Quantification of Local Warming Trend: A Remote Sensing-Based Approach

Abstract

Understanding the warming trends at local level is critical; and, the development of relevant adaptation and mitigation policies at those levels are quite challenging. Here, our overall goal was to generate local warming trend map at 1 km spatial resolution by using: (i) Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)-based 8-day composite surface temperature data; (ii) weather station-based yearly average air temperature data; and (iii) air temperature normal (i.e., 30 year average) data over the Canadian province of Alberta during the period 1961–2010. Thus, we analysed the station-based air temperature data in generating relationships between air temperature normal and yearly average air temperature in order to facilitate the selection of year-specific MODIS-based surface temperature data. These MODIS data in conjunction with weather station-based air temperature normal data were then used to model local warming trends. We observed that almost 88% areas of the province experienced warming trends (i.e., up to 1.5°C). The study concluded that remote sensing technology could be useful for delineating generic trends associated with local warming.

Pan-Sharpening of Landsat-8 Images and Its Application in Calculating Vegetation Greenness and Canopy Water Contents

“…The major North-South corridor (Edmonton and Calgary corridor) passes through this area with a major highway along with small townships. Climatically, the study area experiences relatively cold (i.e., yearly average air temperature in the range of −3.6 to 1.1 • C) and dry (i.e., annual average precipitation varies between 377-535 mm) conditions [33,34]. In this study, we used Landsat-8 OLI images captured on different dates since July 2013 as Landsat-8 has been acquiring images since March 2013.…”

Using Satellite-Borne Remote Sensing Data in Generating Local Warming Maps with Enhanced Resolution

“…In fact, temperature changes at the local level are important but lack scientific evidence due to little known information in comparison to the global and regional scale. Evidence suggests that global and regional warming trends are characterized in the contemporary literature at several spatial resolutions such as 500 km [1], 5 km [4], and 1 km [12]. However, this information has little implication for comparatively smaller counties, municipalities, communities, and local government organizations across the world.…”

“…Very recently, Rahaman et al [12] demonstrated that a satellite remote sensing-based local warming modelling framework is possible at a spatial resolution of 1 km using MODIS-derived satellite imagery. However, this methodological advancement can be useful for making decisions related to warming trends at larger scales (i.e., 1 sq.…”

“…For instance, it is decisive to enhance the spatial resolution of local warming maps that would help urban planners, researchers, communities, and decision-makers to perceive environmental stresses at the local level. In generating such local warming maps, there are two commonly used methods available: generating maps based on data obtained from climatic stations [5,15], and producing information derived from satellite-borne remotely-sensed imagery [12].…”

“…In order to address all these issues of preparing local warming maps for longer periods, our overall objective of this research was to develop a comprehensive methodological framework to enhance the spatial resolution of an existing local warming map from 1 km to 15 m that would be useful for urban/micro-level planning and decision-making. Our specific objectives were: (i) construction of high resolution EVI and NDVI maps at 15 m spatial resolution; (ii) conversion of normal air temperature, T a (i.e., 30 year average) maps at 1 km resolution available from an earlier study [12] using the VI obtained from the first objective; and (iii) generating a local warming map at 15 m spatial resolution as an efficient decision support tool at the local government level in the face of warming trends, especially in the built-up environment. Note that we attempted to enhance the spatial resolution of the air temperature normal maps from 1 km to 15 m using the VI as the temperature and the VI would be ecologically linked [33].…”