Publications

Monteiro, FF; Goncalves, WA; Andrade, LDB; Villavicencio, LMM; Silva, CMD (2021). Assessment of Urban Heat Islands in Brazil based on MODIS remote sensing data. URBAN CLIMATE, 35, 100726.

Abstract
Estimates indicate that by 2050, 70% of the world's population will live in urban areas, expanding the total built-up space and density of those areas. The urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon causes increased temperatures in urban areas compared to outlying regions. It is considered one of the main anthropogenic climate modifications and is directly linked to land-use patterns. The objective of this study was to analyze the presence of the UHI effect, diurnal and nocturnal, in the dry season in 21 Brazilian metropolitan areas from 2000 to 2016. Surface temperature, mean albedo, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values generated by the MODIS sensor (Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) were used. The results obtained showed substantial differences between diurnal and nocturnal UHI effects. Manaus, Porto Alegre, Belem, and Recife presented the highest values of diurnal UHI, whereas Curitiba, Brasilia, Sao Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro showed higher heat island effects at night. The results are an alert to policymakers of the need to rethink land occupation regulations and also give support to actions to mitigate the phenomenon.

DOI:
10.1016/j.uclim.2020.100726

ISSN:
2212-0955