Further studies of the heat island associated with a small midwestern city

Abstract

Recently, the University of Missouri (UM) moved its SuomiNet station from the roof of a building near downtown Columbia, Missouri, USA, to the University's rural South Farm. Comparisons of Columbia Regional Airport (KCOU) data and SuomiNet data are presented both prior to and after the latter's relocation. Analysis reveals an elevation of mean temperature by ∼1.5 ◦C at the downtown location, but no difference between the more rural station and KCOU. These results show that the influence of the Columbia heat island does not extend to 7 km from the city center and that the present SuomiNet location is now more representative.