Análisis del clima urbano a partir de imágenes de satélite en el centro peninsular español

Abstract

In this paper, urban thermic island of some cities of central Spain (Madrid, Segovia, Ávila, Guadalajara and Toledo), with very different natural and social characteristics, has been analyzed. Field-city thermic contrasts have been drawn out through NOAA and Landsat images, as well as weather stations data. Diurnal temperatures are often lower inside the cities than on not urbanised areas of their surroundings. This urban thermical anomaly seems to be related to the different heating-cooling rate of the land cover, so «urban heat island» is only apparent by night, while, inversely, during day time these cities show an «urban cool island» in relation to their neighbouring areas. In this way, cities work as heat accumulators during day time and releasing the stored energy during night.