Heat waves in Europe are increasing, and the impacts of these extreme events are particularly pronounced in urban areas, where urban structures cause the so-called urban heat island effect.
Now that summer has also arrived in Basel, it is time to pick up our heat maps, based on the meteoblue City Climate Model, which are not only an excellent urban planning tool for site-specific mitigation measures, but also allow individuals to identify the most comfortable temperature areas in the city.
In connection to this, during the summer of last year, meteoblue conducted an infrared measurement study in cooperation with the Atmospheric Sciences Research Group of the University of Basel. During summer days with temperatures exceeding 30°C, infrared camera photos revealed changes in the surface temperature in different areas of Basel.
With the help of a suitable colour scale, the temperature differences can be coloured accordingly, whereby for the examples shown here, the colour gradient goes from violet/blue (= cooler) to orange/red (= warmer).
The images on the left were taken in the morning, while the ones on the right were taken in the afternoon. This allows us to compare the two situations and assess the degree to which urban surfaces warm up during the day, contributing to an understanding of urban heat islands.
The difference between morning and afternoon conditions is clear. But what is more interesting to observe is the difference in the degree of warming of the two locations.
This provides insight into the importance of the presence of watercourses, clear surfaces, and, above all, trees. In addition to creating shaded areas, trees allow water to evaporate through transpiration that takes place during the absorption of sunlight and thus have a natural cooling effect.
In these days of intense heat and tropical nights, it is recommended that you consult our meteoblue heat maps to identify the hottest locations, the so-called urban heat islands, and the coolest places in which to seek shelter during these beautiful sunny days that put you in the mood to go out!
