Abstract
In this work, it is investigated the Urban Heat Island (UHI) using conservative thermodynamic variables observed by surface weather stations on the Metropolitan Area of Porto (Oporto) in Portugal, under adiabatic conditions at the surface. These conditions are usually present and associated with the development of a mixture layer into the diurnal Convective Boundary Layer (CBL), which residual layer in the late afternoon defines the initial state for the development of the nocturnal UHI. Both the spatial structure and temporal variation of potential temperature and specific humidity were considered, along the hours and days of the year, from a statistical point of view, resulting in hourly climatology. Details of the hourly evolution of the meteorological variables on the Oporto surface are presented and discussed. Results show a seasonal variation of the potential temperature up to 17°C throughout the year, which is associated with horizontal thermal gradients that can control and trigger mesoscale circulations such as sea-land, urban and valley-mountain breezes.
Highlights
The total population of the world increased substantially in the last few decades [1]
The LPPR automatic weather stations (AWS) was used as a reference station because it presents the most complete dataset
The main features of the Oporto Urban Heat Island were characterized by the potential temperature and relative humidity that have been analyzed between 1996 and 2009
Summary
The total population of the world increased substantially in the last few decades [1]. The urban population of Europe corresponds to 72% or about 18% of the world’s urban population. The urban population dwelling will be more dependent on job opportunities, services, infrastructure, and mobility, in a scenario of climatic change
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