Integrating urban heat island analysis for sustainable urban planning: Insights from Reunion Island

Abstract

This study investigates the Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon in Reunion Island, a small tropical island with diverse climatic zones. By using Local Climate Zone (LCZ) classification combined with regional climate clustering, the research characterizes urban morphologies and their influence on UHI dynamics. The analysis reveals UHI intensity differences of up to 4.14 °C between urban and natural areas, primarily driven by urban density, with additional variations observed across the island’s distinct microclimates. These findings emphasize the need to consider regional climatic variability in UHI studies, especially in territories like Reunion with heterogeneous microclimates. The resulting framework provides valuable insights for urban planners, guiding densification strategies in areas with lower UHI potential to foster sustainable and climate-resilient urban development in tropical island contexts. • First macroscale characterization of the UHI effect in a small tropical island. • UHI intensity vary across regional climatic zones of Reunion Island. • A reference framework for UHI intensities by local climate zone is established. • Targeted densification and greening strategies are proposed to mitigate UHI effect.