Influences of the Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Urban Heat Islands on Historical Land Surface Phenology

Keywords: Urban heat island, Land surface phenology,
Abstract Type: Poster Abstract

Abstract

Urban heat island (UHI) effect varies spatiotemporally across different regions. Although there has been many research regarding UHI effects around the world, understanding of how it influences land surface phenology (LSP) has remained limited. The goal of this study is to analyze the spatiotemporal characteristics of UHI and evaluate the historical variations and patterns in LSP. Remote sensing data along with thermal imagery and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) will be utilized in this research to conduct a multi-temporal analysis across different seasons and urban areas. Landsat images from 2000 to 2024 will be used for the analysis and google earth engine will be utilized to determine LSP and UHI. Historical LSP data will be observed to examine shifts in vegetation patterns such as delayed green-up and earlier vegetation aging. The results are expected to depict a strong connection between the historical LSP and the spatiotemporal dynamics of UHIs. Specifically, areas with longer vegetation cycle are expected to associate with low intensity of UHI whereas areas with sparse or fragmented vegetation with higher UHI intensity. The results will be useful to demonstrate the importance of LSP in urban planning to get sustainable, climate-resilient cities. The outcomes will offer critical insights to urban planners, policymakers, and environmental scientists into how urban temperature trends influence historical vegetation patterns and will inform strategies for sustainable urban planning.