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A study published in the journal PLOS Climate on October 2, 2024, examines the effectiveness of using land surface temperatures (LSTs) as proxies for surface air temperatures (SATs) in subtropical, seasonally wet regions.

Scientists at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, used satellite remote sensing data to explore how LST reflects human heat exposure in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The findings have important implications for urban heat adaptation strategies, raising questions about how well LST captures the full extent of outdoor heat exposure in this region and beyond.

Land surface temperature as a proxy for heat exposure

"LST data, gathered by satellite imaging, have long been used to estimate surface air temperature—the temperature people experience outdoors," said Nkosi Muse, a Ph.D. candidate in the Abess Graduate Program in Environmental Science and Policy at the Rosenstiel School and the lead author of the study.

"LSTs are a key component of lower atmosphere processes and can be studied at high resolutions—important for understanding urban heat risks and informing adaptive strategies, especially as cities grow hotter due to climate change and urban development," he notes.

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