| Local climate changes due to urbanization have been well documented. These changes are epitomized by the concept of the “Urban Heat Island” (UHI), which represents temperature differences between urban and rural areas. In urban areas, the UHI effect is a critical factor for air quality and public health. It results in higher peak energy demand because of the use of air conditioning in Summer. Higher temperatures increase health risks to city dwellers, because increased air temperatures are associated with secondary air pollutants, such as ozone (O3). Recent research on the UHI, including theoretical models and statistical analyses, has resulted in a better understanding of climate modifications in urban areas. The purpose of this research is to further develop statistical models of local temperature changes, using Landsat-5 satellite remote-sensing data. The temperature at any location and for any land use is modeled as a function of the pattern of land uses around this location. These models are estimated with data pertaining to the Columbus, Ohio, metropolitan area (CMA). Their applicability to land-use planning and regulation is illustrated by simulating hypothetical land-use changes in part of the CMA, and computing the resulting temperature effects. The results clearly demonstrate that it is possible to reduce temperatures in residential and urban areas through a judicious siting of green areas. |
