urban heat islands

description

Urban or built environments tend to be hotter than surrounding natural or rural areas, though even within urban areas there can be considerable variation in temperature. This effect, known as the “urban heat island” effect, is due to the physical properties of the built environment, which tends to absorb solar energy and trap heat. Urban heat islands can have a direct impact on the health and welfare of residents, and the effects are often worse in poorer areas of a city. In this project, you will use a combination of satellite remote sensing and GIS to investigate aspects of urban heat islands in a study area to be determined.

Suitable for a student with an interest in remote sensing/GIS, social policy, or sustainable development.

example references

Benz, S.A., Burney, J.A., 2021. Widespread Race and Class Disparities in Surface Urban Heat Extremes Across the United States. Earth’s Future 9. doi: 10.1029/2021EF002016

Halder, B., Bandyopadhyay, J., Banik, P., 2021. Monitoring the effect of urban development on urban heat island based on remote sensing and geo-spatial approach in Kolkata and adjacent areas, India. Sustainable Cities and Society 74, 103186. doi: 10.1016/j.scs.2021.103186

Yin, Y., He, L., Wennberg, P.O., Frankenberg, C., 2023. Unequal exposure to heatwaves in Los Angeles: Impact of uneven green spaces. Science Advances 9, eade8501. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.ade8501

Zhou, D., Xiao, J., Bonafoni, S., Berger, C., Deilami, K., Zhou, Y., Frolking, S., Yao, R., Qiao, Z., Sobrino, J., 2018. Satellite Remote Sensing of Surface Urban Heat Islands: Progress, Challenges, and Perspectives. Remote Sensing 11, 48. doi: 10.3390/rs11010048