Urban Heat Island Effect and Its Influence on Transformations in Lviv

Urban heat islands (UHIs) have emerged as a critical concern due to increasing global temperatures and more frequent heat waves. This phenomenon, marked by higher air and surface temperatures in urban areas compared to surrounding rural regions, has been intensified by rapid urbanisation and the replacement of natural landscapes with artificial materials. Although the UHI effect was first identified over 200 years ago, it remains under-researched, especially in Ukraine. This article presents the first detailed study of UHI in the Lviv municipality, focusing on both surface and canopy layers. The importance of such research was emphasised by the Environmental Department of the Lviv City Council, whose representatives participated in discussions about the study and its findings during the city’s urban festival “Misto Workshop”. As part of the festival, several vegetated zones were planted based on the “pocket parks” concept, aiming to reduce the UHI effect within the city and its territorial community. The research employed satellite remote sensing to analyse the spatial distribution of UHIs during the summer of 2024 and examined how different land surface types influence temperature variation. In addition, field measurements were conducted to assess UHI intensity, its temporal dynamics, and potential mitigation strategies. The findings offer valuable data on the scale of UHIs in Lviv and provide a scientific basis for urban planning initiatives aimed at minimising their impact. This study also lays methodological and technical grounds for the further development of this type of urban spatial analysis. For Lviv, a city committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, conducting such research is a significant step forward.