Inequalities in exposure to summer urban heat extremes in Germany

Temperature patterns in urban environments are shaped by the complex pattern of urban design. Accordingly, urban temperature extremes are not distributed homogenously over entire cities, but rather shaped by local land use. Resulting disparities in heat exposure can have severe consequences for the health and general well-being of individuals.

This study examines the relationship between urban heat and demographic patterns for each district in Germany. Population subgroups, such as foreigners and elderly residents, are analysed to determine whether certain groups are disproportionately affected by summertime urban heat. The analysis is conducted in a 1 km grid focusing on daytime and night-time separately. Demographic data is derived from the 2011 Population and Housing Census.

Instead of absolute temperatures, we focus on urban temperature anomalies, which are defined as temperature differences between urban pixels and their rural surroundings. This approach allows us to focus on the aspects of climate that are shaped by urban planning decisions, while disregarding large scale climate-patterns.

First results focusing on satellite derived LST reveal significant disparities. E.g., in over 66 % of German districts, foreign residents experience substantially higher heat exposure compared to nonforeigners. This analysis highlights the unequal distribution of urban heat stress within Germany and suggests avenues for further research. We now focus on disparities in air temperature and simple heat stress indices like the Humidex to provide insights into the perceived heat stress experienced by residents. Furthermore, the recent release of the 2022 Housing and Population Census offers more expanded demographic information for more detailed analysis.