Abstract
The summer of 2010 was characterized by extremely high temperatures with 13 days having maximum temperatures above 35°C and 56 days having minimum temperatures above 25°C, especially in August under the influence of the Pacific high-pressure system.
The thermal image on the front cover shows ground surface temperatures (radiation brightness temperatures: °C) at noon on August 15, 2010 taken with portable thermography system mounted on a helicopter flying at 5000 feet over the central Tokyo bayside area. Emissivity ε was fixed at 1.0 regardless of differences in surface materials, and no correction was made.
Lower temperature areas extend over large green spaces, such as the Imperial Palace Garden (A) and Hamarikyu Garden (E). Temperatures on water surfaces such as Sumida River (F) are also lower (below 28°C) than those of the surrounding built-up area, which would play the role of a “wind path” by transporting cool sea breezes from Tokyo Bay to inland heat islands. It should be noted that JR Tokyo Station area (B) and Shiodome High-rise buildings (C) also show lower temperatures.
On the other hand, surface temperatures are over 40°C on bayside reclamation sites and on densely packed low-rise industrial and commercial buildings extending over the east bank of Sumida River. Higher surface temperatures on the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market buildings at Tsukiji (D) might be affected by the roof-top material of the buildings.
(Takehiko MIKAMI: Thermography Image by Skymap Inc.)
The thermal image on the front cover shows ground surface temperatures (radiation brightness temperatures: °C) at noon on August 15, 2010 taken with portable thermography system mounted on a helicopter flying at 5000 feet over the central Tokyo bayside area. Emissivity ε was fixed at 1.0 regardless of differences in surface materials, and no correction was made.
Lower temperature areas extend over large green spaces, such as the Imperial Palace Garden (A) and Hamarikyu Garden (E). Temperatures on water surfaces such as Sumida River (F) are also lower (below 28°C) than those of the surrounding built-up area, which would play the role of a “wind path” by transporting cool sea breezes from Tokyo Bay to inland heat islands. It should be noted that JR Tokyo Station area (B) and Shiodome High-rise buildings (C) also show lower temperatures.
On the other hand, surface temperatures are over 40°C on bayside reclamation sites and on densely packed low-rise industrial and commercial buildings extending over the east bank of Sumida River. Higher surface temperatures on the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market buildings at Tsukiji (D) might be affected by the roof-top material of the buildings.
(Takehiko MIKAMI: Thermography Image by Skymap Inc.)
© 2011 Tokyo Geographical Society
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