This research quantifies Blackpool’s urban heat island (UHI) by examining land cover, sea-breezes and human comfort. Meteorological data, including dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity measurements, were collected along a 41-kilometre route incorporating a coastal transect during summer 2014. The measurements were obtained utilising a data logger attached to the roof of a vehicle, which captured a total of 18 transverses. Blackpool reported a strong UHI with a maximum intensity of 4.3°C. However, the Irish Sea moderated coastal areas, cooling parts by up to 3°C during the afternoon and warming nearby areas during the evening. The heat indices: Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature, Canadian Humidex and the South African Discomfort Index, revealed that discomfort from high temperatures and humidity reaches moderate-extreme levels at the 95th percentile (or on 5% of days). Urban parks were only effective at mitigating against high temperatures in the evening. This goes against prior research advocating the ‘greening of cities’ to effectively mitigate against the UHI.
