FolioStart free

Environmental Science · Literature

Research papers on Urban heat islands

Recent and highly-cited academic work on urban heat islands, gathered from Semantic Scholar, CrossRef and OpenAlex.

Search all 200M+ papers on this topic, free →Or track new urban heat islands papers automatically as they publish

  4. Balancing conflicting mitigation and adaptation behaviours of urban residents under climate change and the urban heat island effect

    Kayoko Kondo, L. Mabon, Yi-Fan Bi, et al. · 2020 · Sustainable Cities and Society · 93 citations

    Highlights • Cooling behaviours an area of increasing interest under rising heat in cities.• Survey of public in Fukuoka, Japan, assesses cooling behaviour and climate awareness.• Some people use air conditioning with mitigation focus, others emphasise adaptation.• Those emphasising mitigation have lower bills and more likely to engage in other behaviours.• Messaging on air conditioning use and promoting urban greening may enable co-benefits.

    Save this paper

  5. Assessing the Cooling Effect of Blue-Green Spaces: Implications for Urban Heat Island Mitigation

    Pritipadmaja, R. Garg, Ashok K. Sharma · 2023 · Water · 82 citations

    The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect is a significant concern in today’s rapidly urbanising cities, with exacerbating heatwaves’ impact, urban livelihood, and environmental well-being. This study aims to assess the cooling effect of blue-green spaces in Bhubaneswar, India, and explore their implications for mitigating UHI effects. Satellite images were processed with Google Earth Engine (GEE) to produce information on the blue-green spaces’ land surface temperatures (LST). The Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Modified Normalised Difference Water Index (MNDWI) were employed to quantify the presence and characteristics of these blue-green spaces. The findings revealed significan

    Save this paper

  6. Urban heat island effect in India: a review of current status, impact and mitigation strategies

    Sahidul Islam, A. Karipot, R. Bhawar, et al. · 2024 · Discover Cities · 62 citations

    The Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon significantly affects us by exacerbating heat discomfort, increased energy consumption, and urban air pollution. The severity of UHI associated with heat waves and heat stress-related mortality is now one of the major concerns, particularly in densely populated cities. Therefore, the significance of the UHI has emerged as a crucial issue due to cities’ fast growth and urban development, necessitating a comprehensive review of the present status of UHI research, particularly concerning regional comparisons. This paper delineates the characteristics of UHI, focusing on its intensity, impact, determining factors, and potential mitigation strategy. It synth

    Save this paper

  8. Modeling the urban heat island mitigation effect of cool coatings in realistic urban morphology

    Nai-Rui Liu, L. Morawska · 2020 · Journal of Cleaner Production · 52 citations

    There are currently more than 400 cities that are subject to the urban heat island (UHI) effect, whose summer temperature can be over 15 °C above the human thermal comfort zone. As the scope of urbanization expands, more people will feel the influence of the UHI effect. Since cool coatings can serve as a mitigation measure against the UHI effect, this research proposes a method that can estimate its mitigation effect in any given region. The main idea of this method is to simulate the function of cool coatings via increasing the albedo values in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The main novelty of this method is that it incorporates detailed land categorization data to simul

    Save this paper

  9. The effect of Urban Heat Island mitigation strategies on outdoor human thermal comfort in the city of Baghdad

    Aws M. Salman, Younis Mahmood Saleem · 2021 · Frontiers of Architectural Research · 45 citations

    Todays, most Iraqi cities suffer from extremely hot-dry climate for long periods throughout the year. However, most urban patterns that exist inside these cities are not suitable for this harsh conditions and lead to an increase in the value of the Urban Heat Island (UHI) index. Consequently, this will increase outdoor human thermal discomfort as well as energy consumption and air pollution in cities. This study attempts to evaluate the effect of UHI mitigation strategies on outdoor human thermal comfort in three different common types of urban patterns in the biggest and most populated city in Iraq, Baghdad. Three different mitigation strategies are used here – vegetation, cool materials, a

    Save this paper

  10. Urban Green Space Prioritization to Mitigate Air Pollution and the Urban Heat Island Effect in Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Nepal

    Sabina Bhandari, Chuanrong Zhang · 2022 · Land · 22 citations

    The rapid population growth and unplanned urbanization within Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) have induced land use and land cover (LULC) changes that have exacerbated problems of air pollution and the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. These issues, as well as potential mitigations and possible counteractions, are currently under investigation by numerous research communities, resulting in various solutions being put forward including the creation of Urban Green Spaces (UGS). Establishing UGS would increase carbon dioxide extraction, minimizing photochemical ozone formation and liberation, while simultaneously cooling the microclimate of an area such as KMC. Optimized implementation of UGS t

    Save this paper

  11. Spatio-Temporal Patterns and Drivers of the Urban Heat Island Effect in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions of Northern China

    Jingwen Wang, Lei Lu, Xiaoming Zhou, et al. · 2025 · Remote Sensing · 18 citations

    Investigating the urban heat island (UHI) effect and its driving factors is crucial for supporting future climate mitigation actions and human adaptation strategies. Due to the unique climatic characteristics and vulnerable ecological environment of arid and semi-arid regions, it is valuable to detect the UHI effect in cities in these regions, which have not been fully explored yet. Utilizing moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) land surface temperature (LST) data from 2010 to 2020, this study quantified the summer, winter, and annual diurnal mean surface urban heat island intensity (SUHII) of 30 cities in the arid and semi-arid regions of northern China and comprehensively

    Save this paper

  12. Using construction and demolition waste materials to alleviate the negative effect of pavements on the urban heat island: A laboratory, field, and numerical study

    M. Shamsaei, Alan Carter, M. Vaillancourt · 2024 · Case Studies in Construction Materials · 18 citations

    In this study, construction and demolition waste (CDW) materials, including waste clay bricks, concrete, and glass, were used as aggregates of chip seal layers to enhance the reflectivity and cool down the asphalt pavement as an urban heat island (UHI) mitigation policy. UHI is an urban area that has a higher temperature in comparison to its suburbs. As considerable parts of cities are covered with asphalt pavements, their heat absorption and heat release can directly affect the UHI. Four types of chip seal layers, containing CDW aggregates were prepared in this study. The reflectivity and cooling effects of asphalt pavement coated with the developed chip seals were then evaluated with labor

    Save this paper

  13. Microscale Investigation of Urban Heat Island (UHI) in Annaba City: Unveiling Factors and Mitigation Strategies

    B. Sayad, M. Helmi, O. Osra, et al. · 2024 · Sustainability · 16 citations

    Cities are facing significant challenges related to climate change, particularly due to the increasing impact of the Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon. The present study investigated the UHI phenomenon at the microscale in Annaba, Algeria. The research involved a multi-step approach, starting with on-site measurements of urban microclimate parameters, performed in downtown Annaba on 6 July 2023. The UHI intensity was quantified by comparing city-measured temperatures with rural surroundings. Thermal imaging is then used to empirically identify the contributing factors to UHI initiation at the microscale. The study employed the ENVI-met model to analyse mitigation strategies, manipulating pa

    Save this paper

  14. Distributional outcomes of urban heat island reduction pathways under climate extremes

    Ali Eyni, Ben Zaitchik, Benjamin F. Hobbs, et al. · 2025 · Scientific Reports · 16 citations

    Global warming and the rise in extreme heat days elevate the risk of heat-related mortalities, particularly in cities due to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect and vulnerabilities tied to housing, exposure, and health conditions. City planners can mitigate these effects through urban adaptive actions. UHI mitigation, however, needs to balance several goals: strategies that maximize temperature reduction or minimize their impacts may not be best for cost effectiveness, carbon emissions, environmental amenities, health impacts, or distributional outcomes. Here, we implement a multi-objective robust decision-making tool for heat mitigation—the City-Heat Equity Adaptation Tool (City-HEAT)—to ide

    Save this paper

  15. Multidimensional characteristics of urban green space and its impact in mitigating urban heat Island effects: a case study of Guangzhou

    Jin-Meng Zhang, Peihao Wang, Aibo Jin · 2025 · Scientific Reports · 16 citations

    Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect is a significant concern in cities, increasing environmental and living conditions challenges. Urban green spaces are essential in mitigating UHI effects by regulating temperature. However, most studies do not adequately consider the multidimensional characteristics of green spaces in their cooling effects on the UHI. To address this gap, this study systematically investigates the cooling effects of green space by examining global and local mitigation mechanisms, with Guangzhou as a case study. Land surface temperature (LST) data were retrieved using the Mono-Window algorithm to analyze spatial variations in UHI intensity. Green space was further evaluated in t

    Save this paper

  16. Natural Ventilation: A Mitigation Strategy to Reduce Overheating In Buildings under Urban Heat Island Effect in South American Cities

    M. Palme, C. Carrasco, Miguel Ángel Gálvez, et al. · 2017 · IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering · 10 citations

    Urban heat island effect often produces an increase of overheating sensation inside of buildings. To evacuate this heat, the current use of air conditioning increases the energy consumption of buildings. As a good alternative, natural ventilation is one of the best strategies to obtain indoor comfort conditions, even in summer season, if buildings and urban designs are appropriated. In this work, the overheating risk of a small house is evaluated in four South American cities: Guayaquil, Lima, Antofagasta and Valparaíso, with and without considering the UHI effect. Then, natural ventilation is assessed in order to understand the capability of this passive strategy to assure comfort inside th

    Save this paper

  17. The Heat Is on: How Well Are Densely Populated Korean Cities Adapting to Increased Temperatures and Urban Heat Island Effect?

    Suhyun An, Ayşın Dedekorkut-Howes · 2025 · Environments · 9 citations

    Rising temperatures due to climate change are exacerbating the Urban Heat Island effect (UHI). UHI has serious impacts on ecosystems and human health, causes the deterioration of infrastructure and economic loss, decreases air quality, and increases energy consumption. The problem is heightened in densely populated cities. Temperatures are projected to rise more steeply in Korea than global temperatures. This paper focuses on evaluating UHI adaptation strategies of densely populated Korean cities Seoul, Busan, and Daegu through a policy review. The comparative analysis shows that, in terms of heatwave and UHI policies, Daegu is ahead as the only city with a dedicated heatwave plan. As the ho

    Save this paper

  18. On the Role of the Building Envelope on the Urban Heat Island Mitigation and Building Energy Performance in Mediterranean Cities: A Case Study in Southern Italy

    Alessandra Martinelli, F. Carlucci, Francesco Fiorito · 2024 · Climate · 9 citations

    The urban heat island (UHI) effect is one of the largest climate-related issues concerning our cities due to the localized temperature increase in highly urbanized areas. This paper aims to investigate the impact of UHI mitigation techniques in promoting climate resilience, by reducing urban air temperatures and cooling energy consumption in buildings. To this end, four mitigation solutions regarding the building envelope—green roofs, green walls, cool roofs, and cool walls—were investigated for the city of Bari in Southern Italy and compared with the current baseline scenario. Hence, five scenarios were simulated—using the ENVI-met microclimate software—during three representative summer da

    Save this paper

  19. Quantifying the effect of green-roof and urban green infrastructure ratio on urban heat island mitigation -semi-arid climate

    S. Sahnoune, N. Benhassine, F. Bourbia, et al. · 2021 · Journal of Fundamental and Applied Sciences · 7 citations

    Green Roof (GR) is one of the most applied strategies to Mitigate Urban Heat Island (UHI) recommended for sustainable cities. This research aims to examine and evaluate the effect of the GR/UGI ratio on UHI mitigation, creating Urban Cool Island (UCI). The study was carried out at Constantine, situated in the East part of Algeria, characterized by a semi-arid climate with high summer solar radiation intensity. An urban climate analysis was conducted during the hottest period of the year by means of remote sensing data using ArcGIS 10.2 platform. The results displayed that vegetation, urban density, and topography strongly affect UHI. Furthermore, other finding results in this research show t

    Save this paper

  20. The Relationship Between Urban Morphology and the Urban Heat Island Effect: A Study of Cooling Strategies in Urbanized Areas

    Yixi Kong · 2025 · Applied and Computational Engineering · 6 citations

    With more and more cities experiencing urbanisation, the issue of Urban Heat Island (UHI) effects has become a concern in urban areas worldwide. This paper evaluates the impact of urban morphology, particularly urban expansion and densification, on the UHI effect, and examines the trajectory of UHI in Chinese cities. The 2D Layout BCR (Building Coverage Ratio) model shows that horizontal expansion tending to increase impervious surfaces, and the increased proportion of impervious surfaces will lead to more heat retention, while the physical air barrier in densely built environments can worsen the UHI effect by obstructing the natural ventilation of air. The longitudinal data of urban plannin

    Save this paper

  21. The Effect of Plants on Extensive Green Roofs in Urban Heat Island Mitigation Efforts in Humid Tropical Cities

    Irfandi, A. Munir, Muslimsyah, et al. · 2021 · IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science · 5 citations

    One of the urban heat island mitigation strategies in reducing urban temperatures in tropical cities is the application of a green roof system. This study compares the reduction in temperature and heat flow rate provided by three types of plants on extensive green roofs (EGR). We demonstrated that a EGR constructed with three types of plants (ground cover, and shrubs) could result in a decrease in temperature relative to the normal roof (NR). The results showed that the base temperature of the EGR of the bush and ground cover was lower than the base temperature of the NR which was 10.2ºC on indoor air, 17.8ºC on the inside and 19.1ºC on the outside. The peak indoor temperature was over 50ºC

    Save this paper

  22. Integrated Assessment of sustainable roofing technologies for urban heat island mitigation: a data-driven case study in Nantong, China

    Francis Deng Clement, Jiang Yan, Shutian Zhou · 2025 · Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering · 4 citations

    ABSTRACT This study evaluates eco-friendly roof systems’ potential to mitigate the summertime urban heat island (UHI) effect in Nantong City, China, using an optimized, Python-based energy balance model. Unlike previous single-technology analyses, this research integrates dark membrane, high-albedo, green, and solar-integrated roofing options into one model, leveraging in-situ meteorological and field data from similar coastal cities for local accuracy. Dark membrane and black PV-covered roofs showed the highest peak sensible heat fluxes (320–400 W/m2). While PV panels slightly increased peak flux, they reduced total sensible flux from black roofs by 12%. Converting black membrane roofs to c

    Save this paper

  23. Global dataset on heat wave exposure due to the urban heat island effect

    Wenbo Yu, Jun Yang, Yu-Yu Zhou, et al. · 2026 · Scientific Data · 4 citations

    Continuing global warming and urbanization have increased the frequency and severity of extreme heat events in cities. Therefore, understanding how the urban heat island (UHI) effect influences cities is essential for developing effective mitigation and prevention strategies. A 1-km resolution dataset was constructed to assess heat-wave exposure attributable to UHIs in urban human settlements worldwide from 2003 to 2020. An adaptive urban-rural threshold method was employed to delineate the spatial extent of UHI impacts, and a spatiotemporally fitted MODIS surface temperature dataset was used to address missing data caused by cloud contamination. This dataset explicitly separates the contrib

    Save this paper

Write your paper with these sources

Folio is the integrity-first research workspace: search 200M+ papers, save sources, and write with citations that format themselves. Free for students and researchers.

Start writing free →