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Measuring Heat Islands

The satellite image of Atlanta, GA is an example of a surface-based measurement, which records radiant emissions, or energy reflected and emitted from the land, including roofs, pavements, vegetation, bare ground, and water.

All surfaces give off thermal energy, or radiant emissions, that is emitted in wavelengths. These wavelengths can be identified and measured using remote sensing. Remote sensing is a process in which instruments are used to "capture" the relationship of objects and materials observable at a distance.

Using radiometersTo Definition Provided In Pop-Up Window mounted on aircraft or a satellite allows researchers to easily collect a large number of surface observations. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) conducted flyovers using an aircraft-mounted sensor in Baton Rouge, Sacramento, and Salt Lake City.

Several cities also use Landsat satellite data to classify land cover and identify heat islands. The Landsat 7 satellite, a U.S. satellite used to acquire remotely sensed images of the earth's land surface and surrounding coastal regions, provides information from which we can derive surface temperatures and evaluate heat islands.

Source: US EPA

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