Assessment of urban heat island and possible adaptations in Enugu urban using landsat-ETM

Type Journal Article - Journal of Geography and Regional Planning
Title Assessment of urban heat island and possible adaptations in Enugu urban using landsat-ETM
Author(s)
Volume 2
Issue 2
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2009
Page numbers 30-36
URL http://www.academicjournals.org/journal/JGRP/article-full-text-pdf/4662FF61068
Abstract
Urban heat Island (UHI) is the name given to the characteristic warmth of both the atmosphere and the
lithosphere in cities (urban) compared to their rural (non-urbanized) surroundings. This study investigates
the application of Landsat-ETM in the study of UHI. The study employed the normalized difference
method to estimate Land Surface temperature (LST). The research assessed the level of UHI in Enugu
urban as well as the application of Land sat-ETM in the study of UHI compared to the traditional ruralurban
method. Results demonstrate that LST positively correlate with concentration of urban structures,
population density and human activities. Temperature gradients are formed at the Central Business
District (CBD) in the downtown areas and progressively lowered to the suburbs. The study
suggested the use of high density green cover, reflective roofing materials, building massing (arcades)
and lightening of pavements as adaptive/mitigation measures against UHI in Enugu urban.

Related studies

»
»