause mortality in a highly urbanized and densely populated subtropical city: A 10-year time-series study (2006–2015)

Wang, D., Lau, K.K.L., Ren, C., Goggins, W.B., Shi, Y., Ho, H.C., Lee, T.C., Woo, J., Ng, E. (2019).
Science of the Total Environment, 690: 923-931.

Extremely hot weather event; Heat wave; Heat health; Mortality; Urban heat island effect