Exploring the urban heat island intensity of Dutch cities : assessment based on a literature review, recent meteorological observation and datasets provide by hobby meteorologists

In the present study, an up-to-date assessment of the current Urbana Heat Island (UHI)-intensity in urban areas in the Netherlands has been made. The underlying question is whether or not thermal comfort will be a critical issue considering urbanization and climate change in the next decades. This assessment is based on results from meteorological observations reported in the literature with particular focus on assessed relationships between maximum nocturnal UHI intensity (UHImax) and city features, such as city size and urban configuration and structure. Also results from recent meteorological observations in the urban canopy in Rotterdam and Arnhem have been used. Furthermore, historical datasets provided by hobby meteorologists have been analyzed to obtain a more nationwide coverage