Examination on the role of synoptic conditions in urban heat island development in Debrecen.

Thermal differences between settlements and their rural environment called urban heat island (UHI) have a remarkable impact on heating and cooling energy demand of buildings. UHI intensities are determined by buildup characteristics of settlements and synoptic weather conditions. In the present study effects of synoptic conditions are traced in the case of the city of Debrecen in East Hungary. Debrecen is situated on a nearly flat terrain, without rivers and lakes, what is favorable from the aspect of UHI development. Mobile techniques were used in order to get abundant comparable data for the settlement. On the base of the results, spatial characteristics of UHI in the settlement are described. Critical values of wind speed and cloudiness, which eliminates the development of UHI, have been determined