FAIRAirTemp-LUR: A Scalable Model for Air Temperature Mapping Across European Cities

As urbanization intensifies and climate change exacerbates heat stress, the development of detailed urban temperature maps becomes increasingly vital for public health, urban planning, and climate adaptation strategies (Burger et al., 2022). The urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon is characterized by elevated temperatures within urban areas compared to their surrounding rural counterparts. This can be dangerous during heat waves, especially for people who are already at risk (Oke et al., 1991). This project aims to create high-resolution temperature maps for several European cities.

To calculate these maps, we will use Land Use Regression modeling. With this modeling approach, we aim to estimate urban air temperatures with spatiotemporal data on land use and meteorological conditions. As air temperature input data, the FAIRUrbTemp dataset is used. This is a valuable open-access resource developed by our research group within the framework of the European COST-Action FAIRNESS project (https://www.fairness-ca20108.eu/), that harmonizes and standardizes urban temperature data across 12 European cities. Moreover, the model integrates spatial predictors such as urban morphology, vegetation cover, and meteorological drivers like precipitation and solar radiation from publicly available sources. A key emphasis of this project lies in testing the transferability of the method from one city to another. We will analyze the adaptability of the LUR models to diverse European urban contexts, having rather simple or extended urban temperature networks. The maps should reveal the spatial distribution of urban heat, identify UHIs and hotspots, and can be used to inform analyses of vulnerable populations.

Finally, our results could serve as crucial tools for urban planners, policymakers, and public health officials to develop and implement effective heat mitigation strategies, such as green infrastructure planning, urban design interventions, and targeted public health programs.