TY - JOUR
T1 - The urban heat island of a city in an arid zone
T2 - The case of Eilat, Israel
AU - Sofer, Michael
AU - Potchter, Oded
PY - 2006/5
Y1 - 2006/5
N2 - This study presents the results of a preliminary research that was conducted in the city of Eilat, located in an extreme hot and arid zone on the northern coast of the Red Sea. The purpose was to analyse the characteristics of the local urban heat island (UHI). Diurnal pre-dawn and early-afternoon measurements were taken in winter and summer weather conditions on three separate occasions for two consecutive years. The results show the development of a moderate UHI located around the most intensive area of human activity; the city business centre and dense hotel belt. The UHI is more significant at midday during the summer period, while early morning inversions in winter have a weakening effect on the UHI intensity. It was found that the topography and wind regime have a dominant effect on the location and intensity of the UHI, while the sea has a very marginal effect. Due to the UHI influences on the spatial distribution of the heat stress in the city, it is suggested that further applied UHI research should be focused on the summer period.
AB - This study presents the results of a preliminary research that was conducted in the city of Eilat, located in an extreme hot and arid zone on the northern coast of the Red Sea. The purpose was to analyse the characteristics of the local urban heat island (UHI). Diurnal pre-dawn and early-afternoon measurements were taken in winter and summer weather conditions on three separate occasions for two consecutive years. The results show the development of a moderate UHI located around the most intensive area of human activity; the city business centre and dense hotel belt. The UHI is more significant at midday during the summer period, while early morning inversions in winter have a weakening effect on the UHI intensity. It was found that the topography and wind regime have a dominant effect on the location and intensity of the UHI, while the sea has a very marginal effect. Due to the UHI influences on the spatial distribution of the heat stress in the city, it is suggested that further applied UHI research should be focused on the summer period.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33646174685&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00704-005-0181-9
DO - 10.1007/s00704-005-0181-9
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AN - SCOPUS:33646174685
SN - 0177-798X
VL - 85
SP - 81
EP - 88
JO - Theoretical and Applied Climatology
JF - Theoretical and Applied Climatology
IS - 1-2
ER -