Land-surface temperature in Vienna on 14 July 2023

Land surface temperatures around Vienna, Austria, on 14 July 2023 measured from space at 22:27 CEST. The temperatures were recorded by NASA's Ecostress instrument which is carried on the International Space Station.

Hot surfaces are clear to see in bright red while the cooling effect of parks and vegetation can be seen in the image.

Measurements of the temperature of Earth’s surface taken from space are essential to track the impact of climate change, and to being better prepared for such extremes – especially when it comes to cities where stifling urban heat islands form.

Land surface temperatures across Austria can be explored via ESA’s Green Transition Information Factory – an online platform providing actionable information from Earth observation to accelerate the Green Transition for both society and the economy.

Users can also map and quantify the presence of green roofs on buildings – an effective measure in mitigating the impacts of urban heat islands owing to their significant cooling power. The platform provides valuable insights into their impact to mitigate the urban heat island effect as well as helping cities to plan further mitigation measures to prepare for extreme heatwaves in the future. 

Read full story: Sensing city night heat from space