Population concentration in high-complexity regions within city during the heat wave

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of the 2018 summer heat wave on urban mobility in Seoul and the role of economic complexity in the region’s resilience. Analysis of subway and mobile phone data reveals a significant decrease in the floating population during the extreme heat wave, underscoring the thermal vulnerability of urban areas. However, urban regions with higher complexity demonstrate resilience, attracting more visitors despite high temperatures. Our results suggest the centrality of economic complexity in urban resilience against climate-induced stressors. Additionally, high-complexity small business clusters appear to serve as focal points for sustaining urban vitality in the face of thermal shocks within the city. From a long-term perspective, our results imply that people might become more concentrated in highly complex regions in the era of global warming.