Heat Islands

The process of modeling climate is dependent on accurate measurement and recording of atmospheric phenomenon. Climate models derive their data from observations made at weather stations; some of which are automated (AO2 designation in METAR) and some are "manned", or staffed with an official, trained observer.

Two very important elements involved with recording accurate weather data, and therefor deriving accurate climatological models, must be understood when addressing issues of climate change:
1. Rounding of mean high and low temperatures to nearest whole degree Celsius, and;
2. The phenomenon of Heat Islands, or the Heat Island Effect.

Nearly all models used by the IPCC and climate scientists are 'fed' by these stations and their reported values, and a great number of climate scientists are banging on their desks about the effects of runaway heating. This is, in part, an extremely valuable and crucial issues that demands the utmost attention. However, the issue of climate change has become contentious in part to partisan media mis-representing facts.

My purpose in writing these blogs will be twofold:
1. To explain the effects above, and how they affect modeling, and;
2. To propose a larger evaluation of the heat island effect (HIE) using GIS and satellite capable of heat analysis.

An infrared thermal image showing the change of the urban surface temperatures at 2 pm daytime and 2 am night time in Hong Kong.

Note the contrast from the high density population centers and the surrounding rural and suburban areas.

To my knowledge, a broad scale project to assess how much the HIE impacts our perception of overall trends in warming has not been conducted. However, smaller studies have been conducted on cities for urban planning and other purposes.

Next, I will elaborate on data collection methods and how they impact climatology, and informational overlays, such as GIS data.

Aaron Moyer

Works Cited

Yuguo, L. (2012). Megacity Environments. Retrieved September 3, 2015.