Effects of the urban heat island on Barcelona metropolitan region

In this context, as part of the Urban-CLIMPLAN project, the Centre for Land Valuation Policy (CPSV UPC) has studied urban heat islands in Barcelona Metropolitan Area and the main factors that cause them. These factors include urban morphology, land uses, landscape design, the selection of materials and the location of vegetation. The analysis was completed with a series of specific case studies, such as that of Sant Cugat del Vallès, Sabadell Centre, Viladecans-Gavà-Castelldefels, urban parks in Barcelona and the UPC North Campus, which revealed different scales of definition of an urban heat island in this area.

Specific focuses of the project were the spatial distribution of land surface temperature (LST) and land surface air temperature (LSAT). The first was mainly analysed (at metropolitan scale) using models developed from information supplied by the Landsat and MODIS satellites. The second was analysed using information from weather stations. Due to lack of weather station data, models needed to be developed to find out about LSAT in more detail.

One main objective of the project was to identify night urban heat islands. The temperature at night is particularly relevant from the perspective of health, due to the greater vulnerability of the population. Urban-CLIMPLAN has developed a series of models to determine in detail the LST at night and highlight the areas that are most vulnerable in Barcelona Metropolitan Area.

The project was funded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and the European Regional Development Funds (ERDF), and the Spanish National Programme of Research, Development and Innovation Oriented to the Challenges of Society, 2015 call.The project was funded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and the European Regional Development Funds (ERDF), and the Spanish National Programme of Research, Development and Innovation Oriented to the Challenges of Society, 2015 call.