The structure of the urban heat island of Detroit, Michigan

It has been established that sizeable urban regions typically have elevated surface temperatures, oft referred to as an Urban Heat Island. The thermal structure of each urban center is likely different, because of the variation in natural or built environments and differences in regional climates. It is our objective to discover the thermal structure, and its driving mechanisms, in the greater Detroit metropolitan area.

We will use a high-density network of surface observing stations during the 2009 summer. We will deploy a network of observing stations to establish the relationships between several already established observing networks in our region of interest. Using this as validation, we will use multiple networks, simultaneously observing, to establish the higher density monitoring needed. We will then describe the variability of temperature of the urban landscape during the hottest days.

This thermal structure is driven by mechanisms such as built environment and lake breezes. Using our knowledge of when and how specific driving mechanisms affect surface temperatures, along with satellite, radar and wind observations, we can discover if indeed our mechanisms are causing locals to be cooler or warmer during day or nighttime extremes in temperature. This, in turn, brings valuable knowledge to public health officials enacting mitigation strategies during heat events.