LAUSR

A comprehensive analysis of air temperature ( T a ) dynamics in “local climate zones” (LCZs) of Novi Sad (Serbia) was based on measurements from 17 stations during 3 years. Hourly changes of T a , cooling rates ( CR ), heating rates ( HR ), and urban heat island (UHI) intensity were assessed on seasonal and annual level and during heat wave (HW) and cold wave (CW) periods. Substantial differences are observed for minimum ( T min ) and mean temperatures ( T mean ) between LCZs. Two-phase nocturnal cooling was recognized with the first cooling phase characterized by intensive LCZ dependent cooling starting at 1–3 h before sunset and lasting until 3–4 h after sunset. The second cooling phase lasts until sunrise and is characterized by less intensive and LCZ nondependent cooling. The most intensive cooling ( CR peak ) was observed in first cooling phase of HW and ranged from − 1.6 °C h −1 in street canyon (LCZ 2) to − 3.9 °C h −1 in forest (LCZ A). Furthermore, a new cooling indicator ( CR total ) was introduced. Due to cooling differences, the most intensive UHI of 5.5 °C was noticed between LCZs 2 and A at sunset + 1 h during HW. Two-phase diurnal heating was also recognized in LCZs with the first heating phase characterized by intensive LCZ dependent heating starting at sunrise and lasting until 4–7 h afterwards. The most intensive heating ( HR peak ) ranged from 2.0 °C h −1 in street canyon to 3.0 °C h −1 in industrial area (LCZ 8) during HW. The second heating phase lasts until sunset and is characterized by less intensive heating and smaller HR differences between LCZs.