Application of satellite images analysis to assess the variability of the surface thermal heat island distribution in urban areas

Abstract

Abstract.One of the elements of the urban plans for adapting to climate change is to identify the range the urban heat island (UHI). To a relatively rare ground station network air temperature, one of the possible methods to identify this phenomenon in cities is the analysis of satellite images, and in particular the thermal images surface cities in conjunction with the landuse structure. In the publication is presented the application of indirect methods of determining surface characteristics of heat island in the cities of Upper Silesia Agglomeration on the basis of the analysis of the thermal images from the satellite Landsat for the period 1986-2016. It presents ways to interpret these images depending on the needs of determination the areas sensitive to the impact of the (UHI) and define the areas where adaptation actions to the climate change should be undertaken.

The localization of urban heat island in the Katowice conurbation (Poland) using the combination of land surface temperature, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Normalized Difference Built-up Index

“…Such rising maximal temperatures can be related to global climate or land-use changes. The climate change in Katowice conurbation is characterized by increases of daily average and maximum temperatures, numbers of days with temperatures > 30°C, numbers and lengths of yearly heatwaves and numbers of days with temperature > 25°C without rain and extreme rains events resulting flash flood (Kuchcik, 2017;Fudała et al, 2018;Cenowski et al, 2019). In Poland, over 80% of nights are characterized by surplus heat in towns, amounting to 2-4°C, and sporadically to 8°C and more (Kłysik & Fortuniak, 1999).…”