@misc{10481/91643,
year = {2023},
month = {9},
url = {https://hdl.handle.net/10481/91643},
abstract = {Global warming is precipitating an amplification of severe meteorological occurrences such
as prolonged dry spells and episodes of elevated temperatures. These phenomena are instigating
substantial elevations in environmental warmth, with metropolitan regions bearing the brunt of these
impacts. Currently, extreme heat is already impacting 30% of the global populace, and forecasts
suggest that this figure will escalate to 74% in the forthcoming years. One of the objectives outlined
in the United Nations 2030 agenda, specifically within Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG11), is
the attainment of sustainable urban development. To achieve this, it is imperative to scrutinize and
delve into urban environmental conditions in order to understand their dynamics comprehensively.
This understanding serves as the foundation for implementing mitigation and resilience strategies
against climate change, ultimately enhancing the well-being of city residents. In this context, the
field of remote sensing and geographic information systems has made substantial advancements.
Notably, the UrbClim model, developed by the European Space Agency, facilitates the assessment of
environmental conditions within numerous European urban centers. This research, utilizing data
from UrbClim, examines the evolution of the heat stress index (Hi) during extreme heat conditions
in Barcelona during the summer of 2017. Leveraging Landsat 8 satellite imagery, we derived the
following variables: the normalized difference vegetation index and the normalized building difference
index. Our findings reveal that during extreme heat conditions, the Hi index experiences an
escalation, with areas characterized by a higher population density and industrial zones displaying
lower resistance in contrast to regions with a lower population density and rural areas, which exhibit
greater resilience to Hi. This disparity can be attributed to higher vegetation coverage and reduced
building density in the latter areas. In this way, Hi increases more quickly and intensely and decreases
more slowly when using high temperatures compared to average temperatures. This is of utmost
importance for the future planning of new urban developments.},
publisher = {MDPI},
keywords = {Heat stress index (Hi)},
keywords = {UrbClim model},
keywords = {Remote sensing},
title = {Mitigation and Resilience of Local Climatic Zones to the Effects of Extreme Heat: Study on the City of Barcelona (Spain)},
doi = {10.3390/urbansci7040102},
author = {Hidalgo García, David and Arco Díaz, Julián},
}