This story map explains how urban heat islands develop, why they matter and who they affect the most – using Pärnu City and County in Estonia as an example. Through maps, graphs and spatial analysis, it visualizes how heat is distributed across the city and reveals which neighbourhoods and communities may be at greatest risk.
Heidi Tuhkanen, Andreas Hoy, Ansel Cheng-Wei Yu, Lilian Yallop, Johanna Lehtmets, Gabrielle Capone / Published on 11 February 2026
With rising global temperatures, the effects of extreme heat are becoming increasingly severe in cities around the world.
Estonia is no exception. Since 1951, average temperatures in Estonia have been rising by 0.2–0.3°C per decade – above the global average for the same period. Residents have experienced increases in both the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including heatwaves. Powerful examples occured in 2010, 2014, 2018, 2021 and 2022.
