Sigma Xi Poster Competition
Urban Heat in Nashville, Tennessee: A Study of Land Cover and Associated Temperatures
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Junior
Major
Geography/GIS
Minor
History
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Bassil El Masri
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect is the phenomenon that urban centers have higher temperatures than the rural areas that surround them. Excessive heat can cause numerous health problems along with stress on electrical grids. This study investigates the UHI in Nashville, Tennessee, one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, on August 6, 2024 at 3:56 p.m. using data from the Ecosystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station (ECOSTRESS) sensor. Utilizing case studies in downtown Nashville, Music Valley, Whites Creek, and Oak Hill, an analysis of land cover proved that dark urban surfaces like roads, parking lots, and buildings had far higher temperatures (up to 131.5ºF) than areas with natural land cover, such as forests and parks (as low as 66.8ºF). Thus, green roofs and increased green space prove to be potential solutions to solving excessive urban heat.
Spring Scholars Week 2025
Sigma Xi Poster Competition
Urban Heat in Nashville, Tennessee: A Study of Land Cover and Associated Temperatures
The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect is the phenomenon that urban centers have higher temperatures than the rural areas that surround them. Excessive heat can cause numerous health problems along with stress on electrical grids. This study investigates the UHI in Nashville, Tennessee, one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, on August 6, 2024 at 3:56 p.m. using data from the Ecosystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station (ECOSTRESS) sensor. Utilizing case studies in downtown Nashville, Music Valley, Whites Creek, and Oak Hill, an analysis of land cover proved that dark urban surfaces like roads, parking lots, and buildings had far higher temperatures (up to 131.5ºF) than areas with natural land cover, such as forests and parks (as low as 66.8ºF). Thus, green roofs and increased green space prove to be potential solutions to solving excessive urban heat.