Theoretical Framework of Urban Thermal Vulnerability
Theoretical conceptualizations of urban thermal risk diverge in how they weigh macro-demographic physiological predispositions against place-based microclimatic exposures. Foundational epidemiological paradigms predominantly frame geriatric thermal vulnerability through physiological deterioration and broad epidemiological indicators, establishing that aging cohorts suffer disproportionate morbidity and mortality during extreme heat events due to impaired thermoregulation and pre-existing medical conditions (Astrom et al., 2011). In contrast, recent spatial and empirical investigations emphasize the critical role of localized urban configurations and municipal emergency incidence. For instance, urban health assessments specifically contextualize heat-health burdens within Japanese metropolitan dynamics, demonstrating that heatstroke morbidity is tightly coupled with local wet-bulb globe temperatures, solar radiation indices, and municipal demographic patterns (Fukuoka et al., 2021). Furthermore, contemporary systemic frameworks advocate for bridging these physiological and spatial paradigms by structuring vulnerability around multi-layered scoping taxonomies that capture personal, environmental, and behavioral determinants concurrently (Ramsay et al., 2025). The divergence between broad epidemiological vulnerability frameworks and site-specific microclimatic models underscores the need for an integrated theoretical architecture capable of addressing both individualized biological frailty and micro-urban environmental stress in super-aging societies.