Open AccessSpatial air temperature variations and urban land use — a statistical approach
Author(s) -
Eliasson I,
Svensson M K
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
meteorological applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1469-8080
pISSN - 1350-4827
DOI - 10.1017/s1350482703002056
Subject(s) - environmental science , meteorology , physical geography , climatology , geography , geology
Abstract Using a statistical approach this paper focuses on an analysis of spatial air temperature variations and their relation to urban land use. The work is based on data collected during an 18‐month period at 30 sites in Göteborg, Sweden. Measurements show intra‐urban air temperature differences of up to 9 ° C in the urban district, and the main purpose of this study is to determine if these variations are statistically significant. A stepwise multiple regression analysis confirmed that surface cover is important for governing air temperature differences in the area. Information on land use and surface cover was gathered from a continuously updated land use database, the Master Plan of Göteborg, and a separate site description analysis. The site description analysis includes a test of three methods using aerial or fish‐eye photos for characterisation of surface cover in the urban district. The results show statistically significant temperature variations between different land use/land cover categories on a diurnal basis and for all weather conditions. The importance of the results for urban planning application is discussed. Copyright © 2003 Royal Meteorological Society