Abstract
In this work, the trend of the Urban Heat Island (UHI) of Rome is analyzed by both ground-based weather stations and a satellite-based infrared sensor. First, we have developed a suitable algorithm employing satellite brightness temperatures for the estimation of the air temperature belonging to the layer of air closest to the surface. UHI spatial characteristics have been assessed using air temperatures measured by both weather stations and brightness temperature maps from the Advanced Along Track Scanning Radiometer (AATSR) on board ENVISAT polar-orbiting satellite. In total, 634 daytime and nighttime scenes taken between 2003 and 2006 have been processed. Analysis of the Canopy Layer Heat Island (CLHI) during summer months reveals a mean growth in magnitude of 3–4 K during nighttime and a negative or almost zero CLHI intensity during daytime, confirmed by the weather stations.
Highlights
Since the early 1960s, numerous satellite sensors have been launched into orbit to observe and monitor the Earth and its environment
We have analyzed the Urban Heat Island (UHI) by both weather stations and satellite remote sensing, but with satellite maps targeted to the estimation of the air temperature in the canopy layer
The temperature measurements in the urban area were recorded by seven weather stations all situated in or near to the center of Rome, whereas the temperature measurements for the rural site were retrieved by a weather station named Pratica di Mare (Table 2)
Summary
Since the early 1960s, numerous satellite sensors have been launched into orbit to observe and monitor the Earth and its environment. Streutker [6] studied the UHI by the use of nighttime NOAA (US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)-AVHRR (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) thermal data in order to produce surface temperature maps of the city of Houston for 21 selected dates covering a two year period (1998–1999). He found the surface UHI intensity ranging from 1.06 to 4.25 °C depending on season and weather conditions.
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