Sub-neighborhood-scale Variability in Urban Heat: A Case Study from Charlotte, North Carolina

Sub-hourly observations from two surface weather stations deployed within 600 m of one another in the same urban Charlotte (NC) neighborhood during the 2024 warm season (April - September) are used to compare differences in air temperature, humidity, and heat index between a sunny residential yard and a shady residential yard. Both weather stations utilized fan-aspirated radiation/precipitation shields and underwent pre- and post-deployment buddy checks to remove any inter-station biases. During the daytime, temperatures were often 3-5 C warmer in the sunny yard (especially in the morning when wind speeds were minimal). At night, temperatures were often warmer 1-2 C warmer in the shady yard (especially when wind speeds were minimal). As wind speeds increased, temperature differences became negligible. Such results highlight significant diurnal variability in urban heat on the intra-neighborhood scale. An overview of how such variability can impact estimates of urban heat island intensity, along with the potential impacts on human health in underserved communities will be presented at the conference.