Heat Stress: Is the Westersingel cooling Rotterdam?

The measurements will be carried out with the aid of a special fibre optic cable. This cable makes it possible to measure the temperature at regular short distances, over a length of 300 metres. This way, measurements can be carried out above the street and water and also in the water. The fibre optic cable will be operational during the Summer.

Earlier this summer, the temperature in Rotterdam has regularly exceeded 30°C. The temperature in the city was much higher than that of the surrounding areas. This so called heat-island effect is mainly caused by reduced evaporation in the city. The process of evaporation cools the air. The extent of the cooling effect of surface water in a city has not yet been determined in The Netherlands.

A better understanding of this cooling effect would make it possible to use this knowledge when developing new urban areas. This measuring campaign is part of the Knowledge for Climate project, "Heat Stress". Besides Deltares, the parties involved in this project are the Public Works Department Rotterdam, Delft University of Technology, Wageningen University, TNO and SBR.