from the I've-got-my-infrared-eye-on-you dept.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has at last started revealing infrared images captured by its Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite, after a nine-month wait for the equipment to cool to the required operating temperature of -200 degrees Celcius[sic].
The data will allow scientists to identify areas of heat on land and oceans to learn more about how expanding cities create 'urban heat islands' and how areas can recover from fires.
The images were made possible thanks to intricate infrared camera filters manufactured at the University of Reading, which were assembled within the Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer (SLSTR) instrument on board the satellite when it was launched in February.
Dr Gary Hawkins, associate professor in the Infrared Multilayer Laboratory at the University of Reading, said: "Future decisions on development and agriculture will soon be informed by the images made possible by our filters, which reveal at last the dramatic changes occurring on land and sea.
[...]Urban heat islands are pockets of air that develop around cities and are consistently significantly warmer than the surrounding area due to human activity.
This can cause increased rain in areas close to cities and warmer water that can damage ecosystems when it flows into surrounding rivers. Developers can reduce this effect through techniques such as using lighter-coloured surfaces that absorb less heat or 'green roofs', which are covered in vegetation.
(Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 29 2016, @08:46AM
Billionaires will be able to save a few pennies! Such progress. So wonderful.
(Score: 2) by bzipitidoo on Tuesday November 29 2016, @02:43PM
What's better, a roof covered with vegetation or solar panels?
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 29 2016, @04:58PM
Define "better."
Otherwise the question is just a case of apples and oranges.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Tuesday November 29 2016, @08:23PM
Solar panels covering shade-happy vegetation. Panels have very small thermal inertia so their local heating effect is tiny last compared to the road behind the house, and vegetation isolates well. Vegetation alone on any roof section where the panels wouldn't get enough direct light.
(Score: 2) by Appalbarry on Wednesday November 30 2016, @01:36AM
In most cities decisions are made by politicians, not based on science.
This is especially true after decades of neo-Liberal control, with the almighty dollar trumping any and every other concern.
The only way that research like this will have significant effect on urban planning is if major real estate developers (who fund major municipal election campaigns) can see a way to better maximize their profits.
Until then the practice will remain the same: maximum density, and build it as cheap as possible.