Work

Satellite-Based Adjustments for the Urban Heat Island Temperature Bias

Year: 1999

Type: article

Abstract: Monthly and seasonal relationships between urban–rural differences in minimum, maximum, and average temperatures measured at surface-based observation stations were compared to satellite-derived Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer estimates of a normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and surface radiant temperature (Tsfc). The relationships between surface- and satellite-derived variables were developed during 1989–91 and tested on data acquired during 1992–93. The urban–rural differences in air temperature were linearly related to urban–rural differences in the NDVI and Tsfc. A statistically significant but relatively small (less than 40%) amount of the variation in these urban–rural differences in air temperature [the urban heat island (UHI) bias] was associated with variation in the urban–rural differences in NDVI and Tsfc. A comparison of the satellite-based estimates of the UHI bias with population-based estimates of the UHI bias indicated similar levels of error. The use of satellite-derived data may contribute to a globally consistent method for analysis of the urban heat island bias.

Source: Journal of applied meteorology

DOI: 10.1175/1520-0450(1999)038<0806:sbaftu>2.0.co;2

Authors: Kevin P. Gallo, Timothy W. Owen

Institutions: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service, NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information

Language: English

Topic: Urban Heat Island Mitigation

Subfield: Environmental Engineering

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Climate action

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration