The use of remotely sensed data to estimate the heat island effect in the central part of Taiwan

It is our goal to obtain a better scientific understanding of how to define the nature and role of remotely sensed land surface parameters and energy fluxes in the heat island phenomena, and local and regional weather and climate. By using the TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) visible and thermal imagery data and analyzing the surface energy flux images associated with the change of the landcover and land use in the study area, we present how significant is the magnitude of the heat island heat effect and its relation with the surface parameters and the energy fluxes in the Taichung area of Taiwan. We used the energy budget components such as net radiation, soil heat flux, sensible heat flux, and latent heat flux in the study area of interest derived form remotely sensed data to understand the island heat effect in Taichung. The results show that water is the most important component to decrease the temperature, and the more the consumed net radiation to latent heat, the lower the urban surface temperature.