Assessing thermal risk in urban areas an application for the urban agglomeration of Athens

Assessing thermal risk in urban areas is essential, as this can have major implications to human health and may influence quality of life in urban areas as well as the urban microclimate. Such assessment is promoted by estimating Land Surface Temperature (LST), evaluating the intensity of Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI) and the variation of the discomfort index (DI), the latter reflecting the most common bioclimatic index used for outdoor thermal comfort applications. Calculations need to provide adequate spatial and temporal depictions of SUHI and DI, as these are correlated with such parameters as land cover/use, urban density, topography, etc. In this study an assessment of thermal risk in urban areas is made for the urban agglomeration of Athens in the event of summer heat waves.