Investigation of the Urban Heat Islands Formation within the Ivano-Frankivsk Region

This research investigates the formation of urban heat islands within the Ivano-Frankivsk region of Ukraine. As global temperatures rise and urbanisation intensifies, cities increasingly experience higher temperatures than their rural surroundings, posing significant risks to public health, energy consumption, and ecosystem stability. This study addresses the problem of identifying and quantifying these local temperature anomalies to support sustainable urban development.

The methodology employs a remote sensing approach using the Google Earth Engine cloud platform. The researcher analysed Landsat 8 satellite imagery and ERA5-Land climate reanalysis data spanning 2013 to 2025. Key metrics calculated include Land Surface Temperature (LST) and the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to assess the relationship between urban surfaces and vegetation cover.

The results confirm the presence of distinct heat islands in cities such as Ivano-Frankivsk, Kalush, and Kolomyia. Surface temperatures in these urban centres were up to 6°C higher than in the natural forest control area of Chornyi Lis. A strong inverse correlation was established between vegetation density and surface heat, proving that areas with higher plant biomass significantly lower local temperatures through transpiration and shading.

In conclusion, the study highlights the critical role of green infrastructure in cooling. To mitigate the negative impacts of urban heat, the research recommends practical urban planning measures, such as expanding parks, implementing green roofs, and using reflective building materials. The work demonstrates that combining satellite monitoring with cloud-based data processing is an effective tool for regional environmental management.