Author(s)

D.C. Boice, W.F. Huebner & N. Garcia

Abstract

A study of the urban heat island effect was carried out comparing 45-year daily temperature records (1946-1990) of San Antonio, Texas (USA), with three small surrounding towns; New Braunfels, Poteet, and Boerne. These towns are all within 40 kilometers of San Antonio and were chosen because they form a nearly equilateral triangle around the city from northeast to south to northwest, respectively. The study shows that, on average, the minimum temperatures at the San Antonio International Airport (the location of the weather station) are increasing at an average rate of about 0.3°C per decade relative to surrounding small towns with similar elevation. The difference in minimum temperatures is most pronounced during the summer months. The summer temperature minimum differences relative to New Braunfels indicated the largest increase

Keywords