Linking Soil Sealing and Urban Thermal Patterns Through Earth Observation and Climate Modelling: A Spatiotemporal Analysis in Murcia, Spain

This study investigates the impact of soil sealing on the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect in Murcia, Spain, over a ten-year period (2008–2017). By integrating the UrbClim model at 100-m resolution with the Copernicus Imperviousness Layer and SIOSE land-use data, we perform a spatiotemporal analysis of temperature dynamics across diverse urban typologies. The findings reveal that the UHI is a primarily nocturnal phenomenon driven by the high thermal inertia of artificial materials, with peak intensity occurring between 00:00 and 04:00 UTC. Statistical analysis shows that while solar radiation homogenises temperatures during daylight, substantial thermal contrasts emerge at night between heavily sealed urban and industrial zones and unsealed surroundings. Notably, the cooling influence of current urban green spaces appears limited, likely due to their fragmented nature and the grid resolution masking micro-climatic gradients. The research demonstrates that dense urban cores exhibit the highest thermal stress, suggesting that mitigation must shiq towards integrated green corridors to link the city centre with the Huerta. These results provide a technical basis for spatial planning to enhance climate resilience in semi-arid urban environments.