MORICHI: a Dataset to Study Urban Overheating during Extreme Heat in a Hot-Summer Humid Continental Climate

Area of Science:

• Urban Climatology
• Environmental Science
• Remote Sensing

Background:

• Extreme heat events pose significant risks to urban populations.
• Understanding microscale urban thermal environments is crucial for developing effective heat mitigation strategies.
• Limited availability of high-resolution, localized urban heat data hinders research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel, open dataset of street-level weather and microscale thermal imagery.
• To facilitate research on urban overheating during extreme heat events.
• To provide data for analyzing factors influencing urban heat island effects.

Main Methods:

• Deployment of four street-level weather stations measuring temperature, humidity, wind, and rainfall.
• Capture of microscale thermal images using an infrared thermal camera in a university street canyon.
• Development of a Python library for data extraction and processing, especially thermal images.

Main Results:

• A comprehensive dataset of weather parameters and surface temperatures during an extreme heat event.
• Detailed thermal profiles of urban surfaces including roads, sidewalks, and building facades.
• Analysis of contributing factors to urban overheating, such as waste heat, traffic, and vegetation.

Conclusions:

• The dataset offers valuable insights into urban heat dynamics at a microscale.
• Public accessibility of the data and processing tools promotes further research and urban planning.
• This resource supports the development of targeted strategies to mitigate urban heat island effects.