European Urban Heat Islands in a Changing Climate

Global temperatures and the percentage of the global population living in cities are both rising. However, climate change may affect cities and megacities differently than rural areas due to the urban heat island (UHI) effect. This project will analyze the diurnal changes in land surface temperature (LST) in European cities and megacities, such as Paris, London, and Rome, compared to the surrounding areas, and the potential effects climate change may have on the long term habitability of these city centers. Analyzing high resolution LST data from the European Polar Satellite—rather than air temperature—along with albedo, vegetation, and other factors that may affect UHI, we can determine localized risks for the city.