Abstract :
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 study, the thermal environment of major cities in Greece (Athens, Thessaloniki, Patra, Volos and Heraklion) is
examined using satellite images provided by the Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) sensor on board Landsat 7 satellite corresponding
to the daytime and warm period when the surface urban heat island (SUHI) 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 also used, in an effort to define more effectively the link between surface emissivities, land surface temperatures and urban surface
characteristics.
2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
