Analysis of Surface Thermal Behavior in Different Local Climate Zones (LCZ): A Case Study in Bragança (Portugal) (2013-2024)

Cátia Rodrigues de Almeida, Cátia Rodrigues de Almeida, Cátia Rodrigues de Almeida, Artur Gonçalves, Ana Cláudia Teodoro, Ana Cláudia Teodoro

2025

Abstract

The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect occurs when temperatures in urban areas are higher than surrounding vegetated areas, especially during the sunset and sunrise. UHI impacts include effects on public health and well-being, changes to the local microclimate, and influence on the local biome. This study evaluates the Land Surface Temperature (LST) and the corresponding Surface Urban Heat Island Intensity (SUHIint) across different Local Climate Zones (LCZs) in Bragança (Portugal) from 2013 to 2024, using images from Landsat 8 and 9 data collected with a portable thermal camera on different surfaces to assess thermal behavior across different scales. The results confirm the existence of the UHI effect in Bragança, where vegetated areas exhibit milder temperatures compared to built areas, especially in summer afternoons. Satellite-derived LST data indicate that the lowest temperature was recorded in an LCZ with vegetation, reaching (-7ºC), while the highest minimum temperature was observed in an LCZ with higher density of anthropogenic elements (-3ºC). Thermal camera measurements showed that surfaces such as asphalt and exposed soil reached 80 ºC in the morning and remained above 60ºC in the afternoon. These findings underscore the importance of considering mitigation measures, such as increasing vegetation in urbanized areas or replacing impervious surfaces.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Rodrigues de Almeida C., Gonçalves A. and Teodoro A. (2025). Analysis of Surface Thermal Behavior in Different Local Climate Zones (LCZ): A Case Study in Bragança (Portugal) (2013-2024). In Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Geographical Information Systems Theory, Applications and Management - Volume 1: GISTAM; ISBN 978-989-758-741-2, SciTePress, pages 157-164. DOI: 10.5220/0013282700003935

in Bibtex Style

@conference{gistam25,
author={Cátia Rodrigues de Almeida and Artur Gonçalves and Ana Teodoro},
title={Analysis of Surface Thermal Behavior in Different Local Climate Zones (LCZ): A Case Study in Bragança (Portugal) (2013-2024)},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Geographical Information Systems Theory, Applications and Management - Volume 1: GISTAM},
year={2025},
pages={157-164},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0013282700003935},
isbn={978-989-758-741-2},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Geographical Information Systems Theory, Applications and Management - Volume 1: GISTAM
TI - Analysis of Surface Thermal Behavior in Different Local Climate Zones (LCZ): A Case Study in Bragança (Portugal) (2013-2024)
SN - 978-989-758-741-2
AU - Rodrigues de Almeida C.
AU - Gonçalves A.
AU - Teodoro A.
PY - 2025
SP - 157
EP - 164
DO - 10.5220/0013282700003935
PB - SciTePress