Study by CEG/TERRA researchers reveals that the color of parked cars influences urban heat

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Study by CEG/TERRA researchers reveals that the color of parked cars influences urban heat

Diário de Notícias highlights research conducted by CEG/TERRA researchers in Lisbon showing that dark-colored vehicles can increase air temperature by up to 3.8°C, contributing to the worsening of urban heat islands.

Researcher Márcia Matias, from the Centre of Geographical Studies (CEG) / Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning (IGOT) and member of the TERRA Associate Laboratory, recently gave an interview to Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese) about the scientific article “The underestimated impact of parked cars in urban warming,” co-authored with António Lopes and Tiago Silva in the journal City and Environment Interactions. The study reveals that parked vehicles, especially those with dark colors, play a significant role in intensifying urban heat islands.

The research was conducted in Lisbon, where it is estimated that more than 700,000 vehicles circulate daily. The team tested two vehicles—one white and one black—exposed to the sun for several hours in summer temperatures of 36°C. The results confirm that car materials and colors act as active thermal volumes, just like buildings, influencing the urban microclimate and the thermal comfort of pedestrians. “Dark paints reflect only 5 to 10% of sunlight, absorbing the rest, while white paints can reflect up to 85%,” researcher Márcia Matias explained to Diário de Notícias.

In the interview, Márcia Matias emphasized: “Imagine thousands of cars parked throughout the city, each acting as a small heat source or heat shield. Their color can really change the thermal sensation of the streets.”

The team is now preparing three-dimensional models to simulate the thermal impact of cars in different urban and weather conditions, as well as monitoring parking lots with and without vehicles to compare heating patterns. These advances will enable the mapping of critical urban heat zones and inform public policies on climate adaptation. “Cars are not just a means of transport, they are mobile elements that alter the urban climate and should be included in strategies for cities that are more resilient to heat,” the researcher added to Diário de Notícias.

Full interview at dn.pt (in Portuguese).

This study reinforces the commitment of the members of the TERRA Associate Laboratory to producing applied knowledge for more resilient and environmentally conscious cities.