Investigating the Dynamics of Urban Heat Islands in Response to Vegetative Cover and Land Use Land Cover Changes in Chandigarh

By : Vicky Anand , Anju Singh , Santosh Kumar , Aastha Sharma , Sunil Kumar

Page No: 430-446

Abstract
The biophysical landscape of metropolitan areas is adversely affected by the rapid changes in land use and land cover (LULC). In the vicinity of the growth centre, the escalation of developmental activities and migration primarily result in the transformation of green belts into built-up areas, the depletion of surface water bodies, and alterations in the thermal characteristics of the urban landscape. The objective of this study is to investigate the dynamics of urban heat islands in response to vegetative cover, various Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) classes, Land Surface Temperature (LST), and their correlation with the Normalised Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI) within the urban area of Chandigarh. The estimation of surface temperature was conducted using the Landsat-7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) dataset. This study examines the relationship between water body characteristics and temperature variability in urban areas with diverse land use conditions, utilising remote sensing techniques to analyse direct evidence. Consequently, the outcome reveals that the built-up area has emerged as a significant land use and land cover class within the city. The class characterized by dense urban development displayed the highest recorded maximum temperature, measuring 29.15o C. In contrast, the class representing water bodies exhibited the lowest maximum temperature at 22.89o C, resulting in a temperature difference of approximately 6.26o C. The observed outcome of this phenomenon has resulted in a notable augmentation of the Land Surface Temperature (LST) during the summer duration of 2021. The results of this study offer valuable insights that can be utilized to address the challenges posed by urban heat and improve thermal comfort in urban areas through effective spatial planning strategies. 

Authors :
Vicky Anand : Research Scholar, Academy of Biology and Biotechnology, Southern Federal University, 344090, Rostov-On-Don, Russia. 
Anju Singh : Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Aditi Mahavidyalaya, University of Delhi, Bawana, Delhi, India. 
Santosh Kumar : Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, University of Delhi, Sheik Sarai Phase- II (Triveni), New Delhi, India. 
Aastha Sharma : Research Scholar, Department of Geography, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. 
Sunil Kumar : Senior Geographer, Map Division, Directorate of Census Operations, Chandigarh, Punjab, India.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/ATNAGI.2024.44.02.12