URBAN HEAT ISLAND INTENSITY IN SANTO ANASTÁCIO (SP): A CONTRIBUTION TO URBAN CLIMATE STUDIES

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the atmospheric heat islands of Santo Anastácio, a small city located in the west of São Paulo State, in an area with a continental tropical climate. The heat islands were investigated at the level of the lower layer of the atmosphere, assuming the influence of urbanization. From two air temperature monitoring points, one positioned in the rural area and the other in the urban area, the intensities of UHI in the months of June and November 2017 were obtained. The results prove the occurrence of the phenomenon in the two highlighted months and their intensities were related to the action of the acting atmospheric systems. UHIs of moderate, strong and very strong magnitudes were diagnosed with nighttime predominance in the stable systems and the low magnitude was witnessed especially in the unstable systems. Diagnoses of this relevance show the relationship established between urbanization and air temperature and should be incorporated into urban structuring and planning.