These 25 Cities Are Finding Ways to Lower Surface Temperature

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As climate change warms the planet, many cities are heating up faster than the global average. But while there is little city planners can do about ambient air temperature, many municipalities are taking efforts to cool surfaces by adding tree cover and reducing impervious surfaces.

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Scientists monitor land surface temperature across the globe using high-resolution satellite data from NASA. In some cities, satellite data shows a downward trend in land surface temperature over the past 10 years, despite increasing air temperatures in almost every corner of the country.

Many of the places where surface temperatures are cooling have implemented citywide tree planting programs and green roof initiatives that absorb radiant heat. More than half of the 25 cooling cities are in California, while just a handful are in the Northeast or Midwest. A closer look at the data reveals the cities where surface temperatures are decreasing.

To determine the cities where surface temperatures are decreasing, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on monthly land surface temperatures from NASA’s MODIS program. Cities were ranked based on the slope of a linear regression between year and average July land surface temperature from 2016 to 2025. Raster data was averaged across Census place boundaries using QGIS zonal statistics. Only cities with at least 250,000 residents were considered.

25. Detroit, MI

• Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.5°F per year
• Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 92.0°F
• Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 94.6°F
• Total population: 636,787

 

24. Toledo, OH

• Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.6°F per year
• Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 87.0°F
• Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 89.6°F
• Total population: 269,962

 

23. Jersey City, NJ

• Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.6°F per year
• Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 90.8°F
• Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 95.8°F
• Total population: 287,899

 

22. Oakland, CA

• Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.6°F per year
• Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 83.6°F
• Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 91.8°F
• Total population: 437,825

 

21. Miami, FL

• Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.6°F per year
• Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 89.8°F
• Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 96.3°F
• Total population: 443,665

 

20. Bakersfield, CA

• Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.7°F per year
• Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 108.1°F
• Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 118.2°F
• Total population: 404,321

 

19. Anchorage, AK

• Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.7°F per year
• Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 56.1°F
• Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 59.8°F
• Total population: 290,674

 

18. Fresno, CA

• Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.7°F per year
• Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 106.0°F
• Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 116.1°F
• Total population: 541,528

 

17. Sacramento, CA

• Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.7°F per year
• Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 96.0°F
• Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 106.4°F
• Total population: 523,600

16. San Jose, CA

• Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.7°F per year
• Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 94.1°F
• Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 104.2°F
• Total population: 1,001,176

 

15. Denver, CO

• Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.7°F per year
• Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 100.9°F
• Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 106.1°F
• Total population: 710,800

 

14. Stockton, CA

• Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.7°F per year
• Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 94.6°F
• Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 104.8°F
• Total population: 320,030

 

13. Aurora, CO

• Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.8°F per year
• Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 100.2°F
• Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 105.4°F
• Total population: 387,349

 

12. Laredo, TX

• Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.8°F per year
• Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 98.3°F
• Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 105.1°F
• Total population: 255,293

 

11. Lubbock, TX

• Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.8°F per year
• Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 97.2°F
• Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 111.6°F
• Total population: 258,190

 

10. San Diego, CA

• Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.8°F per year
• Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 90.3°F
• Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 99.8°F
• Total population: 1,383,987

9. Chula Vista, CA

• Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.8°F per year
• Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 93.3°F
• Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 102.8°F
• Total population: 276,103

 

8. Los Angeles, CA

• Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.9°F per year
• Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 95.1°F
• Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 105.3°F
• Total population: 3,881,041

 

7. Long Beach, CA

• Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.9°F per year
• Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 93.6°F
• Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 103.4°F
• Total population: 462,293

 

6. Riverside, CA

• Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.9°F per year
• Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 101.9°F
• Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 113.7°F
• Total population: 316,076

 

5. El Paso, TX

• Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.9°F per year
• Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 101.1°F
• Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 118.6°F
• Total population: 677,181

 

4. Albuquerque, NM

• Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -1.0°F per year
• Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 103.4°F
• Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 117.7°F
• Total population: 562,551

 

3. Anaheim, CA

• Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -1.0°F per year
• Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 98.5°F
• Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 110.8°F
• Total population: 347,111

 

2. Santa Ana, CA

• Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -1.1°F per year
• Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 97.2°F
• Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 109.7°F
• Total population: 311,379

 

1. Irvine, CA

• Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -1.1°F per year
• Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 92.3°F
• Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 105.2°F
• Total population: 304,527

 

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