Urban Heat Island in Madrid

Madrid Weather

Concept Description

Madrid has faced the consequences of the urban heat island (UHI) in recent years, with temperatures in the city up to 3-5°C higher than in surrounding rural areas. The UHI has resulted in increased energy consumption and air pollution, as well as heat-related illnesses and decreased tourism. The city government has taken steps to address the issue, such as creating green spaces and using reflective materials on buildings.

The UHI effect in Madrid has had a significant impact on the health and well-being of the city’s residents. Higher temperatures can lead to heat-related illnesses and put vulnerable populations at risk. The economic consequences of the UHI are also significant, affecting worker productivity and increasing costs for businesses. To mitigate the UHI in Madrid, the city government has implemented various measures, but more needs to be done to effectively address the issue.

High temperatures are concentrated in the center of the city

Urban Heat Island

During the morning the blue colors located in the center of the city represent the “cool heats”, which are the result of heat release from the buildings during the night. We can see that the thermal heat island is located in the peripheries and at night we would have the red colors in the center of the city due to all the radiation released by the buildings