Connecting Changes in the Local Urban Fabric to Intra-Urban Summer Heat

New, more detailed, and more accurate remotely sensed data provides a foundation for a better understanding of the impacts of urban development on its local environment and inhabitants. In this research, we use Landsat- and MODIS-derived surface temperature, surface attribute, and categorical land cover data to investigate the relationship between the changing urban fabric and temperature-related threats to urban populations in the Washington, D.C.-Baltimore region. We develop a consistent, reliable annual summer heat metric and use it to identify land cover changes and development types associated with the most significant intra-urban heat islands. We then harmonize remotely sensed data with socioeconomic variables from the U.S. Census in support of the derivation of a novel urban heat vulnerability index. We find that remotely sensed data can successfully model urban populations’ exposure, vulnerability, and adaptability to worsening intra-urban summer temperatures. We also identify future directions and issues to be addressed when using remotely sensed surface temperature data for land cover and urban heat research.