Application of satellite remote sensing for urban risk analysis : a case study of the 2003 extreme heat wave in Paris

International audienceSatellite observations are used to monitor the august 2003 heat wave in Paris and their environmental risk assessment and to health alert systems are discussed

Evolution climatique et canicule en milieu urbain : apport de la télédétection à l'anticipation et à la gestion de l'impact sanitaire

rapport finalSummer warming trends in Western Europe are increasing the incidence, intensity and duration of heat waves. These are especially deadly in cities owing to surface properties, anthropogenic heat and pollutants. In August 2003, for nine consecutive days, the Paris metropolitan area experienced an extreme heat wave that caused 4,867 heatrelated deaths. A time series of 84 satellite thermal images, from July 21 to August 21 2003 was used to analyze surface temperature variations and the associated heat stress. Satellite observations indicate significant surface temperature gradients and contrasted daytime / nighttime urban heat island patterns. The relatively small temperature amplitude in reference to a normal summer confirms the impact of high minimum temperatures on the heat wave process, lack of nighttime relief and on the subsequent heat stress and mortality. Maps of temperature thresholds and areas most vulnerable to heat stress were delineated. Thermal indices were produced at the addresses of 482 case studies and were integrated into a regression model to estimate the risk factors of mortality for elderly people during the heat wave. Thermal indices for minimum, maximum, mean surface temperatures and diurnal amplitude were tested on the day of death and 1, 2, 6 or 13 days preceding. Results from the linear regression analysis were statistically significant for minimum temperatures. For an increase of 0.5°C, the death risk can be twice as high. A summertime satellite surveillance is being developed to inform the public and authorities about extreme surface temperatures and related heat stress. This analysis demonstrates the relevance of satellite remote sensing in monitoring heat waves in megacities, in estimating the health impact and implementing alert systems and public health strategies

The Impact of Heat Islands on Mortality in Paris during the August 2003 Heat Wave

Background: Heat waves have a drastic impact on urban populations, which could increase with climate change

Microclimats urbains et occupation des sols : observations satellitaires de Paris et Los Angeles

Note portant sur l’auteur INTRODUCTION L’urbanisation altère les flux d’énergie de surface, génère des microclimats et provoque une différence de température entre les zones rurales et urbaines appelée îlot de chaleur. L’augmentation des températures urbaines modifie les réactions chimiques dans l’atmosphère, la concentration et la diffusion des polluants, et crée des sources d’inconfort et de danger pour la santé. La standardisation, la couverture globale, la haute résolution spatiale et tem..

Observations satellitaires des variations de température de la surface urbaine: exemples des villes de Marseille et de Paris.

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Application of satellite remote sensing for urban risk analysis : a case study of the 2003 extreme heat wave in Paris

International audienceSatellite observations are used to monitor the august 2003 heat wave in Paris and their environmental risk assessment and to health alert systems are discussed

Satellite monitoring of summer heat waves in the Paris metropolitan area

11 p.International audienceIn August 2003, for 9 consecutive days, the Paris metropolitan area experienced an extreme heat wave that caused 4867 estimated heat-related deaths. A set of 61 NOAA-AVHRR images and one SPOT-high resolution visible image were used to analyse the spatial variations of land surface temperature (LST) over the diurnal cycle during the heat wave.LSTs were sampled from images at the addresses of 482 elderly people to produce daily and cumulative minimal, maximal and mean thermal indicators, over various periods of time.These indicators were integrated into a conditional logistic regression model to test their use as heat exposure indicators, based on risk factors. Over the period 1–13 August, thermal indicators taking into account minimum nocturnal temperatures averaged over 7 days or over the whole period were significantly linked to mortality. These results show the extent of the spatial variability in urban climate variables and the impact of night-time temperatures on excess mortality

UBL/CLU-ESCOMPTE: the urban boundary layer field experiment over Marseille and the data base

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