Urban heat island effect in Brussels during the late June 2026 heatwave
3 hours ago
- #Satellite Monitoring
- #Urban Heat Island
- #Climate Adaptation
- A severe heatwave in Western and Central Europe in late June 2026, driven by an 'Omega block' high-pressure system, led to extreme temperatures and alerts.
- Belgium issued a national heatwave alert on 24 June 2026, with forecasts of temperatures above 30°C and up to 38°C.
- Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite data from 24 June 2026 at 10:30 UTC shows Land Surface Temperature (LST) across Belgium, distinct from air temperature.
- Visualisation indicates higher LST in reddish/purple areas and lower in blue; Brussels exceeded 47°C LST, while the nearby Sonian Forest was around 24.5°C.
- The temperature contrast highlights the urban heat island effect, where dense urban areas retain more heat compared to vegetated areas like forests.
- Copernicus data supports evidence-based decision-making for climate adaptation, heat risk management, and sustainable urban planning.