A diagnostic equation for the daily maximum urban heat island effect for cities in northwestern Europe

N.E. Theeuwes*, G.J. Steeneveld, R.J. Ronda, A.A.M. Holtslag

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

88 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The urban heat island (UHI) effect, defined as the air temperature difference between the urban canyon and the nearby rural area, is investigated. Because not all cities around the world are equipped with an extensive measurement network, a need exists for a relatively straightforward equation for the UHI effect. Here, we derive a simple, diagnostic equation for the UHI using dimensional analysis. This equation provides a first-order estimation of the daily maximum UHI based on routine meteorological observations and straightforward urban morphological properties. The equation is tested for 14 cities across northwestern Europe and appears to be robust. The comprehensiveness of this analytical equation allows for applications beyond urban meteorological studies.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)443-454
JournalInternational Journal of Climatology
Volume37
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017

Keywords

  • Buckingham-220F
  • dimensional analysis
  • meteorological observations
  • urban climate
  • urban heat island
  • Western Europe

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