Abstract:Based on the summer daily mean, maximum, and minimum temperature data from 72 national surface meteorological stations in Hebei Province from 1961 to 2023, a comparative analysis examines the distribution characteristics of summer mean temperature, summer mean maximum and minimum temperatures, as well as the diurnal temperature range, across the time periods and regions with different levels of urbanisation to explore the potential impact of urbanisation on summer temperature changes in Hebei Province. The results indicate that: compared to the previous 30 years (from 1961 to 1990), the probability density distribution of summer mean temperature, summer mean maximum and minimum temperatures in Hebei shifts towards the higher temperature side in the latter 30 years (from 1994 to 2023), which is particularly pronounced in the summer mean minimum temperature. From 1961 to 2023, the contribution rate of urbanisation to temperature mostly exceeds 30%, according to station comparisons in regions with different levels of urbanisation. Additionally, the trend of summer temperature changes in Hebei Province significantly intensifies in both the rate and the scope in the latter 30 years, while the areas with relatively strong temperature increases are primarily concentrated in Langfang, Tangshan, and central and southern Hebei, which are regions that are economically developed and highly urbanised. The decreasing trend of the diurnal temperature range is alleviated in the central and southern parts of Hebei Province. The levels of urbanisation affect the distribution characteristics of site temperatures, while in areas with higher and medium levels of urbanisation, the increase in temperature at selected urban station sites is significantly greater compared to suburban stations. Furthermore, the warming is mostly concentrated near cities, and the probability distribution of temperature elements at urban stations, especially the summer mean minimum temperature, shifts more evidently towards higher temperatures compared to suburban stations, with the steepness increasing, resulting in a shift of the diurnal temperature range towards lower temperatures. In areas with relatively lower levels of urbanisation, the increase and the shift of probability density distribution towards higher temperatures at urban stations compared to suburban stations become more pronounced in summer mean maximum temperature, resulting in an increase in the diurnal temperature range.