6. Conclusion

Urban heat islands have been studied for several decades by researchers from a wide range of disciplines, including architecture, urban planning, geography, climatology and building engineering. This research has made it possible to identify not only the causes of this climatic phenomenon, but also the controlling factors that increase or reduce its amplitude. The daily cycle has been clearly identified, as has the process of setting up the urban heat island. To structure the analysis of the phenomenon, vertical and horizontal scales were proposed, the different types of urban heat island were clarified and energy balances were established.

Measurement, climate classification and numerical modeling methods have been developed to study the urban heat island. Adaptation solutions are also proposed or under development.