LOCAL CLIMATE ZONES AND URBAN MORPHOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN PARANÁ, BRAZIL: CONTRIBUTIONS TO URBAN CLIMATE RESEARCH USING THE LCZ4r PACKAGE

This study comparatively analyzes the distribution of Local Climate Zones (LCZ) and reference Sky View Factor (SVF) parameters in the municipalities of Curitiba, Londrina, and Maringá, in the state of Paraná, Brazil, using the LCZ4r package. The research is a quantitative, spatial, and descriptive study based on geospatial data, thematic mapping, and geoprocessing techniques. Global LCZ maps were clipped to municipal boundaries to calculate the relative area occupied by each class and map the SVF parameters associated with the classification. The results reveal differences in the territorial composition of the three municipalities. In Curitiba, LCZ 6 accounts for approximately 40% of the municipal area, while LCZ 3 represents 23.5%. In Londrina, LCZ 14 accounts for approximately 42.9% of the territory, while LCZ 12 and LCZ 11 represent about 28% and 16.3%, respectively. In Maringá, LCZ 14 accounts for approximately 57.6%, followed by LCZ 6, at 14.1%, and LCZ 12, at 12.7%. The SVF analysis helps characterize spatial differences in reference parameters associated with sky openness. The percentages were calculated using the total municipal area, and the SVF values represent reference parameters linked to LCZ classes. As no air or land surface temperature data were used, the study does not measure urban heat island intensity. The findings indicate that combining LCZ classification and SVF parameters contributes to the comparative characterization of urban morphology and provides a basis for future urban climate research.