Analyses of the Formation of Urban Heat Island from Air and Surface Temperature in a LCZ of Presidente Prudente (SP)

• Grant number: 24/10061-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: August 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Physical Geography
• Principal Investigator: Danielle Cardozo Frasca Teixeira
• Grantee: Igor Vinícius Barbosa Duchini
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In the last decades, cities have shown considerable populational growth, wherein in most countries the city dwellers surpass the country dwellers by a broad margin. In addition, climate change due to anthropic action has been continually more intense and clearer, be that with analysis of quantitative data, be it from direct impacts in societies. Thus, the urban climate is an important object of study for environmental and social sciences. In this regard, it is necessary to comprehend a very pertinent and pervasive phenomenon that is typical of the contemporary city, the formation of Urban Heat Islands. There are many methodologies adopted for studying and comprehending the phenomenon, of which that proposed by Oke et al. (2017) is one of the most complete and relevant. The authors propose an analysis of the urban atmosphere based on different layers, which conditionate and are conditioned by different climatic and urban aspects. Therefore, it is proposed a study of the city of Presidente Prudente (SP) aiming for a multilevel study, that is, considering the temperatures in the lower urban atmosphere in two different altitudes and the superficial layer, both within a "Local Climate Zone", that shows similar urban characteristics. Moreover, the urban climate is understood as a system, corroborating the proposal made by Monteiro (2009), who highlights the "Urban Climate System" as a starting point for comprehending the urban dynamics concerning the local climate. The proposed project, hence, aims to apply these two urban climate analysis methodologies, to better understand the formation and features of urban heat islands in a medium-sized city in a tropical environment.