Satellite-derived subsurface urban heat island.

ABSTRACT

The subsurface urban heat island (SubUHI) is one part of the overall UHI specifying the relative warmth of urban ground temperatures against the rural background. To combat the challenge on measuring extensive underground temperatures with in situ instruments, we utilized satellite-based moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer data to reconstruct the subsurface thermal field over the Beijing metropolis through a three-time-scale model. The results show the SubUHI's high spatial heterogeneity. Within the depths shallower than 0.5 m, the SubUHI dominates along the depth profiles and analyses imply the moments for the SubUHI intensity reaching first and second extremes during a diurnal temperature cycle are delayed about 3.25 and 1.97 h per 0.1 m, respectively. At depths shallower than 0.05 m in particular, there is a subsurface urban cool island (UCI) in spring daytime, mainly owing to the surface UCI that occurs in this period. At depths between 0.5 and 10 m, the time for the SubUHI intensity getting to its extremes during an annual temperature cycle is lagged 26.2 days per meter. Within these depths, the SubUHI prevails without exception, with an average intensity of 4.3 K, varying from 3.2 to 5.3 K.