The Effects of Urban Parameters on the Development of Urban Heat Island in Jalingo Metropolis: Analysis and Statistical Modeling

Abstract

Urban Heat Island (UHI) has been a source of concern in recent years and different approaches have been employed to understand its nature, characteristics and implications. In this paper, analysis of spatial pattern of land surface temperature (LST) derived from remote sensing images used to examine effects of vegetation and water index, and built up density on LST of Jalingo metropolis, North East Nigeria was determined. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was used as an indicator for vegetation cover, normalized difference built-up index (NDBI) for level of urbanization indicator, while normalized difference water index (NDWI) for water index indicator. Landsat 8 data was used for the retrieval of LST, calculation of (NDBI), (NDVI) and (NDWI). The analysis showed that areas with high LST were located principally in central builtup areas. The results of assessment of relationship between LST with NDVI, NDWI and NDBI, showed a negative correlation between LST and NDVI and NDWI, and a positive correlation with NDBI; this means that green surfaces can reduce urban heat island (UHI) effect whereas built-up areas can strengthen the effect of UHI. It was concluded that NDVI, NDWI and NDBI could be used to investigate and predict Urban Heat Islands (UHI) and results may help city planners better prepare for possible impacts of urban environmental change.