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The primary objective of this paper is to investigate the complex influence of the Urban Heat Island on the initiation and intensification of convective storms within the Cluj-Napoca municipality. The study employs a comprehensive multi-methodological framework, combining meteorological radar data CMAX (Column Maximum Reflectivity), VIL (Vertical Integrated Liquid), EHT (Echo Top Height), HAILSZ (Hail Size) from the Bobohalma radar station with Landsat 8 satellite imagery for Land Surface Temperature (LST) analysis and GIS modeling of urban morphology. Complementing the remote sensing analysis, the research integrates in situ meteorological observations, meticulously examining 10 minute variations in air temperature, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure, as well as precipitation and/or hail confirmation at the station level during the passage of storms. Three distinct convective episodes from the summer of 2025 were analyzed to track the evolution of storm severity parameters across the urban landscape. The observational results suggest a spatial correspondence between urban "hot spots" and the intensification of convective cells, manifested through intensified updrafts and increased hail potential. Ultimately, this study suggests the urban environment drives storm evolution in two ways: providing thermodynamic heat and acting as a physical, dynamic obstacle. This dual effect emphasizes why short-term forecasting and risk management must account for urban microclimates.
mununarrd@gmail.com et al. (Fri,) studied this question.