A study of the Urban Heat Island of Granada

In this study we examine the Urban Heat Island (UHI) of Granada. First, we perform a study of the evolution of the recorded temperatures at a meteorol ogical station over the last century. In this record, the minimum temperatu res increase while the maximum temperatures decrease. We also compare both rural and urban temperature records, obtaining the UHI fluctuations on a sm aller time scale. The results show that the UHI phenomenon is stronger in w inter, and the maximum difference occurs in early morning when temperatures are at their daily minimum. Then, we examine the geographical distribution of temperature in the urban region and obtain the dependence of UHI form o n meteorological conditions, urban geometry and time scale. Urban geometry plays a particular role in the UHI form. The formation of UHI phenomena dep ends mainly on weather conditions and on time of night. Finally, we relate both UHI form and intensity with the observed trends in the urban time seri es. Copyright (C) 2000 Royal Meteorological Society.