Observational Constraints on the Spatial Effect of Greenness and Canopy Cover on Urban Heat in a Major Midlatitude City

Abstract Urban heat stress is a critical issue, particularly in cities where dense infrastructure and limited green space exacerbate temperature extremes. This study investigates the impact of greenery (EVI2), canopy cover (CC), impervious cover (IC), and water bodies on heat index in Chicago using...

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Main Authors: Jangho Lee, Max Berkelhammer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-11-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL110847
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author Jangho Lee
Max Berkelhammer
author_facet Jangho Lee
Max Berkelhammer
author_sort Jangho Lee
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Urban heat stress is a critical issue, particularly in cities where dense infrastructure and limited green space exacerbate temperature extremes. This study investigates the impact of greenery (EVI2), canopy cover (CC), impervious cover (IC), and water bodies on heat index in Chicago using high‐resolution data from the Heat Watch campaign. We find that EVI2, CC and proximity to water body significantly reduce heat while IC increases heat, particularly in the afternoon when solar radiation is intense. Additionally, the effective radius that land cover impacts heat is smaller in the afternoon. The combined effect analysis indicates that enhancing total greenness, not just canopy cover, is the most effective strategy to reduce heat. This study underscores the importance of strategic vegetation management, highlighting the critical role of integrated approaches in reducing urban heat.
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spelling doaj-art-48fb98461fcd4e05916ec2cdc7c03bf62025-08-20T03:02:07ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072024-11-015121n/an/a10.1029/2024GL110847Observational Constraints on the Spatial Effect of Greenness and Canopy Cover on Urban Heat in a Major Midlatitude CityJangho Lee0Max Berkelhammer1Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Illinois Chicago Chicago IL USAEarth and Environmental Sciences University of Illinois Chicago Chicago IL USAAbstract Urban heat stress is a critical issue, particularly in cities where dense infrastructure and limited green space exacerbate temperature extremes. This study investigates the impact of greenery (EVI2), canopy cover (CC), impervious cover (IC), and water bodies on heat index in Chicago using high‐resolution data from the Heat Watch campaign. We find that EVI2, CC and proximity to water body significantly reduce heat while IC increases heat, particularly in the afternoon when solar radiation is intense. Additionally, the effective radius that land cover impacts heat is smaller in the afternoon. The combined effect analysis indicates that enhancing total greenness, not just canopy cover, is the most effective strategy to reduce heat. This study underscores the importance of strategic vegetation management, highlighting the critical role of integrated approaches in reducing urban heat.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL110847urban climateremote sensingair temperatureurban heat islandcanopyvegetation
spellingShingle Jangho Lee
Max Berkelhammer
Observational Constraints on the Spatial Effect of Greenness and Canopy Cover on Urban Heat in a Major Midlatitude City
Geophysical Research Letters
urban climate
remote sensing
air temperature
urban heat island
canopy
vegetation
title Observational Constraints on the Spatial Effect of Greenness and Canopy Cover on Urban Heat in a Major Midlatitude City
title_full Observational Constraints on the Spatial Effect of Greenness and Canopy Cover on Urban Heat in a Major Midlatitude City
title_fullStr Observational Constraints on the Spatial Effect of Greenness and Canopy Cover on Urban Heat in a Major Midlatitude City
title_full_unstemmed Observational Constraints on the Spatial Effect of Greenness and Canopy Cover on Urban Heat in a Major Midlatitude City
title_short Observational Constraints on the Spatial Effect of Greenness and Canopy Cover on Urban Heat in a Major Midlatitude City
title_sort observational constraints on the spatial effect of greenness and canopy cover on urban heat in a major midlatitude city
topic urban climate
remote sensing
air temperature
urban heat island
canopy
vegetation
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL110847
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