Urban heat island in the city of Brasilia: A multi-method analysis

Abstract

Currently, cities are experiencing increased urbanization and population density, leading to an increase in natural areas covered by paved and built-up areas, with a very rapid rate of urban expansion, as in the case of the capital Brasilia, Brazil. This has led to changes in local climates, increasing land surface temperature (LST) and causing an effect known as the Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI) directly related to natural vegetation and urban and rural areas— which has become a major challenge for societies around the world due to its implications for public health and the environment. In this regard, the objective was to compare the temporal variation (2001-2016) of the SUHI in the Metropolitan Region of Brasilia (MRG) with MODIS satellite images, using the quantile method and Streutker method. The results indicate a maximum daytime SUHI in January (3.08 °C) and minimum in July (1.51 °C); the nighttime SUHI had maximums in July (2.36 °C) and minimums in April (1.72 °C). The Quantile-Streutker correlation ≈ 0.10, highlighting the usefulness of the quantile method for cities with different maximum temperature centers on a non-Gaussian surface.