Urban Heat and Cool Island and Local Climate Zones in Balneário Camboriú, Brazil: Magnitudes in a Winter Period

1. Introduction

Several variables influence the urban climate, including local climatic patterns and geographic features, which determine whether the climate is continental or marine. Although the first two elements are beyond human control, anthropogenic activities are directly responsible for climate change that impacts local weather. As a result, rising urbanization and urban morphology are factors directly generated by humans [1].

In this regard, the increase of urbanization and excessive human activity has resulted in a significant change in the earth’s surface and atmospheric conditions. It is at the earth’s surface where the most microclimate variability occurs, depending on the city’s structure (size, form, and relationships), and this influences the climatic qualities of the environment [2].

Urban Heat Islands (UHI) are a well-known phenomenon that cause considerable increases in air temperature (Ta) [3,4]. The first suggested the notion of IHU was in 1833, after noting the difference in Ta between urban and rural habitats [5,6,7,8,9,10].

UHI can develop both during the day and at night, however according to various authors, they are more common during the summer and typically peak at night [3,11,12,13]. The effects of UHI are caused by a variety of factors, including biological, economic, and meteorological processes, changes in scaling, changes in the canopy layer, air pollution, anthropogenic heat, thermal properties of materials, building geometry and dimensions (Urban Canyon), and the reduction of green spaces [14,15,16,17].

The notion of Urban Cool Islands (UCI) applies both during the day and at night. They may weaken or even invert throughout the day, as in metropolitan regions, which may have lower temperatures than rural places. This is due to variables such as skyscraper shadowing, the presence of vegetation, bodies of water, and other things that can reduce surface Ta in dense metropolitan environments as compared to rural locations. The size of UCI changes with the seasons or throughout the daily cycle and is largely reliant on current meteorological circumstances [18,19].

Depending on the meteorological conditions at the time the measurements are collected, the presence of UCI can be noticed in specific locations of the city. On sunny days, densely covered spaces may be cooler than outside regions, while on overcast days, these effects may be mitigated [18].

Urban bodies of water, such as rivers, seas, reservoirs, lakes, and tiny lagoons, are one of the variables that lead to the establishment of freshwater islands. These water bodies serve a critical role in enhancing the thermal environment of cities. Studies have shown that they have a significant cooling effect [20], identifying three main characteristics: 1) the thermal effect of water bodies compared to other types of land use; 2) the relationship between the characteristics of the water body and the water temperature; and 3) the impact of the spatial characteristics of water bodies (area, geometry) on the cooling effect.

The distribution of temperature in an urbanized region is also affected by the urban layout. Several researches have used the Local Climatic Zones (LCZs) technique to study the association between UHI/ UCI and urban morphology. LCZs were created with the goal of describing urban settings for microscale temperature investigations. The landscapes were described by structure (height and spacing of buildings and trees), surface (im)permeability, and other characteristics that impact microscale measurements [21]. The World Urban Database and Access Portal Tools (WUDAPT) was created with the goal of enabling the definition of LCZs and enhancing the flow of work done using this technique. It provides free mapping of cities through LCZs [22].

To predict UHI behavior based on structure, location, and urban (im)permeability is always important in researches in urban climatology [23,24]. One example is the evaluation of the growth of UHI in Aracaju, Brazil, between 2014 and 2016, associating it with the city’s diverse climate zones [25], in which was confirmed the production of stronger UHI during the colder season, which is driven by a decrease in air speed. Furthermore, the proximity to the water helped to reduce heat while also enhancing local natural ventilation.

Balneário Camboriú is the most verticalized city in Southern Hemisphere [26]. Its subtropical location implies that it is subject to the influence of several atmospheric conditions [27]. These active systems are antagonistic forces that cause clashes throughout the year at various times. Extratropical active systems, such as polar masses and fronts, and intertropical (tropical masses and disturbed currents) are examples.

Previous study has demonstrated that Balneário Camboriú has varied habitats in two local climatic zones, and some interact with atmospheric systems in a complex way, resulting in diverse microclimatic environments [28,29,30]. In this regard, the study concerns to comprehend the link between the UHI and UCI in the Local Climatic Zones existent in the city of Balneário Camboriú, as determined by the atmospheric systems during winter days, from June 1st to 14th 2022.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Area Characterization

The research area is the city of Balneário Camboriú in the state of Santa Catarina (SC), Southern Brazil. Its central point is located at 26° 59’ 42” south latitude and 48° 37’ 46” west longitude. Balneário Camboriú is located in the Itajaí Valley Mesoregion and is part of the Itajaí microregion [31], in the North Coast of Santa Catarina. (Figure 1).

Balneário Camboriú is bounded to the north by Itajaí, to the south by Itapema, and to the east by Camboriú municipalities. The Atlantic Ocean lies to the west. The primary road into the city is BR 101, which runs to the west of the municipality and acts as the border between Camboriú and Balneário Camboriú (Figure 1).

According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the absolute population of Balneário Camboriú in the 2022 census was 139,115 people, occupying an area of 46.80 km². The whole population is concentrated in the Balneário Camboriú urban area, with a population density of 3,077.70 people per squared kilometer.

In comparison to the 2010 census, the population of Balneário Camboriú increased by 28.74%. In that year, the city had 149,227 residents, accounting for 1.73% of the entire population of the state of Santa Catarina. The population distribution by gender revealed that 47.55% were males and 52.45% were women. The statistics also revealed the municipality’s age makeup, with 26.0% of the population being under the age of 18, 62.2% being adults, and 11.8% being old. These figures are spread throughout the 14 neighborhoods of the city. [31].

2.2. Points and Instruments Used for Collection

For this investigation, 11 fixed points for sample collection were chosen. Figure 2 depicts the distribution of these collecting stations in the Balneário Camboriú urban area.

The 11 points were counted from 00 to 10, being 00 the natural/rural reference for the calculations, and points from 01 to 10, the urban environments. The collection locations depicted in Figure 2 were chosen to reflect a wide range of land uses and occupations within the municipality. Chart 1 provides information on the 11 collecting stations located across the research region.

Chart 1 shows the nomenclature assigned to each location, as well as its geographic coordinates, height in respect to sea level, and a brief description of the environment in which it is located. In addition, an aerial image from Google Earth Pro (2021) in which the collecting site is placed and the land cover within a radius of 100 meters may be viewed.

A low-cost polypropylene meteorological shelter was erected at the selected locations, as recommended by [32]. An HT 500 Instrutherm thermo-hygrometer was installed in each weather shelter. These gadgets, dubbed dataloggers, were set to gather Ta data every 30 minutes. The accuracy and precision of the equipment was measured, tested and used in other research, including in the same city in previous research in a previous collection period, but part of the same project to investigate the urban climate of Balneário Camboriú [28,30].

2.3. Analysis of the Magnitude of UHI and UCI

The magnitude of UHI and UCI were calculated using the thermal differential values between the warmest and coolest points in the research region [33]. Equation 1 expresses the thermal magnitude.

$$\mathrm{M}\mathrm{h}\mathrm{p}\mathrm{i}=\mathrm{T}\mathrm{h}\mathrm{p}\mathrm{i}-\mathrm{T}\mathrm{h}\mathrm{p}\mathrm{r}$$

(1)

Where:

Mhpi is the magnitude of the UHI or UCI at a given point (pi) at time h;

Thpi is the Ta recorded at a given point (pi) at time h;

Thpr is the Ta recorded at the reference point (pr) at time h (Point 00).

Because it is located in an area with dense vegetation and low urban concentration, this study uses Point 00 as a reference point for determining the magnitude of UHI and UCI. According to the index shown in Table 1, the categorization of magnitudes according to intensity was developed in line with what was pointed out by [33].

Furthermore, in order to investigate the overall synoptic processes, the atmospheric systems operating in the research region had to be identified. The GOES-13 satellite photos, which are available on the CPTEC/INPE website, as well as the surface synoptic charts given by the Brazilian Navy, were investigated for this purpose.

For winter period in this latitude, day time was considered the period between 7am to 6pm, and night time from 6:30pm until 6:30am of the next day [29].

3. Results

3.1. LCZ in Balneário Camboriú

World Urban Database and Access Portal Tools (WUDAPT) technique [21,30] was used in this research to determine the Local Climate Zones for Balneário Camboriú. The following LCZs were found by the authors in the research area: LCZ 1, LCZ 2, LCZ 3, LCZ 4, LCZ 5, LCZ 6, LCZ 8, LCZ A, LCZ B, LCZ D, LCZ E, LCZ F, and LCZ G. As indicated in Figure 3, the data collecting locations are located in five of these LCZs: LCZ 1, LCZ 3, LCZ 6, LCZ 8, and LCZ 9.

LCZ 1 is defined as an area with a high density of tall structures [21] (more than 10 stories), few or no trees, and is located near the beach sand strip (LCZ F) and the Atlantic Ocean (LCZ G). LCZ 3 is located in the furthest part of the Atlantic Ocean and is defined as a region with a high density of low structures with up to three stories, few or no trees, and heavily paved land. LCZ 1 and LCZ 3 best depict Balneário Camboriú, urbanized areas with few or no trees and heavy traffic [30].

LCZ 6 is located in the northern portion of the municipality and is distinguished by a spaced layout of medium-sized buildings (between 3 and 9 stories) and permeable soil covering. LCZ 08 is the class that includes single-story low-rise structures. LCZ 09, on the other hand, is one of the least urbanized classes in this study, with fewer buildings, more permeable soil covering, and a larger prevalence of trees. LCZ A is made up of heavily forested vegetation that is mostly permeable.

Point 00, as indicated in Figure 3, is located in LCZ 9, which is distinguished by low-rise building designs and permeable soil. Point 01 lies near LCZ A (thick vegetation), on the Camboriú River’s right bank, LCZ 8 (big low-rise structures and impermeable soil), and LCZ 9, whereas Point 02 is completely immersed in LCZ 3, in an area of low, compact buildings with impermeable soil.

Points 03 and 04 are in LCZ 1 (skyscraper, compact, and waterproof). What distinguishes the two is that Point 04 is influenced by LCZ F, which is characterized by exposed soil, which does not occur with Point 03 because it is inserted in LCZ 1 and under its influence only. Point 05, on the other hand, is in an LCZ 3, near to LCZ 1, and point 06 is in both LCZ 1 and LCZ A. Point 07 sits at the bank of a creek (LCZ A) and in an LCZ 6 with medium-sized structures. Point 08 is in an LCZ 8 and point 09 and 10 in LCZ 3.

3.2. Ta data from Collection Points

Using Point 00 as the reference point for this study, the average Ta recorded at this position for the data collecting period was 16.1°C. During the investigated time period, the absolute maximum and lowest Ta recorded at the reference site were 23.6°C and 8.9°C, respectively, resulting in a thermal amplitude of 14.7°C. Table 3 displays the average temperature data, absolute maximum and lowest temperatures, and thermal amplitude of the 11-research area representative locations.

During this study, the lowest average Ta reported in Balneário Camboriú was 15.9°C, recorded at Point 01, a location impacted by three separate local climate zones, LCZ 8, LCZ 9, and LCZ A. The highest average Ta for the data collecting period, 17.2°C, was recorded at Point 09, as was the absolute maximum temperature, 28.8°C. Point 09 is situated inside LCZ 3. Point 03 in LCZ 1 had the lowest absolute maximum temperature and the greatest absolute minimum temperature (22.3°C and 9.5°C, respectively), as well as the lowest thermal amplitude measured throughout the examined time. Point 01 had the lowest absolute minimum temperature in the study region, at 7.8°C.

3.3. Magnitudes of UHI and UCI in Balneário Camboriú

Figure 4 depicts the absolute maximum and lowest magnitudes of daily UHI and UCI (7am to 6pm) for each Ta recording station.

Maximum UHI magnitudes reached moderate intensity throughout the day in Points 01, 06, 07, 08, and 10. The UHI achieved their peak magnitude throughout the analysis period at points 02 and 04, respectively. Points 03, 05, and 09 recorded extremely intense heat islands.

During the day, the UCI were detected with moderate intensity at the greatest number of collection places (01, 02, 04, 06, 07, 08, 09, and 10). The magnitudes of the UCI were greatest at Points 03 and 05, with very strong and strong intensities, respectively. The intensity of both Ta islands was found to be lower at night, between 6:30 p.m. and 6 a.m., compared to the daylight period. Figure 5 depicts the magnitudes of the nighttime UHI and UCI.

Moderately intense nocturnal UHI were detected at locations 01, 02, 06, 08, 09, and 10. UHI of high intensity were reported at points 03, 04, and 05. Point 07 was the only one with a high UHI intensity. Five of these places had the same UHI intensities as during the day. Another four places had lesser UHI magnitudes, with just one showing an increase in heat intensity when compared to daylight.

During the night, points 03, 04, 06, 07, and 08 recorded islands of low intensity coolness. UCI of moderate intensity was found at locations 02, 05, 09, and 10. During the night period, Point 01 reported an UCI with a high intensity. When the magnitudes of the UCI were compared during the day and at night, it was discovered that the intensity of the UCI remained constant in three spots. During the night, five points reported a drop in the intensity of the UCI, while two places recorded an increase in the intensity of the coolness.

When monitoring UHI and UCI hourly, fluctuations in the incidence of phenomena can be observed throughout the day. Figure 6, Figure 7 and Figure 8 depict the hourly evolution (between 00:00 and 23:00) of the magnitudes of UHI and UCI recorded at the 10 places examined between June 1st and 14th, 2022. For better visualization, the points were separated into three groups.

Except for Point 01, all sites in Figure 6 displayed UHI of weak, moderate, or strong intensity, and in a time span that began at 4 p.m. and ended around 6 a.m. At each place, UCI appear at various periods. Point 01, for example, had negative magnitudes in practically all of the period’s recordings. Points 03, 05, 06, 07, 08, and 09 all displayed negative magnitudes between the early morning and early afternoon. Only at night and on specified days did points 02 and 09 record negative magnitudes.

In the case of UHI, heat bubbles display increased intensity at the end of the day (5/6pm) and the early hours of the night (till 11pm) at points 01, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, and 10. The most significant UHI at point 02 occurred between 1pm to 3pm The most extreme UHI was observed during the morning and early afternoon (between 8:30am and 2pm) at Point 09, which had the highest UHI magnitude value of the time (8.4°C). According to Figure 6, the heat at Point 09 was the most substantial over the time.

The UCI observed during the analysis period do not follow an hourly trend. Points 01, 02, and 09 in Figure 8 recorded the lowest negative magnitudes at 8pm and remained on the UCI until the early morning hours of the following day, but with less intensity. During the day, the other places reported the lowest magnitudes of UCI. The most powerful of them occurred in the morning at points 03 and 06, while points 04, 05, 07, 08, and 10 reported more substantial UCI between 12pm and 2pm. Figure 6, Figure 7 and Figure 8 further reveal that the maximum intensities of the UHI and UCI phenomena found in this investigation occurred between June 11th and 14th.

The era’s synoptic analysis revealed that two distinct synoptic conditions occurred throughout the data collecting period, which were classified as cyclonic and anticyclonic. The passage of polar frontal systems and frontal cyclones affected or influenced the city during the cyclonic days. Overcast sky, air instability with rainfall, and minimum temperatures over 15.0°C define this period. Clear skies and no cloud cover were seen during the anticyclonic period, resulting in surface heating by direct solar radiation during the day and adiabatic cooling during the night. Minimum Ta were below 15.0°C throughout this time period.

The cyclonic phase is between the 1st to 3rd of June 2022, and the 6th to 10th of June 2022, with a preponderance of atmospheric instability, cloudiness, and low-intensity rain. The city was under the authority of the Atlantic Polar Migratory Anticyclone and the Polar Air Mass during June 4th and 5th, as well as the 11th to 14th. The existing thermal disparity between these two anticyclonic period temporal slices is attributable to the loss of intensity of the Atlantic polar air mass as a result of fast warming and thermal increase. Otherwise, the Polar Air Mass that reached Balneário Camboriú was vigorous between June 11th to 14th, lowering temperatures and sustaining atmospheric stability, promoting dry days without clouds and contributing to the balance of daytime and evening energy.

3.4. Relation of LCZs, Average Ta and Day and Night Magnitudes of the UHI/UCI at Each Point

Table 4 shows how distinct metropolitan areas and their local climatic zones (as well as the affects of other neighboring zones) affect daytime and nighttime temperatures, as well as how these temperatures vary during the investigated period.

The highest average daily Ta recorded was 19.3°C at Point 9 (LCZ 3), while the lowest was 17.4°C at Point 1 (LCZ 9). Point 7 (LCZ 6) had the greatest average overnight Ta of 15.8°C, while Point 1 (LCZ 9) had the lowest average nighttime temperature of 4.5°C.

The magnitudes of the UHI discovered during the investigated period reveal that the maximum magnitude discovered during the day was 1.6°C at Point 9 (LCZ 3), while the lowest magnitude discovered during the day was -0.3°C at Point 1 (LCZ 9). The maximum magnitude during the night period was 1.1°C at Point 7 (LCZ 6). Point 1 (LCZ 9) had the lowest nighttime magnitude of -0.2°C.

Ta at LCZ 1 range from 17.5°C to 18.1°C during the day and from 15.4°C to 15.7°C at night. Magnitudes range from -0.1°C and 1.0°C during the day and 0.7°C and 1.0°C at night. Ta at LCZ 3 range from 17.6°C to 19.3°C during the day and 15.1°C to 15.6°C at night, with magnitudes ranging from 0.3°C to 1.6°C during the day and 0.4°C to 0.9°C at night.

The average Ta in LCZs 6 and 8 ranges from 17.6°C to 19.3°C during the day and from 15.1°C to 15.6°C at night. Variations in magnitude were found from 0.1°C to 0.8°C during the day and from 0.7°C to 1.1°C at night. LCZ 9 had the lowest Ta fluctuation, with -0.3°C magnitude during the day and -0.2°C magnitude at night.

Regarding the third column of Table 4, which concerns the LCZ influence, it was observed that the magnitudes presented at these points are related to the LCZ with the greatest vertical density, as points 01, 04, 05, 06 and 07 are located in areas of contact between different LCZs (Figure 3), with the LCZ mentioned in the third column being the one that had the most impact on the values mentioned.

4. Discussion

The research findings clearly revealed that skyscraper building in Balneário Camboriú has a significant influence on local Ta conditions [28,30]. The presence of these high-rise structures in the metropolis has an impact on heat absorption, ventilation, and the creation of heat islands. These changes in the urban landscape are responsible for modifying the conventional thermal field dynamics reported in the literature. In addition, the size and direction of the metropolitan road network influence the intensity or attenuation of these temperature shifts. Narrow streets and street direction can have an impact on shade, air circulation, and heat accumulation in certain places, amplifying the effects of verticalization on the thermal field.

The materials utilized in urban buildings have a high thermal capacity and thermal emittance, resulting in delayed cooling late in the afternoon and at night [2]. Thus, heat island magnitudes rapidly grow after sunset, peaking at night and declining till daybreak [2,21].

The magnitudes of UHI and UCI varied less throughout the day and night periods at places in LCZs with sparse array building architectures (LCZs 6, 8, and 9). The same is true for the points influenced by LCZ A (Point 06, LCZ 1), with the dense vegetation typical of this LCZ contributing to climate control in nearby areas, even in densely urbanized LCZs such as LCZ 1, LCZ 3, and LCZ 6, attenuating the difference in the intensities of heat and cool island phenomena due to the strong presence of trees [21].

The LCZs 1 and 3 reported more substantial magnitudes of urban heat and coolness in well-defined temporal spaces. The nighttime UHI in LCZ 1 last from late afternoon till before daybreak. This LCZ’s UCI are likewise highly defined, occurring during the day. Unlike LCZ 1, LCZ 3 tracks the presence of high-intensity UHI during the day. The UCI seen in this LCZ have a low to moderate intensity and are virtually usually documented at night [30].

The effect of LCZ F (exposed soil) on the Ta of LCZ 1 minimizes the incidence of UCI, as seen at point 03 vs point 04. Both are in typical LCZ 1 zone, however at point 03, the existence of the sand strip near to LCZ 1 and the higher incidence of solar radiation impact the heating of the local air. Point 03, on the other hand, is in a highly built-up region with towering structures that obstruct much of the sun radiation and local air movement. Sea wind does not necessarily have a favorable influence on Ta reduction, especially in metropolitan settings. As a result, urban morphology and land use become the primary factors affecting Ta in these places [34].

In metropolitan regions, the horizontal Ta gradient increases from the outskirts to the city center. This trend, however, can be disrupted depending on intra-urban land uses, which, as demonstrated by the data, alter temperature. Factors such as dense vegetation, closeness to water bodies, and the energy balance itself on a microscale can cause the local air to be colder than the metropolitan norm, resulting in “cold islands” [14]. Furthermore, the humidity in the urban atmosphere is higher than the natural/rural atmosphere during winter period [35] which may be a factor that contributes to the increase in the magnitude of urban heat islands.

Because urban morphology alters heating patterns in these places, it is believed that the urban layout is an essential agent affecting the distribution of temperature in this environment [36,37,38,39]. It is feasible to comprehend the distinct hourly patterns and intensity of heat islands by connecting the magnitudes of heat islands with the LCZ calculated for each position.

Furthermore, the synoptic factors associated with the magnitudes of UHI found in this experiment are consistent with studies indicating the occurrence of the most intense UHI and UCI under very specific atmospheric conditions of clear skies, low wind speed, little or no cloudiness, and no precipitation [2,9,18,40]. Also, independent of the features of buildings and land use, temperatures inside urban areas tend to homogenize in situations of meteorological instability, such as increased wind speed and cloudiness [14,41].

5. Conclusions

This study was a substantial attempt to increase information about climatic dynamics in towns confronting a trend of intensified verticalization in a coastal subtropical environment. The findings and conclusions are important contributions to understanding the specific climatic difficulties that these metropolitan regions confront.

The experiment results indicate that LCZs with a sparse building layout (LCZ 6, LCZ 8, and LCZ 9) and LCZs with a high presence of flora (LCZ A) have lower intensity magnitudes of heat and coolness. The period’s largest magnitudes of UHI and UCI were reported in LCZs 1 and 3. The observation showed that there is no correlation between the average magnitude of UHI and UCI and the defines LCZs. This study’s synoptic analysis confirms earlier research that points to atmospheric stability (Anticyclonic domain) as a favorable atmospheric setting for the emergence of UHI and UCI.

However, there is a restriction to the study of the influence of sea breeze in this research, which is the lack of a higher number of sea breeze measurement equipment wind speed and direction at a greater number of data collecting stations. In this study, it was not able to conduct a more in-depth investigation of the impact of the marine wind. This is a severe drawback since it limits a comprehensive knowledge of wind patterns and climatic fluctuations in Balneário Camboriú.

Finally, this experiment demonstrates the need for additional in-depth investigation into the thermal variation of the Balneário Camboriú urban area. A longer time of data collection is required, as well as the examination of additional atmospheric and environmental/urban factors at the surface level, such as relative air humidity, wind flow, and the sky view factor techniques. A comparison between summer and winter conditions will be of interest and also the comparison of atmospheric humidity.