“The Belknap Campus and Metro Louisville urban heat island effect: Air and ground surface temperature analysis”
Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Environmental Analysis
Minor
Socio-Cultural Anthropology
Institution
University of Louisville
KY House District #
37
KY Senate District #
37
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Dr. Jafar Hadizadeh
Department
Geography/Geosciences
Abstract
Numerous studies show that urban morphologies and land covers generate excess heat emissions and retain heat relative to surrounding rural areas known as the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. Urban fabrics paved by concrete and asphalt absorbs and radiates heat during solar peak and sundown. It is also suggested that Louisville, Kentucky has a significant UHI effect. This study investigates temperature distribution data related to the UHI effect on the Belknap campus of the University of Louisville, representing a small aerial sample of the Louisville metropolitan area. The objective of this study is to measure the reflectivity of impervious surfaces and vegetation, as well as air temperature at Belknap campus. We seek to measure heat reflected off ground surfaces such as concrete, asphalt, and grass, and in the air at a certain height above the surface. The measurements will be conducted using a portable infrared thermometer and an air temperate thermometer. The data will be analyzed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software to reconstruct a thermal surface map of the University of Louisville’s Belknap Campus. We also intend to apply the campus data to create a similar thermal map for the metropolitan areas of Louisville.
“The Belknap Campus and Metro Louisville urban heat island effect: Air and ground surface temperature analysis”
Numerous studies show that urban morphologies and land covers generate excess heat emissions and retain heat relative to surrounding rural areas known as the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. Urban fabrics paved by concrete and asphalt absorbs and radiates heat during solar peak and sundown. It is also suggested that Louisville, Kentucky has a significant UHI effect. This study investigates temperature distribution data related to the UHI effect on the Belknap campus of the University of Louisville, representing a small aerial sample of the Louisville metropolitan area. The objective of this study is to measure the reflectivity of impervious surfaces and vegetation, as well as air temperature at Belknap campus. We seek to measure heat reflected off ground surfaces such as concrete, asphalt, and grass, and in the air at a certain height above the surface. The measurements will be conducted using a portable infrared thermometer and an air temperate thermometer. The data will be analyzed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software to reconstruct a thermal surface map of the University of Louisville’s Belknap Campus. We also intend to apply the campus data to create a similar thermal map for the metropolitan areas of Louisville.