It is a common belief that higher elevations are naturally cooler.
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It is a common belief that higher elevations are naturally cooler. In pristine landscapes, this rule holds firm. But what about urban environments? Humanity moves vast amounts of matter and energy, sometimes fundamentally altering the thermodynamic parameters of our habitat.
️ I correlated summer Land Surface Temperature (LST) data across Calgary’s neighborhoods with the Canadian Medium-Resolution Digital Elevation Model (MRDEM). The chart below illustrates the relationship between "Average Elevation" and "Average Surface Temperature" specifically for established residential communities. As observed, this relationship is notably weak, even though a slight cooling trend persists. Based on my data analysis, elevation above sea level is not a key factor in cooling the city.#Calgary #OpenData #UrbanHeat #DataScience #ClimateAction #YYC #GreennesOfCalgary #ClimateEquity #EnvironmentalEquity #CityPlanning #RemoteSensing #RStats #Landsat #fossgis #DigitalElevationModel
@datastory I mean, yeah, obviously. Building style and exposed soil surface in urban areas (including waterways like rivers) are a much better predictor of temperature.
Walk through an Italian city in summer and step on a bridge or in a park. It is subjectively noticeable. -
It is a common belief that higher elevations are naturally cooler. In pristine landscapes, this rule holds firm. But what about urban environments? Humanity moves vast amounts of matter and energy, sometimes fundamentally altering the thermodynamic parameters of our habitat.
️ I correlated summer Land Surface Temperature (LST) data across Calgary’s neighborhoods with the Canadian Medium-Resolution Digital Elevation Model (MRDEM). The chart below illustrates the relationship between "Average Elevation" and "Average Surface Temperature" specifically for established residential communities. As observed, this relationship is notably weak, even though a slight cooling trend persists. Based on my data analysis, elevation above sea level is not a key factor in cooling the city.#Calgary #OpenData #UrbanHeat #DataScience #ClimateAction #YYC #GreennesOfCalgary #ClimateEquity #EnvironmentalEquity #CityPlanning #RemoteSensing #RStats #Landsat #fossgis #DigitalElevationModel
@datastory it might be interesting to ask that question at a larger spatial scale than one city, thereby accessing greater temperature and altitude variation?
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@datastory I mean, yeah, obviously. Building style and exposed soil surface in urban areas (including waterways like rivers) are a much better predictor of temperature.
Walk through an Italian city in summer and step on a bridge or in a park. It is subjectively noticeable.@odr_k4tana @datastory I also would add the micro-climates + CO2 plays a role. México City is cooler than most cities in Mexico (2300m) but it's a valley and greenhouse effect make that some days it's warmer than coastal cities.
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It is a common belief that higher elevations are naturally cooler. In pristine landscapes, this rule holds firm. But what about urban environments? Humanity moves vast amounts of matter and energy, sometimes fundamentally altering the thermodynamic parameters of our habitat.
️ I correlated summer Land Surface Temperature (LST) data across Calgary’s neighborhoods with the Canadian Medium-Resolution Digital Elevation Model (MRDEM). The chart below illustrates the relationship between "Average Elevation" and "Average Surface Temperature" specifically for established residential communities. As observed, this relationship is notably weak, even though a slight cooling trend persists. Based on my data analysis, elevation above sea level is not a key factor in cooling the city.#Calgary #OpenData #UrbanHeat #DataScience #ClimateAction #YYC #GreennesOfCalgary #ClimateEquity #EnvironmentalEquity #CityPlanning #RemoteSensing #RStats #Landsat #fossgis #DigitalElevationModel
@datastory Is this controlling for latitude?
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@odr_k4tana @datastory I also would add the micro-climates + CO2 plays a role. México City is cooler than most cities in Mexico (2300m) but it's a valley and greenhouse effect make that some days it's warmer than coastal cities.
@maclenn77 @datastory yes, but you're neglecting water. Coastlines have a cooling effect usually, water soaks up temperature.
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@datastory it might be interesting to ask that question at a larger spatial scale than one city, thereby accessing greater temperature and altitude variation?
@dhduncan
My research focuses exclusively on the Calgary area. -
@datastory Is this controlling for latitude?
@eliocamp @datastory AFAIU, these are all suburbs in our near Calgary, so basically all located at the same latitude.
At this scale, I don't think altitude is a driving factor (as shown). I'd expect the micro climate, as in many parts of the world, to be the driving factor, e.g. topology, vegetation, location relative to mountains and valleys where venturi (funneled winds) and maybe chinooks(?) comes into play, and even the location of buildings, if scale is small enough.
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@eliocamp @datastory AFAIU, these are all suburbs in our near Calgary, so basically all located at the same latitude.
At this scale, I don't think altitude is a driving factor (as shown). I'd expect the micro climate, as in many parts of the world, to be the driving factor, e.g. topology, vegetation, location relative to mountains and valleys where venturi (funneled winds) and maybe chinooks(?) comes into play, and even the location of buildings, if scale is small enough.
@henrikbengtsson @datastory Ah, yeah. The horizonal range is about 200 m. There's not going to be such a big difference in temperature. The dry adiabatic lapse rate is about 1°C/100m, so you wouldn't expect more than 2°C difference between the lowest and highest location.
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@henrikbengtsson @datastory Ah, yeah. The horizonal range is about 200 m. There's not going to be such a big difference in temperature. The dry adiabatic lapse rate is about 1°C/100m, so you wouldn't expect more than 2°C difference between the lowest and highest location.
@eliocamp @henrikbengtsson @datastory
the sad point is income is usually a good proxy for urban heat ...
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It is a common belief that higher elevations are naturally cooler. In pristine landscapes, this rule holds firm. But what about urban environments? Humanity moves vast amounts of matter and energy, sometimes fundamentally altering the thermodynamic parameters of our habitat.
️ I correlated summer Land Surface Temperature (LST) data across Calgary’s neighborhoods with the Canadian Medium-Resolution Digital Elevation Model (MRDEM). The chart below illustrates the relationship between "Average Elevation" and "Average Surface Temperature" specifically for established residential communities. As observed, this relationship is notably weak, even though a slight cooling trend persists. Based on my data analysis, elevation above sea level is not a key factor in cooling the city.#Calgary #OpenData #UrbanHeat #DataScience #ClimateAction #YYC #GreennesOfCalgary #ClimateEquity #EnvironmentalEquity #CityPlanning #RemoteSensing #RStats #Landsat #fossgis #DigitalElevationModel
@datastory Elevation barely matters in cities.
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