Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #urbanheat, aggregated by home.social.
OnlineFirst - "Ambivalent heat: Summer, climate emotions and the lived experience of extreme heat in Rio de Janeiro" by Antonella Mazzone:
#ClimateEmotions #ExtremeHeat #UrbanHeat #FeministPoliticalEcology #Rio #Brazil #Carnival #ClimateJustice #GeographyOfHeat
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/25148486261491606
Will building more homes to solve the housing crisis cost us our trees?
As we build more homes to tackle the housing crisis some worry trees will become collateral damage. But…
#Australia #AU #Austrlia #canopycoverage #Climatechange #heatisland #localcounciltreedisputes #savebanyule'strees #treecanopy #treedisputes #trees #urbanheat #UrbanPlanning #urbantrees
https://www.europesays.com/australia/95147/
Will building more homes to solve the housing crisis cost us our trees?
As we build more homes to tackle the housing crisis some worry trees will become collateral damage. But…
#NewsBeep #News #Environment #canopycoverage #ClimateChange #environment #heatisland #localcounciltreedisputes #savebanyule'strees #Science #treecanopy #treedisputes #trees #UK #UnitedKingdom #urbanheat #UrbanPlanning #urbantrees
https://www.newsbeep.com/uk/768967/
Will building more homes to solve the housing crisis cost us our trees?
As we build more homes to tackle the housing crisis some worry trees will become collateral damage. But…
#NewsBeep #News #Environment #CA #Canada #canopycoverage #climatechange #heatisland #localcounciltreedisputes #savebanyule'strees #Science #treecanopy #treedisputes #Trees #urbanheat #UrbanPlanning #urbantrees
https://www.newsbeep.com/ca/893679/
Will building more homes to solve the housing crisis cost us our trees?
As we build more homes to tackle the housing crisis some worry trees will become collateral damage. But…
#NewsBeep #News #Environment #AU #Australia #canopycoverage #Climatechange #heatisland #localcounciltreedisputes #savebanyule'strees #Science #treecanopy #treedisputes #Trees #urbanheat #UrbanPlanning #urbantrees
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/889911/
https://www.europesays.com/uk/1201001/ Will building more homes to solve the housing crisis cost us our trees? #CanopyCoverage #ClimateChange #Environment #HeatIsland #LocalCouncilTreeDisputes #SaveBanyule'sTrees #Science #TreeCanopy #TreeDisputes #Trees #UK #UnitedKingdom #UrbanHeat #UrbanPlanning #UrbanTrees
Cities In Great Britain Most Vulnerable To Extreme Heat Revealed
(OS index examines which ‘urban heat islands’ suffer the most – and which cope the best with rising temperatures)
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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/sep/08/cities-great-britain-most-vulnerable-extreme-heat-revealed <-- shared media article
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https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/news/new-urban-heat-islands-analysis <-- shared technical article, OS Heat Vulnerability Index
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H/T @joe Clarkson | Campaign Manager - Diffusion PR
“[The H/T] work[ed] … closely with Ordnance Survey (OS) on new research into which of Britain's cities are most vulnerable to retaining extreme heat, and how that vulnerability shifts between now and the turn of the century as record temperatures continue to climb…
The newly commissioned OS Heat Vulnerability Index scored 71 cities across Britain using #4EI satellite temperature readings, @Met Office climate modelling projections from 2040 to 2100, and Ordnance Survey data on the makeup of natural and made environments in our cities. Put together, it measures how global warming will impact future heat vulnerability, and how urban heat islands form; a process in which hard surfaces absorb solar radiation through the day to keep centres warm overnight, while rural environments cool.
Anyone who has been unfortunate enough to stand on a Tube platform or walk through central London this summer, or tried to sleep through a heatwave in a flat that hasn't cooled in months already knows what retained heat feels like. But it's more than an uncomfortable feeling. Extreme heat is claiming an increasing number of lives each year, and location-based intelligence like this is essential to support decisions on how we effectively mitigate and protect against climate change to save lives and protect critical infrastructure.
What this analysis does is put a number on extreme heat, and shows where it's heading. As Britain's climate continues to warm, the capacity of our cities to cool themselves naturally will only matter more…”
#ClimateChange #Heat #UrbanHeat #Heatwave #Climate #Warming #Infrastructure #London #Portsmouth #Resilience #OrdnanceSurvey #Geospatial #Data #extremeweather #extremeweather #publichealth #publicsafety #deaths #UK #GreatBritain #OS #HeatVulnerabilityIndex #vulnerability #spatialanalysis #mapping #model #modeling #analysis #spatiotemporal #climate #climatemodeling #spatial #mapping #remotesensing #earthobservation #solarradiation #natural #manmade #retainedheat #mitigation #planning #policy #infrastructure #concrete #asphalt #buildings #hardsurfaces #globalwarming #urbanheatislands #cities #urban
@Ordnance Survey
How does heat exposure in your neighborhood compare with other parts of NYC?
The NYC Urban Heat Portal gives you an interactive way to explore heat patterns and neighborhood conditions across the five boroughs.
Take a look: https://urbanheat.nyc/
83% of Britain’s cities highly vulnerable to urban heat, says OS data
Fifty-nine cities in Britain (83%) are highly vulnerable to urban heat, according to analysis from Ordnance Survey (OS),…
#EuropeSays #Britain #Europe #EU #4EarthIntelligence #climate #HEAT #heatvulnerability #MetOffice #OrdnanceSurvey #OS #urbanheat #urbanheatisland
https://www.europesays.com/britain/119973/
https://www.europesays.com/britain/119973/ 83% of Britain’s cities highly vulnerable to urban heat, says OS data #4EarthIntelligence #Britain #climate #HEAT #HeatVulnerability #MetOffice #OrdnanceSurvey #OS #UrbanHeat #UrbanHeatIsland
How Much Can Urban Trees Reduce Extreme Heat?
A three-year Guildford study found a woodland site markedly cooler during extreme heat. Its single-site comparisons also show why local context matters.https://ferdiox.com/blog/2026/09/06/how-much-can-urban-trees-reduce-extreme-heat/
Texas landscaping professional says urban heat isn’t why native trees fail, and San Antonio proves it https://www.allforgardening.com/1934381/texas-landscaping-professional-says-urban-heat-isnt-why-native-trees-fail-and-san-antonio-proves-it/ #GardeningTexas #NativePlants #SanAntonio #texas #UrbanHeat #UrbanHeatIslands #UrbanLandscapes
The Natural Defence That Could Help Cities Beat Extreme Heat https://www.byteseu.com/2306308/ #AllJournalNews #Climate #ClimateChange #ClimateScience #EnvironmentalHealth #EnvironmentalScience #ExtremeHeat #GlobalWarming #nature #Nature(journal) #Newswise #NewswiseReview #UrbanHeat;greenInfrastructure;climateAdaptation;temperatureMonitoring;heatwaveConditions;EnvironmentalResearch;UrbanDesign
Data centers raise nearby temperatures by up to 4 degrees in Phoenix
Comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49349147
#HackerNews #datacenters #urbanheat #climatechange #sustainability #Phoenix
https://www.europesays.com/africa/380053/ Morocco: Morocco swapped scorching black asphalt for porous “sponge” pavement; the experimental surface ran up to 16°F cooler, offering cities a surprising new way to beat urban heat #BlackAsphalt #HeatIsland #marrakech #MarrakechSustainableCity #Morocco #PermeablePavement #SpongePavement #SustainableCities #UrbanHeat #UrbanInfrastructure
Post to blog : Smartphonography Club :
Echoes of the Heat
#Xiaomi #Xiaomi15TPro #smartphonography #photography #streetphotography #Tokyo #Japan #Tokyomaxxing #TokyoSummer #ShinjukuVibes #ShadeAndLight #SummerInTheCity #UrbanHeat #ParasolLife
Rooftop rainwater harvesting: Tokyo used rooftop rainwater and AI-powered spraying to fight extreme urban heat; study finds potential to cool buildings and cut air-conditioning demand and reducing the intensity of heat waves
Rooftop rainwater harvesting: Tokyo’s rooftops could offer a new way to deal with extreme heat: collecting rainwater and…
#EuropeSays #Japan #JP #Tokyo #AIinurbanplanning #airconditioningdemand #coolingbuildings #rainwaterharvesting #urbanheat
https://www.europesays.com/japan/71955/
Enhancements To The USGS Landsat Level 2 Surface Temperature And Emissivity Product For Collection3 Reprocessing
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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2026.115563 <-- shared paper
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H/T @terry Sohl | USGS EROS Science Branch Chief
“HIGHLIGHTS:
• C3 advances Landsat TIR atmospheric correction, emissivity correction, and uncertainty estimates.
• C3 enables global surface temperature products, including polar regions.
• C3 retrievals improve accuracy and consistency across validation sites.
• Split window and single channel methods diverge at extreme temperature conditions.
• C3 and Landsat 10 support multi-decadal climate monitoring.
ABSTRACT: The Landsat program provides the longest continuous global record of thermal infrared observations of the Earth's surface, underpinning critical applications in climate monitoring, water resources, ecosystem dynamics, urban heat analysis, and natural hazard assessment. The release of a global inventory of Landsat Collection 2 Level 2 surface temperature products by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) marked a major milestone in operational provision of Landsat thermal infrared analysis-ready data. Ongoing validations and community uses of Collection 2 have identified opportunities to further improve accuracy, uncertainty characterization, and emissivity correction across diverse atmospheric and surface conditions. In preparation for the planned Landsat Collection 3 reprocessing of the Landsat data record in the late 2020s, the USGS is implementing a coordinated set of enhancements to the Level 2 surface temperature products. These include revised emissivity estimation that leverages external datasets, improved atmospheric characterization and uncertainty propagation, expanded dynamic range for high temperature targets, consideration of split window atmospheric correction algorithm for Landsat 8 and 9, and decoupling of thermal infrared processing from visible to shortwave infrared constraints to enable surface temperature retrievals under low or no solar illumination conditions. These changes are designed to improve product quality and consistency across the Landsat record. Beyond near-term performance gains, the Collection 3 design establishes a scalable processing architecture to accommodate the expanded spectral and radiometric measurement capabilities of the forthcoming Landsat 10 mission. By preserving continuity across the Landsat 4–9 record while enabling future algorithm evolution, Landsat Collection 3 will provide a foundation for long-term, multi-decadal Earth system thermal infrared observations…”
#GIS #spatial #mapping #satellite #remotesening #earthobservation #Landsat #thermalinfrared #TIR #surface #temperature #emissivity #thermal #infrared #analysisreadydata #Collection2 #Collection3 #opendata #atmosphericcorrection #global #climate #monitoring #waterresources #ecosystems #dynamics #urbanheat #spatialanalysis #spatiotemporal #naturalhazards #updates #EROS #USGS
@USGS EROS | @USGS
I keep noticing recently planted trees in public space that are *not* placed to shade people on the path or sidewalk. . . All trees in cities are good, but trees that shade people are *a lot* better. #urbanheat #yyj
Almost every city in the world needs to urgently understand the need to get really good at planning and designing for shade. #UrbanHeat
RE: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:fsnms3qy4wqzjg2s7ykpryhq/post/3ms5aws7pik2o
📈 Imperviousness vs. Temperature: Calgary's Primary Thermodynamic Trend
Mapping 313 Calgary communities reveals a linear relationship between % impervious surface area (Random Forest model on Summer 2025 Sentinel-1/2 & Landsat 8/9) and Land Surface Temperature (LST).
📊 Key Data Points:
• Cool Pole (<28°C, 0–15% impervious): Glenmore Park, Fish Creek (water & mature canopy).
• Hot Pole (37–40°C, 85–95% impervious): Industrial (Franklin, Foothills) & residential (Marlborough, Rundle).
• Thermal Slope: Every +10% impervious cover adds +1.2°C to +1.5°C to LST.
🔬 Variance Drivers:
Material albedo, building geometry (shading), topography, and canopy vs. lawn structure.
💡 Takeaway:
Impervious cover is the dominant microclimate driver. Urban planning—road width, building footprint, and canopy retention—is direct thermodynamic engineering.
#Calgary #YYC #GIS #RemoteSensing #RStats #DataScience #UrbanHeat #CityPlanning #Microclimate #GreennessOfCalgary
📉 Comparing the Solid-to-Tree Ratio with the Land Surface Temperature (LST) data obtained in the previous phase of the study allows for a visual assessment of the relationship between surface sealing and summer surface heating across Calgary’s residential communities.
🔥 The plot reveals a strong pattern for the vast majority of communities: a sharp increase in temperature occurs within the ratio range of 0 to 5. The Downtown Commercial Core stands out as a distinct outlier, where low LST values are driven by deep geometric shading from high-rise buildings. Additionally, neighborhoods such as Manchester, Seton, Redstone, Beltline, and Rangeview, among a few others, slightly diverge from the main trend.
📊 Full methodology and additional charts via the link:👇
https://www.datastory.org.ua/calgarys-microclimatic-anatomy-what-lies-beneath-the-citys-green-appearance/
#Calgary #OpenData #UrbanHeat #DataScience #ClimateResilience #YYC #Geoscience #CityPlanning #RemoteSensing #RStats #MachineLearning #GreennessOfCalgary
Extreme heat does not affect every NYC neighborhood equally.
The NYC Urban Heat Portal lets you compare heat exposure, air temperature, surface temperature, tree canopy, cool roofs, and other conditions across the five boroughs.
Explore the interactive map and learn more about your neighborhood: https://urbanheat.nyc
🌳 Is Calgary actually as green as it looks?
While open lawns (28.6% citywide) give Calgary a visual "green appearance", dry summer conditions quickly strip unirrigated grass of its cooling capacity. Meanwhile, true cooling infrastructure — dense and sparse tree canopy — accounts for only ~17%.
To quantify structural heat risks, I introduced the Solid-to-Tree Ratio index across 193 residential communities:
🔹 Critical Deficit: Downtown Core (56.2) and Beltline (24.6), where hard surfaces outnumber tree canopy by tens of times.
🔹 Suburban Pressure: New communities like Redstone (23.8) and Seton (20.8) feature high-density lots with minimal mature shade.
🔹 Ecological Buffers: River valley communities like Discovery Ridge (0.5) and Wildwood (0.6), where canopy exceeds concrete.
👇 Link to the full study and interactive dataset:
https://www.datastory.org.ua/calgarys-microclimatic-anatomy-what-lies-beneath-the-citys-green-appearance/
#Calgary #YYC #DataScience #GIS #RStats #RemoteSensing #UrbanHeat #DataViz #SpatialAnalysis #MachineLearning #GreennessOfCalgary #FOSSGIS #Alberta #Canada
🌳 Quantifying Calgary’s Microclimatic Imbalance: The Solid-to-Tree Ratio
To evaluate the structural heat load across Calgary's communities, I calculated the ratio of high-thermal artificial surfaces to cooling tree canopy: Solid / (Park + Forest), based on my 2025 satellite land cover model (LULC v6.0).
Why this ratio matters:
🔹 Thermal Stress Indicator: It measures how many square meters of heat-absorbing surfaces (asphalt, concrete, roofs, bare soil) exist for every square meter of tree canopy.
🔹 Spatial Inequality: While mature western neighborhoods maintain ratios between 1.5 and 4, eastern and peripheral zones reach values from 10 to over 50.
🔹 Evidence-Based Planning: It moves the discussion from generic averages to identifying exact spatial boundaries where microclimatic mitigation is most needed.
Note: The map uses a logarithmic scale.
#Calgary #YYC #DataScience #GIS #RStats #RemoteSensing #UrbanHeat #DataViz #SpatialAnalysis #MachineLearning #GreennessOfCalgary #FOSSGIS #Sentinel1 #Sentinel2
📊 Beyond Averages: Spatial Heterogeneity in Calgary (LULC v6.0)
Averages mask reality. To capture ecological stratification across Calgary's residential communities (excl. major parks/building-out and industrial zones), I combined Violin + Box Plots:
🔹 Solid (Impervious): Median ~67% (IQR 55–74%). High-thermal non-vegetated surfaces are a systemic structural feature across nearly all neighborhoods.
🔹 Park vs. Lawn (Canopy vs. Turf): Park median (~20%) doubles Lawn (~10%). A long upper tail (>50%) highlights spatial inequality in tree cover.
🔹 Forest & Water: Near 0% for 95% of communities, but sharp needles (up to 25% forest, 16% water) mark outliers with lakes or remnant woods.
💡 Takeaway: Calgary isn't homogenous—microclimatic comfort heavily depends on geographic boundaries.
Full analysis coming soon: https://www.datastory.org.ua/
#Calgary #YYC #DataScience #GIS #RStats #RemoteSensing #UrbanHeat #DataViz #SpatialAnalysis #MachineLearning #GreennessOfCalgary #FOSSGIS #OpenData #OpenSource #TreeEquity
🔥 It looks like it's time to lock in the current version of the machine learning model (LULC v.6.0). Validation results on an independent test dataset (Confusion Matrix) demonstrate the excellent predictive power of the algorithm:
🔹 Overall Accuracy: 98.29% (95% CI: 98.16% – 98.41%) with a No Information Rate = 60.28% (p-value < 2.2e-16).
🔹 Cohen’s Kappa: 0.9691, confirming high classification reliability even with severe class imbalance.
The model shows a very low error rate for non-vegetated areas (Solid, Balanced Accuracy 99.72%) and water bodies (Water, 99.75%), but expectedly faces challenges at the boundaries between the Lawn (open grass) and Park (sparse trees) classes.
Currently, I am moving on to an advanced analysis of the drivers shaping Urban Heat Islands (UHI) in Calgary and preparing a publication for my website. Stay tuned for updates!
#Calgary #OpenData #UrbanHeat #DataScience #ClimateResilience #YYC #Geoscience #CityPlanning #RemoteSensing #RStats #MachineLearning #GreennessOfCalgary
"Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, heating at twice the global average.”
“Millions of people across the continent are currently ‘living under extreme heat, hundreds have died, schools are shut, grids are buckling.’”
#ClimateCrisis #UrbanHeat
Europe's heatwave 'linked to 1...
"Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, heating at twice the global average.”
“Millions of people across the continent are currently ‘living under extreme heat, hundreds have died, schools are shut, grids are buckling.’”
#ClimateCrisis #UrbanHeat
Europe's heatwave 'linked to 1...
“Climate scientists appalled by politicians' refusal to accept responsibility as heatwave hits France… They say that years of warnings issued from scientists about the consequences of global warming have not been taken seriously.” #France #ClimateCrisis #UrbanHeat
Climate scientists appalled by...
Lists of cooling centers in #Massachusetts are easy to find using a DuckDuckGo search.
Why 1st ‘extreme’ Mass. #HeatWave of 2026 may be extra dangerous — and for who
By Irene Rotondo
Jun. 29, 2026, 4:05 p.m.
"A new heat wave alert for Massachusetts landed Monday, with officials warning of 'dangerously hot conditions' and a #HeatIndex up to 111 degrees.
"An 'extreme heat watch' is in effect for nearly the entire state from Wednesday morning through Saturday evening, according to the National Weather Service. This will vastly increase chances both for heat-related illnesses as well as troublesome weather like thunderstorms, forecasters warn.
"Temperatures could reach up to 99 degrees in Boston on Wednesday during the day, with Worcester’s high at 97 and Springfield at a whopping 100. At night, they will drop just to the mid-70s, then creep back up to a high of 102 degrees on Thursday in Boston and Worcester and 104 in Springfield.
"Friday is expected to again hit 102 degrees in Boston, with nighttime temperatures at 79. On Saturday — the 4th of July holiday — temperatures will be 97 degrees in Boston and Springfield and 95 in Worcester. Forecasters warn there could be chances for thunderstorms across the state in the evening.
Being prepared
"Though temperatures climbed above 90 degrees in Massachusetts on multiple days in May and June, the impending heat wave will be the most hot and humid weather the state has had had since last year.
"The first heat wave of the season is often the worst for people’s health, according to data collected by state officials on heat-related illnesses and hospital visits, as residents’ bodies adjust to the temperature change.
"Additionally, emergency room visits and heat-related illnesses rise when temperatures hit 85 degrees or higher for at least three consecutive days — the threshold the state uses for unhealthy heat alerts.
"Boston officials urge residents to stay hydrated, use air conditioning, limit outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day and check on neighbors. Children and pets cannot be left in vehicles at any time.
"City residents can call 311 or visit the city’s heat website to find one of the 16 cooling centers at the Boston Centers for Youth & Families — locations turned into cooling centers for heat emergencies — public pools and libraries for relief.
A first test for Boston
"A spokesperson for Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s office said on Monday that the city was still 'working through a determination' on its other cooling center locations and hours for the upcoming heatwave.
"The heat wave will also be the first major test of Boston’s new worker heat-protection ordinance, which took effect this year and is believed to be among the first local laws of its kind in the country.
"Under the law, city departments and qualifying contractors performing city work are required to maintain heat illness prevention plans designed to reduce heat-related injuries and deaths — especially those caused by fatigue, dizziness and dehydration.
"Under the ordinance, employers must provide protections including water, shade and rest breaks beginning at 80 degrees, with additional 'high heat' measures required once temperatures reach 90 degrees. Covered employers must also establish emergency response procedures, train workers on heat illness risks and designate a heat safety coordinator.
"The ordinance was passed by the Boston City Council and signed by Mayor #MichelleWu last year as experts projected more frequent and intense heat waves in coming decades. Boston officials previously estimated the number of days above 90 degrees, annually, could increase from a historic average of about 10 to as many as 46 by the 2070s.
Who is most at-risk?
"Those over the age of 65, children and infants are more at risk for severe illness, with children facing unique dangers during the prolonged heat events. Due to children’s smaller body size and reduced ability to sweat, they will heat up more quickly than adults and rely on adults to ensure their safety.
"Consistent periods of time where daytime temperatures exceed 90 degrees and nighttime temperatures remain above 78 degrees are considered 'extreme heat' for young children, the impacts of which can be long-lasting.
"People with chronic medical conditions, #disabilities, limited mobility, who are pregnant, experiencing homelessness, outdoor workers and residents without access to air conditioning are also at high risk. People in Black, brown and other communities of color may also face disproportionate impacts because of longstanding inequities in the environment and infrastructure, according to the state.
"Outdoor workers are among the groups considered especially vulnerable during extreme heat events. State health data showed 707 emergency room visits and 87 hospitalizations related to heat stress in Massachusetts in 2022, the most recent year available."
#Heatwave #MassachusettsWx
#ClimateDiaryMassachusetts
#ClimateChange #HeatRelatedIllness
#StayCool #Homelessness #BostonMA #UrbanHeat #WorkersRights #CoolingCenters
23°C separates Brussels city centre (≈47°C land surface temp) from the nearby Sonian Forest (≈24.5°C) — captured by Copernicus Sentinel-3 on 24 June, as Belgium issued a national heatwave alert. The urban heat island effect. 🌡️ 🔗 https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/en/observatory/publications-data/analysis-data/population-characteristics-in-areas-exposed-to-the-urban-heat-island-effect #UrbanHeat #Copernicus
23°C separates Brussels city centre (≈47°C land surface temp) from the nearby Sonian Forest (≈24.5°C) — captured by Copernicus Sentinel-3 on 24 June, as Belgium issued a national heatwave alert.
The urban heat island effect. 🌡️
🔗 climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/…
#UrbanHeat #Copernicus
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https://nitter.net/EUEnvironment/status/2070118601617486091#m
“Extreme heat is already creating ‘nonsurvivable’ conditions for humans in heatwaves that have killed thousands and likely many more, according to new research that warns people are more susceptible to rising temperatures than first thought.” Via @[email protected] #ClimateCrisis #UrbanHeat
"Nonsurvivable": Today's heatw...
Stay out of the heat with Cool Routes, a new app from ASU that finds the shadiest paths for your walk. #urbanheat
https://phys.org/news/2026-06-cool-routes-cooler-paths-hourly.html