Assessing the thermal environment of major cities in Greece

Satellite images in the thermal infrared can be used for assessing the thermal urban environment as well as for defining heat islands in urban areas. In this paper, the thermal environment of major cities in Greece (Athens, Thessaloniki, Patra, Volos and Heraklion) is examined by using satellite images provided by the Landsat
Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) sensor on board Landsat 7 platform corresponding to daytime and warm period, when the surface urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon is best observed. The spatial structure of the thermal urban environment is analyzed in each case study and the “hottest” surfaces within the urban settings
are identified and related to the urban surface characteristics and land use. For the needs of the study, the Corine land cover (CLC) database for Greece is used, in an effort to define more effectively the link between emissivities, surface temperatures and urban surface characteristics. Results are examined with respect to
the specific city characteristics and are used for supporting urban – land use – planning.