Positive or Negative? Urbanization‐Induced Variations in Diurnal Skin‐Surface Temperature Range Detected Using Satellite Data

Abstract Diurnal temperature range (DTR) is an important indicator for assessing the local climate change due to urbanization. Studies that focused on surface air temperature (SAT) have reported decreased DTR SAT in urban areas. However, this urbanization‐induced effect becomes more complex with regard to land skin‐surface temperature (LST), which is highly localized and extremely sensitive to land surface properties. We thus investigated the urban‐rural DTR LST difference (ΔDTR LST ) over 354 cities across China using satellite‐retrieved LSTs within 2008−2013. Our major findings include the following: (1) urban areas experience increased (decreased) DTR LST compared with rural areas on the annual average for the majority of cities located in southern (northern) China; (2) the ΔDTR LST is mostly positive in warm months but negative in cold months. It generally becomes more positive from January to August and becomes more negative afterward; and (3) the ΔDTR LST is positively related to the daytime surface urban heat island intensity; it is yet negatively correlated with the urban‐rural difference in vegetation abundance. We consider these insights valuable for in‐depth understanding urban thermal environment and will likely help improve urban planning. Key Points Urbanization impact on diurnal skin‐surface temperature range is more complex than on diurnal surface air temperature range Diurnal skin‐surface temperature range is inclined to be larger (smaller) in urban areas than in rural areas in summer (winter) Urban‐rural difference in diurnal skin‐surface temperature range is negatively related to the difference in vegetation abundance