Is the Urban Heat Island intensity relevant for heat mitigation studies?

Abstract

The Urban Heat Island concept is often used to describe ‘excess’ heat associated with urban areas, and is therefore frequently considered to be a negative phenomenon that requires mitigation. In this short communication we use clear examples to show that this is not necessarily true. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the Urban Heat Island intensity has little relevance for urban heat mitigation, and suggest the term “urban heat mitigation” to more accurately describe strategies aimed at cooling cities. We conclude with the research questions that, in our view, should guide future studies in the fields of urban thermal climate and heat mitigation. These questions are primarily rooted in the assessment of differences of climate responses between built Local Climate Zones in different climatic and geographical contexts.