Spatial and temporal analysis of urban heat island using Landsat satellite images

The average land surface temperature (LST) of Earth has increased since the late nineteenth century due to the warming of the Earth’s atmosphere. Increased surface temperatures, especially in cities, are a significant environmental problem that intensifies urban heat islands (UHIs). In this study, land surface temperature, urban thermal field variance index (UTFVI), and UHI index were mapped using Landsat 4, 5, 7, and 8 satellite images to identify the distribution and determine the intensities of the UHI. Maps of land use at multi-year intervals between 1995 and 2016 were created using the support vector machine (SVM) method. These were used to compare LST variations to land-use changes and to determine the linkages between the two. The results showed that the highest recorded temperatures in Ahvaz, the capital of Khozestan Province, Iran, occurred in areas of bare land (42.93°C) and residential development (40.06°C) in 2017. Land use classification showed that the highest classification accuracy (in 2016) was 93%. The most varying extents of land use in Ahvaz were bare lands, residential lands, and green spaces. Green spaces in the study area in 1995 and 2016 covered 14% and 7% of the area, respectively, which showed a 50% reduction in green space over 21 years. A composite map of UTFVI and UHI showed that the locations classified as very hot had the worst UTFVI. The results of this study of Ahvaz, Iran’s heat islands, can inform and guide urban planners in locational matters and in efforts to mitigate and adapt changing land uses in order to limit the intensification of the UHI.