Urban boundary and canopy layer urban heat islands (UHIs) result from the interactions of radiative energy and moisture flux balances, atmospheric pollutants, and individual structures and canyons associated with complex urban land cover/use patterns. UHIs are related to anthropogenic heat production, canyon geometry, building materials, and urban green areas. Such green areas produce the urban oasis effect, which mitigates the polluted thermal dome over urbanized areas. Classification maps for rooftops and treecover in downtown Sacramento were derived from 3-meter scan-digitized color infrared aerial photography. Surface temperature maps for the same location were derived from 10-meter Atlas thermal imagery. Compared to the maps derived from ground data, these maps are detailed, suitable for microclimate studies. Clearly, remotely-sensed imagery provides the synoptic view appropriate for monitoring changes in land cover/use patterns and thermal properties in an urban environment.