Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
PURE AND APPLIED GEOPHYSICS, cilt.182, sa.9, ss.3831-3856, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
This study evaluates the possible indicators for the estimation of urban heat island (UHI) sensitivity based on spatial, social and economic data clusters covering 20 statistical parameters which were confined from the related literature. Their partial contributions to UHI formation were determined by weighting their impacts in the sample of two city centres, Erzurum and Erzincan, Turkey. Depending on their variable characteristics, all three data clusters are seen to be effective in the cities. UHI-sensitivity level was calculated to be 59.59% and 48.26% for Erzurum and Erzincan cities, respectively depending on the spatial, social and economic characteristics of the cities. The city of Erzincan is less sensitive to UHI formation since it has a gridded urban morphology, less built environment and impervious surface, population and urban density and more green space and environmental awareness level (23%) while Erzurum has an organically developed urban morphology, higher covered surface rate in the horizontal and vertical dimensions and building heights and densities and lower environmental awareness level (19%). Spatial and social advantages of Erzincan city surpassed the effect of economic indicators in the city, where the industry sector stands out, per capita car ownership and electricity consumption indicators are higher and make the city economically more sensitive to UHI formation. It is stated that spatial distribution of surface characteristics, urban geometry, organic and grid-like urban structures, shares of economic sectors and level of awareness among society are significant factors to affect UHI sensitivity between the cities. The proposed approach to determine the UHI sensitivity of areas with different urban characteristics has valuable contributions to urban planning practices.