Atmospheric Gases as Quantitative Indicators of Urbanization Across Land-Use Gradients

Summary

The urban heat island effect, characterized by higher city temperatures, is challenging to quantify due to evolving land-use patterns blurring urban-rural distinctions. This study addressed the issue by investigating atmospheric gases, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and inorganic gases, as quantitative tracers of urbanization levels in the Southeastern United States during summer 2025. Field measurements at two sites successfully demonstrated distinct chemical differences between urban and rural environments, confirming the utility of these atmospheric constituents as effective urbanization indicators, thereby improving our understanding of UHI dynamics.

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Source Document

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