A 9-degree gap: the hottest neighborhoods in Gush Dan
A new study by experts from Tel Aviv University and HIT has mapped heat loads in the metropolis. The findings reveal where extreme gaps were measured and how the nature of construction affects the temperature in your neighborhood.
A new study conducted in the Tel Aviv metropolis determines that the heat load in the region is not uniform, but changes dramatically between neighborhoods, seasons, and times of day. The research team, led by Prof. Oded Potchter from the HIT Holon Institute of Technology, alongside Dr. Moshe Mandelmilch, Amit Goldberg, and Prof. Itzhak Omer from Tel Aviv University, combined satellite data, infrared measurements, and meteorological stations to map the urban heat island phenomenon in Gush Dan.
The findings show that the gap in air temperature between the city and its open surroundings reaches up to 4 degrees Celsius in the summer during the day and at night, which significantly intensifies the ambient heat load. The largest gap measured was recorded on winter nights, when the city is up to 9 degrees warmer than its surroundings, mainly because concrete and asphalt emit the heat they stored during the day, while open areas cool down quickly.
In addition, the researchers discovered that the surface heat hotspot is not stationary. During daylight hours, it tends to move eastward toward the interior of the country due to the sea breeze cooling the coast, and at night it changes direction and moves back westward.
An examination of the urban space reveals that the municipal boundary is not the decisive variable, but rather the nature of the construction and the environment. The hottest areas found in the study are dense residential textures with medium-height construction, such as extensive areas in Bnei Brak and in the heart of the metropolis, alongside industrial and commercial areas full of impermeable surfaces and sparse vegetation.
In contrast, parks, gardens, and open areas significantly mitigate the heat. The researchers emphasize that in Mediterranean coastal cities, the heat island develops with great intensity even at summer noon, a finding that requires adapted urban planning that includes planting trees, shading, and improving air circulation in preparation for future climate challenges.
