The Study of the Urban Heat Island Effect in Cyprus for the Period 2013–2023 by Using Goo
Journal
Environmental and Earth Sciences Proceedings
Date Issued
November 12, 2025
Abstract
Urbanization in Cyprus has accelerated significantly over the past 35 years, driven by population growth, infrastructure development, and the expansion of urban centres. This rapid urban transformation has contributed to notable changes in the local climate, primarily through the intensification of the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect—a phenomenon where urban areas experience significantly higher temperatures than surrounding rural regions. As global climate change continues to influence regional weather patterns, understanding and mitigating local climatic variations such as UHI becomes increasingly critical for sustainable development and public health. In Cyprus, the cities of Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, and Paphos have witnessed considerable land use changes, with a growing contrast between densely built urban cores and less developed surrounding areas. This contrast results in uneven energy absorption, reduced vegetation cover, and altered surface temperatures, further exacerbating the effects of climate change at the local level.
Funding
The authors acknowledge the ‘EXCELSIOR’: ERATOSTHENES: Excellence Research Centre for Earth Surveillance and Space-Based Monitoring of the Environment H2020 Widespread Teaming project (www.excelsior2020.eu, accessed on 1 September 2025). The ‘EXCELSIOR’ project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No 857510, from the Government of the Republic of Cyprus through the Directorate General for the European Programmes, Coordination and Development and the Cyprus University of Technology.
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