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A diagnostic equation for the daily maximum urban heat island effect for cities in northwestern Europe
Author(s) -
Theeuwes Natalie E.,
Steeneveld GertJan,
Ronda Reinder J.,
Holtslag Albert A. M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
international journal of climatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.58
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-0088
pISSN - 0899-8418
DOI - 10.1002/joc.4717
Subject(s) - urban heat island , environmental science , climatology , structural equation modeling , canyon , street canyon , meteorology , urban climate , urban area , geography , urban planning , geology , mathematics , statistics , cartography , ecology , economy , economics , biology
The urban heat island (UHI) effect, defined as the air temperature difference between the urban canyon and the nearby rural area, is investigated. Because not all cities around the world are equipped with an extensive measurement network, a need exists for a relatively straightforward equation for the UHI effect. Here, we derive a simple, diagnostic equation for the UHI using dimensional analysis. This equation provides a first‐order estimation of the daily maximum UHI based on routine meteorological observations and straightforward urban morphological properties. The equation is tested for 14 cities across northwestern Europe and appears to be robust. The comprehensiveness of this analytical equation allows for applications beyond urban meteorological studies.