Thesis supervisor: Zsófia Kugler
Location of studies (in Hungarian): BME Fotogrammetria és Térinformatika Tanszék Abbreviation of location of studies: BMEFT
Description of the research topic:
Large scale climate represent weather conditions in regional spatial scale while microclimate refers to a climate over a very small area. Local conditions can alter meteorological conditions, for example the presence of vegetation causes cooler and wetter microclimate than its surroundings. It has been observed that urban areas are generally warmer than its surrounding rural environment. This phenomenon is called the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. Multiple factors like change in surface materials, lack of evapotranspiration, urban canyon effect and anthropogenic heat release may cause the formation of UHIs. According to the Met Office factsheet in the UK temperature contrast of urban (London) and rural areas was found to be up to 5°C on in mid-May during clear sky conditions. Climate change is expected to exacerbate the UHI effect, increasing the cooling energy consumption and also severely affecting human health. Based on the global population distribution facts in Europe over 70% of its population lives in urban settlement with growing trends. Understanding and analysing urban microclimate, evaluating UHI effect and heatwave vulnerability is particularly important for urban public planning measures and emergency services. For this reason, urban planning, urban landscape design and emergency services should obtain a clear understanding of the phenomenon in order to plan sustainable measure and mitigation strategies for the current and future situations.
Urban microclimate characteristics are difficult to measure since the sampling density of in-situ meteorological stations are usually not dense enough to reveal spatial distribution of local weather parameters. To set an example in Budapest (Hungary) only 4 meteorological observation stations are in operation and not all set in standard measuring environment. Hence to study urban effects on local microclimate, asses risk and resilience of urban population related to heatwaves urban microclimate has to be expressed using simulations, modelling supported by in-direct measures.
In urban thermal environmental studies, the land surface temperature (LST) by thermal infrared remote sensing techniques can characterise the heterogeneous urban environment better then meteorological air temperature measures. For this reason the PhD candidate should study remote sensing resources for urban heat mapping. Further should develop skills in land surface temperature calculations for Hungarian urban settlement and should conduct temperature analysis not only during heat wave events. Changes in spatial distribution of heat island patterns or time series trends should also be a focus of his/her PhD curriculum. Results should serve the basis of better understanding of heat island effects and variations due to climate change effects.
Number of students who can be accepted: 1
Deadline for application: 2024-05-31
2024. IV. 17. ODT ülés Az ODT következő ülésére 2024. június 14-én, pénteken 10.00 órakor kerül sor a Semmelweis Egyetem Szenátusi termében (Bp. Üllői út 26. I. emelet).
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