Spatial variability and intensity frequency of surface heat island in a Brazilian city with continental tropical climate through remote sensing

Abstract

Tropical cities located in inland Brazil typically have high temperatures that are extremely uncomfortable and detrimental to their population's health. This article analyzes the spatial variability of target temperatures, aiming to ameliorate territorial urban planning. It does so by: studying the relationship between surface characteristics (land use and occupation) in a continental tropical climate city, during rainy and dry periods; and by quantifying the occurrence frequency of surface heat islands intensity in areas located within both the intra-urban and rural environment. We analyzed Presidente Prudente, a middle-sized city with approximately 223,749 inhabitants (IBGE, 2016), located at the western portion of the São Paulo state, in Brazil. The adopted procedure used 24 clear-sky images from satellite Landsat 8, band 10 - taken between February 2013 and January 2016. Results show that the surface urban heat islands are not constantly intense throughout the year, with the highest magnitudes recorded during the rainy season. The frequency of heat island intensity, at specific image points, is tied to construction density, building materials and vegetation cover ratios. These results are important to devise measures that mitigate heat trapping and surface heat islands formation.