A recent study by researchers from the University of Granada and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro has mapped the thermal risk areas of Granada and its metropolitan area, analysing how the distribution of green spaces can contribute to mitigate the urban heat island (UHI) effect. As urban environments are increasingly vulnerable to climate change, understanding these dynamics is essential to design effective mitigation and adaptation strategies based on scientific evidence.
The study used the InVEST (Integrative Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs) model, a free and open source tool used to map and value ecosystem services. The researchers integrated high-resolution biophysical and social information from multiple sources (REDIAM, SIPNA, PNOA, GEE, IECA and INE). Key variables such as land surface and air temperature, evapotranspiration, and vegetation and building cover were obtained from satellite imagery and existing climate data, allowing for accurate simulations of urban heat exposure and identification of the most affected hotspots in the city of Granada. Statistical tools were also used to examine how different vegetation patterns influence heat mitigation, identifying the most effective green infrastructure elements.
https://canal.ugr.es/noticia/zonas-de-mayor-riesgo-termico-en-granada-y-su-entorno-metropolitano/
Sources:
Article published in the scientific journal Urban Forestry & Urban Greening: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2025.128794
Biocitrees project website
https://canal.ugr.es/noticia/la-ugr-desarrolla-un-proyecto-para-demostrar-como-los-arboles-disminuyen-la-contaminacion-y-la-isla-de-calor-en-las-ciudades/
Contact:
Nuria Pistón Caballero: nuriapiston@ugr.es
Regino Zamora: rzamora@ugr.es
Department of Ecology
Andalusian Institute for Earth System Research