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Cochran_Nancy_Final_201440.pdf (10.37 MB)

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Detection of Urban Heat Islands in the Great Lakes Region with GLOBE Student Surface Temperature Measurements

Cochran, Nancy E
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1418421488

Abstract Details

2014, Master of Arts, University of Toledo, Geography.
Modern urbanization changes the albedo, temperature and hydrography of the natural landscape resulting in an increase in surface temperature of urban areas compared to the surrounding rural areas. This urban-rural temperature difference is called Urban Heat Island (UHI). This research utilizes GLOBE student surface temperature data in the study of UHIs and provides a critical analysis of the viability of GLOBE data. The GLOBE Program is a worldwide program that engages students in scientific observation by providing protocols for the collection and reporting of environmental observations to a public database. The first objective of this research was to establish focus areas using climate and physiographic regions, for study of UHI using available GLOBE data in the Great Lakes region. The second objective compared GLOBE surface temperature data to Landsat thermal imagery in order to determine validity of GLOBE measurements and ability to detect UHI. Previous research has established an expected temperature difference between Landsat Thermal Imagery and in-situ ground measurements to be within 2.7°C (Goetz, 1997). Inherent to the student data is the potential for errors such as temperature reported in Fahrenheit rather than Celsius, local time instead of UTC time, inaccurate GPS coordinates of study site, and accuracy of surface temperature measured by the student. It is also difficult to find GLOBE data that was collected at the exact same time as the Landsat overpass time. Within these limitations, GLOBE data is most comparable to Landsat on vegetated surface cover within 1 hour of overpass time. Generally where Landsat detects UHI, GLOBE schools detect a UHI with the same magnitude. Finally, this research utilized GLOBE data in a comparison of surface temperature by cover type. This research found that impervious surface and urban location had the greatest warming influence on surface temperature. Urban areas tended to have a warming effect and when coupled with impervious surface cover; there was a strong warming effect.
Kevin Czajkowski (Committee Chair)
Beth Schlemper (Committee Member)
Patrick Lawrence (Committee Member)
101 p.
Climate Change; Geographic Information Science; Geography
Urban heat island, GLOBE Program, Remote sensing, surface temperature, Geographic Information System, Landsat-5

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Cochran, N. E. (2014). Detection of Urban Heat Islands in the Great Lakes Region with GLOBE Student Surface Temperature Measurements [Master's thesis, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1418421488

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Cochran, Nancy. Detection of Urban Heat Islands in the Great Lakes Region with GLOBE Student Surface Temperature Measurements. 2014. University of Toledo, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1418421488.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Cochran, Nancy. "Detection of Urban Heat Islands in the Great Lakes Region with GLOBE Student Surface Temperature Measurements." Master's thesis, University of Toledo, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1418421488

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

toledo1418421488
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This open access ETD is published by University of Toledo and OhioLINK.