Abstract
The global urban population has reached 52% (4.4 billion people) and is projected to hit 68% (6.7 billion people) by 2050, impacting local hydroclimate and surface energy/water budgets. Climate change-related events such as heatwaves, floods, and storms pose significant risks to cities, damaging infrastructure and disrupting lives. Urban canopy models (UCMs,) integrated into the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, used to simulate the interactions between the atmosphere and the urban environment. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the WRF-Urban model, highlighting its role in fostering urban resilience and sustainability. By examining the interplay between urbanization and climate change, the vulnerabilities and risks faced by cities are underscored, emphasizing the crucial role of numerical modeling. Insightful case studies showcase the practical implementation of the WRF-Urban model. Limitations of the model are discussed, along with potential pathways for enhancing its capabilities and enabling future advancements in urban modeling and decision-making. In summary, this chapter explores the significance of the WRF-Urban model in addressing the challenges posed by urbanization and climate change, promoting urban resilience, and facilitating informed decision-making.