Understanding the Links between LULC Changes and SUHI in Cities: Insights from Two-Decadal Studies (2001–2020)

Abstract

An urban heat island (UHI) is a serious phenomenon associated with built environments and presents threats to human health. It is projected that UHI intensity will rise to record levels in the following decades due to rapid urban expansion, as two-thirds of the world population is expected to live in urban areas by 2050. Nevertheless, the last two decades have seen a considerable increase in the number of studies on surface UHI (SUHI)—a form of UHI quantified based on land surface temperature (LST) derived from satellite imagery—and its relationship with the land use/cover (LULC) changes. This surge has been facilitated by the availability of freely accessible five-decade archived remotely sensed data, the use of state-of-art analysis methods, and advancements in computing capabilities. The authors of this systematic review aimed to summarize, compare, and critically analyze multiple case studies—carried out from 2001 to 2020—in terms of various aspects: study area characteristics, data sources, methods for LULC classification and SUHI quantification, mechanisms of interaction coupled with linking techniques between SUHI intensity with LULC spatial and temporal changes, and proposed alleviation actions. The review could support decision-makers and pave the way for scholars to conduct future research, especially in vulnerable cities that have not been well studied.

Effects of Rising Urban Temperatures on the Wellbeing of the Residents:

“…Fatemi and Narangifard (2019) investigated LULC changes over Shiraz city and inferred reduction in vegetation as the main consequence of rising LST. Derdouri, Wang et al (2021) analysed several case studies conducted between 2001 to 2020 to identify a significant rise in SUHI (surface urban heat island) owing to the modifications in the landuse of the cities. Several other studiesreported a close relationship between landscape modification in terms of increased impervious urban surfaces (on the cost of blue-green infrastructure) and rising LST over the cities across the globe (Adeyeri, Akinsanola et al, 2017;Ahmed, Kamruzzaman et al, 2013;Chandra, Sharma et al, 2018;Daramola, Eresanya et al, 2018;Hale, Gallo et al, 2006;Huang and Lin, 2013;Imran, Hossain et al, 2021;Jun, Kim et al, 2017;Kottmeier, Biegert et al, 2007;Lu, Yue et al, 2021;Pal and Ziaul, 2017;Rehman, Qin et al, 2022;Tran, Pla et al, 2017).…”

An Object-Oriented Deep Multi-Sphere Support Vector Data Description Method for Impervious Surfaces Extraction Based on Multi-Sourced Data

“…Their physical imperviousness brings a great challenge to the urban ecological environment. The transformation of permeable surfaces to impervious surfaces can negatively impact the urban thermal [4,5] and hydrological environments [6][7][8]. Therefore, the effective extraction of impervious surfaces is critical to monitor their expansion and ensure the sustainable development of cities.…”

Editorial: Special Issue on Geographical Analysis and Modeling of Urban Heat Island Formation

“…The UHI effect has negative human impacts, including indirect economic loss, poor air quality, reduced comfort, imbalanced public health, and increased mortality rates [2,3]. The temperature difference between the center and the periphery is expanding, especially in large cities, which may result from land use/cover composition changes and increasing anthropogenic heat sources [4]. According to a United Nations estimate, nearly 54% of the world's population currently resides in urban regions, and by 2050, that number is expected to rise to 66% [5].…”