New method for calculating Urban Heat Island intensity

The urban heat island effect describes how the spatial configuration of cities, the materials in them (such as asphalt), lack of vegetation and waste heat can modify temperature. A new study from reseachers in the department of geography using a new method for calculating urban heat island intensities clarifies the conflict on whether urban density or sprawl amplify these effects more:

It also provides a ranking of the top urban heat island cities among the 50 largest metropolitan statistical areas.

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The study, published in the journal Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, identifies Salt Lake City, Miami and Louisville as the top three urban heat island cities in the U.S.

Urban morphology—the patterns of a city's physical configuration and the process of its development—has long been associated with the formation of urban heat islands. By examining the UHI intensities of 50 cities with various urban morphologies, the researchers evaluated the degree to which city configuration influences the UHI effect.

We have been on the path to a better understanding of urban geography, development and design for a long time now. This research adds significantly to that body of knowledge, in service of better living in greater harmony with the natural environment - even in dense urban settings. Hope springs eternal. Great work from Debbage and Shepherd.