Urban heat island spatio-temporal dynamics in the city of Mexico

Abstract

Until now, knowledge of the configuration and conformation of the Urban Heat Island (UHI) in the metropolitan area of Mexico City was an unresolved problem. For this reason, the main objective of this research is to define and characterise the dynamics of the Urban Heat Island in Mexico City and its bordering urbanised area belonging to the adjacent State of Mexico, both in time and space. The records of the active meteorological stations belonging to the Government of Mexico City, which are responsible for recording the databases for some climatic variables from 1980 to 2010, have been used for its elaboration. Their collection and use, together with the application of a series of geostatistical analysis procedures using the geographic information programme, ArcGIS, © have allowed us to elaborate a set of maps delimited under a series of predefined selection criteria and conditioned in the temporal and spatial framework, which have made it possible to visualise the Heat Island phenomenon and its dynamics. Knowledge of the typical spatial patterns of UHI is fundamental to propose mitigation measures, and to know the most common intensities and configurations. This will be key to the provision of planning measures for the prevention and mitigation of climate change in the short term and will be necessary to improve the thermal comfort of citizens in urban outdoor spaces according to SDG 13 "Climate Action".