Methodology and Additional Source Info: The data was compiled and mapped for Fairfax County through a partnership between the Fairfax County Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) and the NASA DEVELOP program as part of the "Resilient Fairfax" Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan process. The average cooling capacity was modeled using the INVEST model, which considers land use (Fairfax County GIS data and NLCD data), albedo (NASA's Landsat8 OLI), evapotranspiration (ISS ECOStress), tree canopy data (Fairfax County Urban Forestry), and LiDAR DSM. Description: This map layer shows the "cooling capacity" of Farifax County's land surfaces, or how well different land uses are able to mitigate heat. Low or poor heat mitigation means that it is harder to cool the area. For example, asphalt roads, dark-colored roofs, and dense buildings are not able to mitigate heat very well, so those surfaces remain hot for longer. In contrast, high or good heat mitigation means that it is easier to cool the area. For example, parks, light-colored roofs, and natural open spaces are able to mitgate heat very well, so those areas become cooler more quickly. This map layer, created by NASA Develop, uses the INVEST model to analyse this heat mitigation index or cooling capacity. Darker colors indicate higher (better) cooling capacity. This layer helps to explain certain factors in urban heat island formation in the county, and can help with identification of strategies to mitigate heat.

Methodology and Additional Source Info: The data was compiled and mapped for Fairfax County through a partnership between the Fairfax County Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) and the NASA DEVELOP program as part of the "Resilient Fairfax" Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan process. The average cooling capacity was modeled using the INVEST model, which considers land use (Fairfax County GIS data and NLCD data), albedo (NASA's Landsat8 OLI), evapotranspiration (ISS ECOStress), tree canopy data (Fairfax County Urban Forestry), and LiDAR DSM. Description: This map layer shows the "cooling capacity" of Farifax County's land surfaces, or how well different land uses are able to mitigate heat. Low or poor heat mitigation means that it is harder to cool the area. For example, asphalt roads, dark-colored roofs, and dense buildings are not able to mitigate heat very well, so those surfaces remain hot for longer. In contrast, high or good heat mitigation means that it is easier to cool the area. For example, parks, light-colored roofs, and natural open spaces are able to mitgate heat very well, so those areas become cooler more quickly. This map layer, created by NASA Develop, uses the INVEST model to analyse this heat mitigation index or cooling capacity. Darker colors indicate higher (better) cooling capacity. This layer helps to explain certain factors in urban heat island formation in the county, and can help with identification of strategies to mitigate heat.