Estimating heat stress in the urban centre of Košice using ENVI-met and high-resolution surface data

This study employs the ENVI-met microscale model to assess heat stress in the urban core of Košice, Slovakia, during a heat wave on 30 June 2022. Utilising high-resolution surface data derived from Sentinel-2 multispectral imagery, LiDAR point clouds, and shapefiles, we quantify the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) to evaluate diurnal heat stress dynamics. The model incorporates detailed urban morphology, including buildings, 3D vegetation, and land cover, with meteorological forcing data from hou rly SYNOP observations at the Košice airport. Results highlight significant heat stress in densely built-up areas, with UTCI peaks in the late afternoon due to high heat accumulation and low wind speeds. The study underscores the effectiveness of ENVI-met for highresolution urban microclimate simulations and identifies hotspots for potential heat stress mitigation strategies.