Identificação e análise do fenômeno das ilhas de calor urbano no município de Vitória, ES

Abstract

The accelerated urban growth and the replacement of vegetated areas by impervious surfaces have intensified the Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon, especially in tropical cities such as Vitória, Brazil. This study analyzed how urban vegetation influences the formation and (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index NDVI and Green Area Index GAI), urbanization indices (Normalized Difference Built-Up Index NDBI and Built-Up Index BU), and thermal indices (Land Surface Temperature LST, Thermal Discomfort Index TDI, and Urban Thermal Field Variation Index UTFVI) were used. Data were obtained from the OLI sensor aboard Landsat 8, in addition to demographic data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) and meteorological data from the National Institute of Meteorology (INMET) for the years 2013 and 2023. The results indicate that areas with greater vegetation cover showed milder surface temperatures, while densely urbanized neighborhoods, such as the city center and the industrial district, recorded the highest UHI levels. The UTFVI index revealed an intensification of urban thermal stress over the decade, correlated with increased urbanization and the reduction of green areas. The correlation among indices demonstrated that vegetation plays a moderate role in mitigating thermal stress in Vitória; however, its uneven distribution creates microclimates that impact neighborhoods heterogeneously. This study highlights the need for urban policies that prioritize the expansion and preservation of green areas to mitigate UHI effects and promote greater thermal comfort for the population