Heatwave Hotspots: SUHI and Intra-Urban Surface Temperature Mapping in Three Argentine Cities

Identificador:  imarina:9462682

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina9462682

Autores:  Cimolai C; Aguilar E

Resumen:
This study analyzes the Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI) effect and the spatial distribution of Land Surface Temperature (LST) during heatwaves in three climatically and geographically distinct Argentine cities: Posadas, Buenos Aires, and Neuqu & eacute;n. Leveraging high-resolution satellite imagery (MODIS, Landsat 8, Sentinel-2) and the Local Climate Zone (LCZ) classification, the research quantifies SUHI intensity and identifies fine-scale thermal patterns across urban, peri-urban, and rural areas. Results show that all three cities experience significant SUHI effects, particularly at night, with urban areas consistently exhibiting higher LSTs than their surroundings. However, daytime patterns vary considerably. In Neuqu & eacute;n's semi-arid plateau, a negative SUHI was observed, with rural areas reaching higher temperatures than urban centers. Densely built environments-especially compact zones-demonstrate elevated heat retention, exacerbating heatwave impacts. Conversely, areas with substantial vegetation, such as parks and river corridors, consistently show lower surface temperatures, underscoring their role in urban cooling. By integrating multi-source remote sensing data with the LCZ framework, this study provides a robust and transferable methodology for analyzing intra-urban thermal variability. The findings offer valuable insights for climate adaptation and urban planning, particularly in rapidly expanding cities facing increasing exposure to extreme heat.Graphical AbstractThis study examines the effects of extreme heat in urban environments by analyzing the Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI) phenomenon and the spatial distribution of Land Surface Temperature (LST) across three climatically diverse Argentine cities: Posadas, Buenos Aires (CABA), and Neuqu & e