LOCAL CLIMATE ZONE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
Stewart ID. 2011. Redefining the urban heat island. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. University of
British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. https://circle.ubc.ca/handle/2429/38069
KEY TO DATASHEETS
ZONE DEFINITION
Form: Description of building morphology, land cover, construction materials, tree geometry, and human activity.
Function: Land uses most likely associated with this zone. Location: Expected location of the zone (core, periphery;
city, countryside). Correspondence: Comparable zones in the urban classification systems of Oke (2004) and Ellefsen
(1990/91).
ZONE ILLUSTRATION
Sky view factor ψsky
0 – 1
Fraction of sky hemisphere visible from ground level. Varies with height and spacing of
buildings and trees. Affects surface radiational heating/cooling.
Aspect ratio H/W
0 – 3+
Mean height-to-width ratio of street canyons (LCZ 1–7), building spacing (LCZ 8–10),
and tree spacing (LCZ A–F). Affects surface airflow and radiational heating/cooling.
Mean building/tree height zH
0 – 50+
m
Geometric average of building heights (LCZ 1–10) and tree/plant heights (LCZ A–F).
Affects surface reflectivity, flow regimes, and heat dispersion above ground.
Terrain roughness class
1 – 8
Davenport et al. (2000) classification of effective terrain roughness (z0) for city and
country landscapes: 1–“sea” (z0 ~ 0.0002 m); 2–“smooth” (z0 ~ 0.005 m); 3–“open”
(z0 ~ 0.03 m); 4–“roughly open” (z0 ~ 0.10 m); 5–“rough” (z0 ~ 0.25 m); 6–“very
rough” (z0 ~ 0.5 m); 7–“skimming” (z0 ~ 1.0 m); 8–“chaotic” (z0 ~ 2 m). Affects
surface reflectivity, flow regimes, and heat dispersion above ground.
Building surface fraction λb
0 – 100 %
Proportion of ground surface with building cover. Affects surface reflectivity, flow
regimes, and heat dispersion above ground.
Impervious surface fraction λi
0 – 100 %
Proportion of ground surface with impervious cover (paved, rock). Affects surface
reflectivity, moisture availability, and heating/cooling potential.
Pervious surface fraction λv
0 – 100 %
Proportion of ground surface with pervious cover (bare soil, vegetation, water). Affects
surface reflectivity, moisture availability, and heating/cooling potential.
Surface admittance µ
0 – 3,000+
J m-2
s1/2
K-1
Ability of surface to accept or release heat. Affects surface heat storage and heating/
cooling rates. Values give typical range for surfaces in each LCZ (e.g., buildings,
roads, soils, water). Varies with soil wetness and material density.
Albedo α
0 – 0.5
Surface reflectivity at local scale, under a clear midday sky. Affects surface radiational
heating potential. Varies with surface wetness.
Anthropogenic heat flux QF
0 – 400+
W m-2
Mean annual anthropogenic heat flux density at local scale. Heat sources include
vehicle engines, industrial/domestic combustion processes, space cooling/heating, and
human metabolism. Varies significantly with latitude, season, and population density.
Land cover High-angle photographs (© Can Stock Photo Inc.)
Objects Low-level photographs (© Can Stock Photo Inc.)
ZONE PROPERTIES
LCZ KEY ZONE NAME #
DEFINITION
Form: Dense mix of tall buildings to tens of stories. Buildings free-standing, closely spaced. Sky view
from street level significantly reduced. Buildings of steel, concrete, and glass construction. Land cover
mostly paved; few or no trees. High space heating/cooling demand. Heavy traffic flow. Function:
Commercial (office buildings, hotels); residential (apartment towers). Location: Core (downtown, central
business district); periphery (highrise subcentre, highrise sprawl). Correspondence: UCZ1 (Oke 2004);
Dc1 and Dc8 (Ellefsen 1990/91).
LCZ COMPACT HIGHRISE 1
ILLUSTRATION
Sky view factor
0.2 – 0.4 0 .2 .4 .6 .8 1
Canyon aspect ratio
> 2 .20 .4 .6 .8 1 2 3
Mean building height
> 25 m 0 10 20 30 40 50
Terrain roughness class
8 87654321
Building surface fraction
40 – 60 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Impervious surface fraction
40 – 60 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Pervious surface fraction
< 10 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Surface admittance
1,100 – 2,200 J m-2
s1/2
K-1 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000
Surface albedo
0.10 – 0.20 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Anthropogenic heat flux
50 – 300 W m-2 0 100 200 300 400
High angle
Low level
PROPERTIES
2
DEFINITION
Form: Attached or closely spaced buildings 3–9 stories tall. Buildings separated by narrow streets and
inner courtyards. Buildings uniform in height. Sky view from street level significantly reduced. Heavy
building materials (stone, concrete, brick, tile) and thick roofs and walls. Land cover mostly paved; few or
no trees. Moderate space heating/cooling demand. Moderate to heavy traffic flow. Function: Residential
(multi-unit housing; multistorey tenements); commercial (office buildings, hotels, retail shops); industrial
(warehouses, factories). Location: Core (old city, old town; inner city, central business district); periphery
(high-density sprawl). Correspondence: UCZ2 (Oke, 2004); A1, A2, A4, Dc2 (Ellefsen, 1990/91).
LCZ COMPACT MIDRISE 2
ILLUSTRATION
Sky view factor
0.3 – 0.6 0 .2 .4 .6 .8 1
Canyon aspect ratio
0.75 – 2 .20 .4 .6 .8 1 2 3
Mean building height
10 – 25 m 0 10 20 30 40 50
Terrain roughness class
6 – 7 87654321
Building surface fraction
40 – 70 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Impervious surface fraction
30 – 50 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Pervious surface fraction
< 20 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Surface admittance
1,000 – 2,200 J m-2
s1/2
K-1 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000
Surface albedo
0.10 – 0.20 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Anthropogenic heat flux
< 75 W m-2 0 100 200 300 400
High angle
Low level
PROPERTIES
3
DEFINITION
Form: Attached or closely spaced buildings 1–3 stories tall. Buildings small and tightly packed along
narrow streets, often without discernable alignment. Sky view from street level significantly reduced.
Heavy building materials (stone, concrete, brick, tile) and thick roofs and walls. Land cover mostly paved;
few or no trees. Moderate space heating/cooling demand. Low-moderate traffic flow. Function:
Residential (single-unit housing, high-density terrace/row housing); commercial (small retail shops).
Location: Old or densely populated cities, towns, villages. Core (central or inner city); periphery (highdensity
sprawl). Correspondence: UCZ3 (Oke, 2004); Dc3 (Ellefsen, 1990/91).
LCZ COMPACT LOWRISE 3
ILLUSTRATION
Sky view factor
0.2 – 0.6 0 .2 .4 .6 .8 1
Canyon aspect ratio
0.75 – 1.5 .20 .4 .6 .8 1 2 3
Mean building height
3 – 10 m 0 10 20 30 40 50
Terrain roughness class
6 87654321
Building surface fraction
40 – 70 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Impervious surface fraction
20 – 50 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Pervious surface fraction
< 30 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Surface admittance
1,000 – 2,200 J m-2
s1/2
K-1 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000
Surface albedo
0.10 – 0.20 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Anthropogenic heat flux
< 75 W m-2 0 100 200 300 400
High angle
Low level
PROPERTIES
4
DEFINITION
Form: Buildings tens of stories tall, set in open, geometric arrangement. Buildings uniform in height,
width, and spacing. Sky view from ground level significantly reduced. Heavy building materials
(concrete, steel, stone, glass) and thick roofs and walls. Roofs typically flat. Scattered trees and abundant
plant cover. Moderate-low space heating/cooling demand. Moderate traffic flow. Function: Residential
(apartment blocks, highrise housing estates, multistorey tenements). Location: Periphery. Densely
populated cities. Socialist-style cities. Correspondence: Do2 (Ellefsen, 1990/91).
LCZ OPEN HIGHRISE 4
ILLUSTRATION
Sky view factor
0.5 – 0.7 0 .2 .4 .6 .8 1
Canyon aspect ratio
0.75 – 1.25 .20 .4 .6 .8 1 2 3
Mean building height
> 25 m 0 10 20 30 40 50
Terrain roughness class
7 – 8 87654321
Building surface fraction
20 – 40 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Impervious surface fraction
30 – 40 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Pervious surface fraction
30 – 40 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Surface admittance
1,100 – 2,000 J m-2
s1/2
K-1 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000
Surface albedo
0.12 – 0.25 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Anthropogenic heat flux
< 50 W m-2 0 100 200 300 400
High angle
Low level
PROPERTIES
5
DEFINITION
Form: Open arrangement of buildings 3–9 stories tall. Sky view from street level slightly reduced. Heavy
building materials (concrete, steel, stone, glass) and thick roofs and walls. Scattered trees and abundant
plant cover. Low space heating/cooling demand. Low traffic flow. Function: Residential (multi-unit
housing, multistorey tenements, apartment blocks); institutional (research/business parks, campuses);
commercial (office buildings, hotels). Location: Periphery. Correspondence: UCZ6 (Oke, 2004); Do6
(Ellefsen, 1990/91).
LCZ OPEN MIDRISE 5
ILLUSTRATION
Sky view factor
0.5 – 0.8 0 .2 .4 .6 .8 1
Canyon aspect ratio
0.3 – 0.75 .20 .4 .6 .8 1 2 3
Mean building height
10 – 25 m 0 10 20 30 40 50
Terrain roughness class
5 – 6 87654321
Building surface fraction
20 – 40 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Impervious surface fraction
30 – 50 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Pervious surface fraction
20 – 40 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Surface admittance
1,000 – 2,200 J m-2
s1/2
K-1 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000
Surface albedo
0.12 – 0.25 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Anthropogenic heat flux
< 25 W m-2 0 100 200 300 400
High angle
Low level
PROPERTIES
6
DEFINITION
Form: Small buildings 1–3 stories tall; detached or attached in rows, often in grid pattern. Sky view from
street level slightly reduced. Building materials vary (wood, brick, stone, tile). Scattered trees and
abundant plant cover. Low space heating/cooling demand. Low traffic flow. Function: Residential (single
or multi-unit housing, low density terrace/row housing); commercial (small retail shops). Location: City
(medium density); periphery (suburbs). Commuter towns. Rural towns. Correspondence: UCZ5 (Oke
2004); Do3 (Ellefsen 1990/91).
LCZ OPEN LOWRISE 6
ILLUSTRATION
Sky view factor
0.6 – 0.9 0 .2 .4 .6 .8 1
Canyon aspect ratio
0.3 – 0.75 .20 .4 .6 .8 1 2 3
Mean building height
3 – 10 m 0 10 20 30 40 50
Terrain roughness class
5 – 6 87654321
Building surface fraction
20 – 40 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Impervious surface fraction
20 – 50 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Pervious surface fraction
30 – 60 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Surface admittance
1,000 – 2,200 J m-2
s1/2
K-1 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000
Surface albedo
0.12 – 0.25 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Anthropogenic heat flux
< 25 W m-2 0 100 200 300 400
High angle
Low level
PROPERTIES
7
DEFINITION
Form: Single-story buildings set in compact (often formless) arrangement, attached or closely spaced.
Buildings separated by narrow roads and alleys. Little or no consolidated infrastructure. Sky view from
ground level significantly reduced. Lightweight building materials (thatch, wood, bamboo, corrugated
metal); thin walls and flat roofs. Few or no trees. Land cover hard packed (bare soil, sand). Population
density high. Space heating/cooling demand nil. Low traffic flow. Function: Residential (informal
settlements, low-cost housing, shantytowns, squatter settlements, mobile housing); agricultural (smallholder
lots). Location: Periphery of large, developing cities. Extended metropolitan regions. Inner city.
Rural towns.
LCZ LIGHTWEIGHT LOWRISE 7
ILLUSTRATION
Sky view factor
0.2 – 0.5 0 .2 .4 .6 .8 1
Canyon aspect ratio
1 – 2 .20 .4 .6 .8 1 2 3
Mean building height
2 – 4 m 0 10 20 30 40 50
Terrain roughness class
4 – 5 87654321
Building surface fraction
60 – 90 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Impervious surface fraction
< 20 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Pervious surface fraction
< 30 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Surface admittance
400 – 1,800 J m-2
s1/2
K-1 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000
Surface albedo
0.15 – 0.35 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Anthropogenic heat flux
< 35 W m-2 0 100 200 300 400
High angle
Low level
PROPERTIES
8
DEFINITION
Form: Large, low buildings 1–3 stories tall, separated by extensive paved surfaces. Buildings extend
outward not upward; roofs flat. Sky view from ground level slightly reduced. Building materials vary
(steel, concrete, metal). Few or no trees; land cover mostly paved. Moderate-low space heating/cooling
demand. Moderate-heavy traffic flow. Function: Light industrial (modern warehousing); commercial
(shopping centres, storage facilities); transportation hub (air, rail, truck, ship). Location: Periphery.
Correspondence: UCZ4 (Oke, 2004); Do1, Do4 (Ellefsen, 1990/91).
LCZ LARGE LOWRISE 8
ILLUSTRATION
Sky view factor
> 0.7 0 .2 .4 .6 .8 1
Building aspect ratio
0.1 – 0.3 .20 .4 .6 .8 1 2 3
Mean building height
3 – 10 m 0 10 20 30 40 50
Terrain roughness class
5 87654321
Building surface fraction
30 – 50 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Impervious surface fraction
40 – 50 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Pervious surface fraction
< 20 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Surface admittance
1,000 – 2,000 J m-2
s1/2
K-1 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000
Surface albedo
0.15 – 0.25 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Anthropogenic heat flux
< 50 W m-2 0 100 200 300 400
High angle
Low level
PROPERTIES
9
DEFINITION
Form: Small or medium-sized buildings widely spaced across natural landscape. Full sky view from
ground level. Building materials vary. Scattered trees and abundant plant cover. Space heating/cooling
demand negligible. Low traffic flow. Function: Residential (single or multi-unit housing); commercial
(retail shops, office buildings); institutional (research/business parks, campuses); agricultural (farms,
country estates). Location: Periphery (low-density suburbs). Extended metropolitan regions. Newly
developed urban tracts. Rural towns. Lightly settled countryside. Correspondence: UCZ7 (Oke, 2004).
LCZ SPARSELY BUILT 9
ILLUSTRATION
Sky view factor
> 0.8 0 .2 .4 .6 .8 1
Building aspect ratio
0.1 – 0.25 .20 .4 .6 .8 1 2 3
Mean building height
3 – 10 m 0 10 20 30 40 50
Terrain roughness class
5 – 6 87654321
Building surface fraction
10 – 20 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Impervious surface fraction
< 20 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Pervious surface fraction
60 – 80 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Surface admittance
1,000 – 2,200 J m-2
s1/2
K-1 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000
Surface albedo
0.12 – 0.25 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Anthropogenic heat flux
< 10 W m-2 0 100 200 300 400
High angle
Low level
PROPERTIES
10
DEFINITION
Form: Highly irregular mix of low and midrise industrial structures (tanks, towers, stacks). Structures
openly spaced on hard-packed surfaces. Sky view from ground level slightly reduced. Building materials
vary (steel, concrete, metal). Few or no trees. High demand for space heating/cooling. Large quantities of
waste heat and atmospheric pollutants released from mechanical and chemical processing (smelting,
pulping, distilling). Low traffic flow. Function: Industrial (factories, refineries, mills, plants). Location:
City or country.
LCZ HEAVY INDUSTRY 10
ILLUSTRATION
Sky view factor
0.6 – 0.9 0 .2 .4 .6 .8 1
Building aspect ratio
0.2 – 0.5 .20 .4 .6 .8 1 2 3
Mean building height
5 – 15 m 0 10 20 30 40 50
Terrain roughness class
5 – 6 87654321
Building surface fraction
20 – 30 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Impervious surface fraction
20 – 40 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Pervious surface fraction
40 – 50 % 0 20 40 60 80 100
Surface admittance
1,000 – 2,500 J m-2
s1/2
K-1 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000
Surface albedo
0.12 – 0.20 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Anthropogenic heat flux
> 300 W m-2 0 100 200 300 400
High angle
Low level
PROPERTIES
11