Heat Island Effect Thermal Imaged in NYC

Michael Data & Graphics, Photo July 17, 2016


The Statue of Liberty trapped in smog-generated heat

50F = 10C, 68F = 20C, 86F = 30C

纽约的这点雾霾（以上右图）对于见过世面的国人来说最多也就是点雾吧（这里看到的所谓的霾应该大多是臭氧）。即使就这点雾霾，也令地表空气和地面温度陡然升高，比海水高出近20华氏度，专家说，这些颗粒物和水汽会散发红外波段的“长波热辐射”，地面在阳光和这些辐射的共同作用下，温度就比周围环境高出许多。幸好雾霾在北京的夏天不是爆发季。拍摄者是 Nickolay Lamm，是几年前的一个7月用热成像相机在纽约拍摄的。

The water remains relatively cool (blue) all day while the Statue of Liberty warms up when exposed to the sun (red). A haze layer exits near the ground, and the particles and droplets in this layer emit “longwave thermal radiation” in the far infrared portion of the spectrum. The haze closest to the ground is relatively warm (red, orange), while the temperature decreases with increasing altitude (yellow to green to blue). The ground is heated both by sunlight and the longwave radiation emitted by the atmosphere. Haze layers over urban areas increase the longwave heating, especially overnight, and promote warmer temperatures.


Times Square through a thermal imaging camera

50F = 10C, 68F = 20C, 86F = 30C, 104F = 40C


The large electric screen generates heat and appears red in the thermal image. The yellow taxi in sunlight (pink, red) on the right is warmer than the white van (green) to its left. The dark-colored automobile in the lower left absorbs sunlight efficiently and appears pink and red. The release of heat via concentrated energy use contributes to the air in urban areas being warmer than in rural surroundings.


New Jersey

1 World Trade Center


For more pictures and original post, tap here (with photographer and caption writer’s contact info).