Urban-Rural Comparison of Sensible and Latent Heat Fluxes Using Eddy Covariance Measurements

Urban areas experience unique microclimatic conditions due to the alteration of land surface characteristics, increased impervious surfaces, and anthropogenic heat sources. These factors lead to the urban heat island (UHI) effect, which influences energy balance components such as sensible (H) and latent heat fluxes (LE). While rural areas exhibit energy exchanges driven by natural processes like soil moisture and vegetation transpiration, urban fluxes are modulated by surface materials, urban morphology, and human activity. 
This thesis aims to compare the sensible and latent heat fluxes measured from an urban eddy covariance (EC) tower with those from a rural EC station. By analyzing flux differences under varying weather conditions, especially during heatwave events, the project will provide insights into the thermal behavior of urban landscapes and their implications for urban planning and climate adaptation strategies. Additionally, there is a possibility of comparing these results with 3D weather model (see Figure 1) of the urban and rural environments to enhance the understanding of flux dynamics.