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Atmosphere
Special Issues
UHI Analysis and Evaluation with Remote Sensing Data
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UHI Analysis and Evaluation with Remote Sensing Data

A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Climatology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 27 September 2024 | Viewed by 4355

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Francesca Despini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Engineering Enzo Ferrari, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Vivarelli 10, 41125 Modena, Italy
Interests: remote sensing; satellite image processing; satellite image analysis mapping; environment; geographic information system; environmental impact assessment; climate change; spatial analysis; geospatial science
Dr. Sofia Costanzini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Technical Area, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Università 4, 41121 Modena, Italy
Interests: geographic information systems; image analysis; multispectral remote sensing; land cover; exposure analysis; pollutant dispersion models

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The urban heat island (UHI) is an increasingly widespread phenomenon at a global level even in small urban areas. This phenomenon leads to an increasing thermal discomfort of the population in the hottest periods, including increased mortality and morbidity,  particulary among the weakest population such as the elderly and children. Higher temperatures also cause an increase in the energy required for air conditioning production. In this way, urban area emissions increase, and the UHI phenomenon is even more developed, in a circuit that seems to have no end. In the context of global climate change, it is essential to study and analyze the urban heat island phenomenon using innovative tools such as remote sensing, capable of monitoring large urban areas and giving a complete view of the phenomenon. Satellite or aerial images can be used to monitor the surface temperature, to analyze and characterize urban surfaces, and to study the critical “hot” points of the urban areas. These analyses can provide useful tools for urban planners to design actions against the UHI phenomenon.

In this Special Issue, we aim to publish papers that show how remote sensing (especially recent advances with new satellites) can help in the identification and analysis of urban heat islands to provide tools for mitigation and adaptation actions planning. We are interested in both large-scale studies, for example the analysis of the UHI phenomenon in large metropolitan areas, and also local studies, perhaps for small–medium-size urban areas in order to prove the presence of UHI also in this kind of territories.

Dr. Francesca Despini
Dr. Sofia Costanzini
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Atmosphere is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • urban heat island
  • remote sensing
  • urbanization
  • land surface temperature
  • thermal comfort
  • urban planning

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 6750 KiB  
Article
Assessing Satellite Data’s Role in Substituting Ground Measurements for Urban Surfaces Characterization: A Step towards UHI Mitigation
by Davide Parmeggiani, Francesca Despini, Sofia Costanzini, Malvina Silvestri, Federico Rabuffi, Sergio Teggi and Grazia Ghermandi
Atmosphere 2024, 15(5), 551; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15050551 - 29 Apr 2024
Viewed by 245
Abstract
Urban surfaces play a crucial role in shaping the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect by absorbing and retaining significant solar radiation. This paper explores the potential of high-resolution satellite imagery as an alternative method for characterizing urban surfaces to support UHI mitigation strategies [...] Read more.
Urban surfaces play a crucial role in shaping the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect by absorbing and retaining significant solar radiation. This paper explores the potential of high-resolution satellite imagery as an alternative method for characterizing urban surfaces to support UHI mitigation strategies in urban redevelopment plans. We utilized Landsat images spanning the past 40 years to analyze trends in Land Surface Temperature (LST). Additionally, WorldView-3 (WV3) imagery was acquired for surface characterization, and the results were compared with ground truth measurements using the ASD FieldSpec 4 spectroradiometer. Our findings revealed a strong correlation between satellite-derived surface reflectance and ground truth measurements across various urban surfaces, with Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) values ranging from 0.01 to 0.14. Optimal characterization was observed for surfaces such as bituminous membranes and parking with cobblestones (RMSE < 0.03), although higher RMSE values were noted for tiled roofs, likely due to aging effects. Regarding surface albedo, the differences between satellite-derived data and ground measurements consistently remained below 12% for all surfaces, with the lowest values observed in high heat-absorbing surfaces like bituminous membranes. Despite challenges on certain surfaces, our study highlights the reliability of satellite-derived data for urban surface characterization, thus providing valuable support for UHI mitigation efforts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue UHI Analysis and Evaluation with Remote Sensing Data)
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20 pages, 10323 KiB  
Article
Satellite Time-Series Analysis for Thermal Anomaly Detection in the Naples Urban Area, Italy
by Alessia Scalabrini, Massimo Musacchio, Malvina Silvestri, Federico Rabuffi, Maria Fabrizia Buongiorno and Francesco Salvini
Atmosphere 2024, 15(5), 523; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15050523 - 25 Apr 2024
Viewed by 323
Abstract
Naples is the most densely populated Italian city (7744 inhabitants per km2). It is located in a particular geological context: the presence of Mt Vesuvius characterizes the eastern part, and the western part is characterized by the presence of the Phlegrean [...] Read more.
Naples is the most densely populated Italian city (7744 inhabitants per km2). It is located in a particular geological context: the presence of Mt Vesuvius characterizes the eastern part, and the western part is characterized by the presence of the Phlegrean Fields, making Naples a high-geothermal-gradient region. This endogenous heat, combined with the anthropogenic heat due to intense urbanization, has defined Naples as an ideal location for Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI) analysis. SUHI analysis was effectuated by acquiring the Land Surface Temperature (LST) over Naples municipality by processing Landsat 8 (L8) Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) images in the 2013–2023 time series by employing Google Earth Engine (GEE). In GEE, two different approaches have been followed to analyze thermal images, starting from the Statistical Mono Window (SMW) algorithm, which computes the LST based on the brightness temperature (Tb), the emissivity value, and the atmospheric correction coefficients. The first one is used for the LST retrieval from daytime images; here, the emissivity component is derived using, firstly, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and then the Vegetation Cover Method (VCM), defining the Land Surface Emissivity (LSɛ), which considers solar radiation as the main source of energy. The second approach is used for the LST retrieval from nighttime images, where the emissivity is directly estimated from the Advance Spaceborne Thermal Emission Radiometer database (ASTER-GED), as, during nighttime without solar radiation, the main source of energy is the energy emitted by the Earth’s surface. From these two different algorithms, 123 usable daytime and nighttime LST images were downloaded from GEE and analyzed in Quantum GIS (QGIS). The results show that the SUHI is more concentrated in the eastern part, characterized by intense urbanization, as shown by the Corine Land Cover (CLC). At the same time, lower SUHI intensity is detected in the western part, defined by the Land Cover (LC) vegetated class. Also, in the analysis, we highlighted 40 spots (10 hotspots and 10 coldspots, both for daytime and nighttime collection) that present positive or negative temperature peaks for all the time series. Due to the huge amount of data, this work considered only the five representative spots that were most representative for SUHI analysis and determination of thermal anomalies in the urban environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue UHI Analysis and Evaluation with Remote Sensing Data)
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38 pages, 167625 KiB  
Article
Make Way for the Wind—Promoting Urban Wind Corridor Planning by Integrating RS, GIS, and CFD in Urban Planning and Design to Mitigate the Heat Island Effect
by Kang-Li Wu and Liang Shan
Atmosphere 2024, 15(3), 257; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15030257 - 21 Feb 2024
Viewed by 713
Abstract
Under the trend in climate change, global warming, and the increasingly serious urban heat island effect, promoting urban wind corridor planning to reduce urban temperature and mitigate the effect of urban heat islands has received widespread attention in many cities. With emerging awareness [...] Read more.
Under the trend in climate change, global warming, and the increasingly serious urban heat island effect, promoting urban wind corridor planning to reduce urban temperature and mitigate the effect of urban heat islands has received widespread attention in many cities. With emerging awareness of the need to explicitly incorporate climate considerations into urban planning and design, integrating current spatial analysis and simulation tools to enhance urban wind corridor planning to obtain the best urban ventilation effect has become an increasingly important research topic in green city development. However, how to systematically carry out urban wind corridor planning by employing related technology and simulation tools is a topic that needs to be explored urgently in both theory and practice. Taking Zhumadian City in China as an example, this study proposes a method and planning approach that uses remote sensing (RS), geographic information system (GIS), and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in an integrated way to understand urban landscape and to conduct urban wind corridor planning. The research results reveal that the urban form of Zhumadian City favors the development of urban wind corridors, and that the railway lines and some major roads in the city have the potential to be developed as the city’s main wind corridors. However, there are still ventilation barriers resulting from the existing land use model and building layout patterns that need to be adjusted. In terms of local-level analysis, the CFD simulation analysis also reveals that some common building layout patterns may result in environments with poor ventilation. Finally, based on the results of our empirical analysis and local planning environment, specific suggestions are provided on how to develop appropriate strategies for urban wind corridor planning and adjustments related to land use planning and building layout patterns in order to mitigate the impact of the urban heat island effect. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue UHI Analysis and Evaluation with Remote Sensing Data)
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21 pages, 23955 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Impact of Spatiotemporal Land Cover Changes on the Urban Heat Islands in Developing Cities with Landsat Data: A Case Study in Zhanjiang
by Yutian Hu, Hongye Li, Muhammad Amir Siddique and Dongyun Liu
Atmosphere 2023, 14(12), 1716; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14121716 - 22 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1036
Abstract
Land cover changes (LCCs) due to urbanization cause urban heat islands (UHIs), significantly affecting land surface temperature (LST) through spatiotemporal changes in compositions, parameters, and patterns. Land cover and LST have been studied in various cities; however, indicative research into heterogeneous LCC’s impact [...] Read more.
Land cover changes (LCCs) due to urbanization cause urban heat islands (UHIs), significantly affecting land surface temperature (LST) through spatiotemporal changes in compositions, parameters, and patterns. Land cover and LST have been studied in various cities; however, indicative research into heterogeneous LCC’s impact on LST in less-developed cities remains incomplete. This study analyzed new Landsat images of Zhanjiang, taken from 2004 to 2022, to determine the impact of three LCC indicators (compositions, parameters, and patterns) on LSTs. The urban thermal field variance index (UTFVI) was used to describe the distribution and variation in LST. We also quantified the cooling or warming benefits of various LCCs. The results indicate that the average temperature in the land urban heat island (SUHI) area rose to 30.6 °C. The average temperature of the SUHI was 3.32 °C higher than that of the non-SUHI area, showing the characteristic of shifting to counties and multi-core development. The LST increases by 0.37–0.67 °C with an increase of 0.1 in the normalized difference building index (NDBI), which is greater than the cooling benefit of the normalized difference of vegetation index (NDVI). The impact of landscape pattern indices on impervious surfaces and water is higher than that on vegetation and cropland, with a rising influence on impervious surfaces and a decreasing impact on water. The predominant cooling patches are vegetation and water, while large areas of impervious surface and cropland aggravate UHIs for industrial and agricultural activities. These findings are intended to guide future urban layouts and planning in less-developed cities, with thermal climate mitigation as a guiding principle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue UHI Analysis and Evaluation with Remote Sensing Data)
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Review

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20 pages, 6180 KiB  
Review
Spatiotemporal Patterns of the Application of Surface Urban Heat Island Intensity Calculation Methods
by Jiyuan Zhang, Lili Tu and Biao Shi
Atmosphere 2023, 14(10), 1580; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14101580 - 19 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1098
Abstract
Using the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Web of Science (WoS) databases, 487 articles that used remote sensing methods to study the intensity of surface urban heat islands (SUHIs) over the past 20 years were obtained using keyword searches. A multidimensional analysis [...] Read more.
Using the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Web of Science (WoS) databases, 487 articles that used remote sensing methods to study the intensity of surface urban heat islands (SUHIs) over the past 20 years were obtained using keyword searches. A multidimensional analysis was conducted on these articles from the perspectives of the research methods used, spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of the research area, research development trends, and main challenges. The research found that (1) the growth trend of the various SUHI research methods over the years was similar to the overall trend in the number of publications, which has rapidly increased since 2009. (2) Among the SUHI research methods, temperature dichotomy is the most widely used worldwide; however, defining urban and rural areas is a main challenge. The Gaussian surface and local climate zoning methods have gradually emerged in recent years; however, owing to the limitations of the different urban development levels and scales, these methods require further improvement. (3) There are certain differences in the application of SUHI research methods between China and other countries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue UHI Analysis and Evaluation with Remote Sensing Data)
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Planned Paper :

Tentative title: Satellite Time Series Analysis for Thermal Anomalies Detection on Naples Urban Area. 
Abstract: Naples is the Italian most densely populated city per square kilometer (8500 inhabitants per km2). It is characterized by three main heat effects, anthropogenic heat due to intense urbanization, endogenous heat due to volcanic activity (at a very local scale), and the mitigation component due to the sea (near the shoreside). In this paper, the relation between these effects is presented, the authors faced Land Surface Temperature estimation over Naples township by processing the Landsat 8 (TIRS) and ASTER 2013 to 2022 time series by means of Google Earth Engine. To analyze the thermal images two different approaches have been followed respectively in the time domain and the spatial domain, with the aim to detect Thermal Anomalies Spots and the UHI intensity.  
Keywords: Urban Heat Island, Land Surface Temperature, Landsat 8 (TIRS), ASTER, Google Earth Engine. 
Authors:  
Alessia Scalabrini ([email protected] / [email protected])
Massimo Musacchio ([email protected])
Federico Rabuffi ([email protected])
Malvina Silvestri ([email protected])
Vito Romaniello ([email protected])
Maria Fabrizia Buongiorno ([email protected])

Tentative submitting date: March 1st 2024
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