Advancements in Urban Heat Island Dynamics: Integrating Remote Sensing and Ground-Based Measurements
Authors
Hamid Norouzi1,2* (hnorouzi@citytech.cuny.edu), Reginald Blake1,2, Kip Nielsen3,4, Jacqueline Ashley Grey4,5, Taseen Islam6
Institutions
1New York City College of Technology, City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY; 2The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY; 3University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS; 4NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York, NY; 5Baruch College Campus High School, New York, NY; 6Macaulay Honors College, City University of New York, New York, NY
Abstract
The Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon continues to pose significant environmental challenges in urban areas, exacerbating heat-related health issues. Building upon the previous work on the urban surface energy budget and land surface temperature (LST), this study presents novel insights into the dynamics of UHI and its impacts on urban environments. Researchers leveraged a combination of remote sensing satellite observations and ground-based measurements, including flux towers, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), infrared cameras, and handheld devices. Advancements were made in downscaling LST data, achieving a 5-minute temporal and 30-meter spatial resolution over New York City (NYC). Furthermore, collaboration with Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) under the DOE Research Development and Partnership Pilot (RDPP) facilitated community field data collection in Manhattan and Brooklyn, engaging local communities in understanding UHI’s health and societal impacts. The team’s recent study extends these efforts by analyzing the relationship between air and surface temperatures in urban settings from 2002 to 2022. Data were sourced from Automated Surface Observing Systems (ASOS), the New York Urban Hydro-Meteorological Testbed (NY-uHMT), and high school student collections. Analysis of 227 ASOS stations worldwide revealed discrepancies between air and surface temperatures, particularly notable in urban areas during summer. Field campaigns conducted in the summer of 2023 yielded crucial data, underscoring the heterogeneity of land-surface temperatures at a microscale level, a detail not captured by satellite data such as NASA’s MODIS. The results demonstrated a weaker correlation between air and surface temperatures in urban settings, emphasizing the complex nature of UHI. The findings highlight the critical need for urban land-cover mitigation strategies, such as green infrastructure and reflective roofing, to combat the effects of extreme heat waves. This research contributes significantly to the understanding of UHI dynamics, providing a foundation for future urban planning and public health initiatives.