Investigation of heat islands using small scale models

The possibility and criteria for small scale physical modelling of Urban Heat Islands are examined. It is shown that the flow and temperature fields above a particular class of Urban Heat Islands, which are termed Simple Heat Islands (SHI), can be modelled using area sources of buoyancy produced by either fires with thin combustion layers, hot plates or a flux of helium. Available measurements of the flow and temperature fields induced by such area sources of buoyancy are used to analyze the characteristics of SHIs. The analysis reveals several new interesting characteristics of heat islands. The possibility of modelling the flow and temperature field above different types of heat islands is also examined.