DISTRIBUTION OF URBAN HEAT ISLAND IN LAFIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA: A GEOSPATIO-TEMPORAL APPROACH

ABSTRACT

This study is aimed at using remote sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) to assess the urban heat island (UHI) in Lafia Local Government Area. A time series of Landsat data, from 1999 to 2020were used to extract the land surface temperature (LST), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and normalized difference built-up index (NDBI). The study also examined the relationship between LST and (NDVI &NDBI) indices using correlation analysis. The results showed a considerable decrease in the mean LST from 32.13^oC in 1999 to 30.97^oCin 2020, with a notable increase of 0.36^oC between 2006 and 2013. It also established a positive relationship between LST and NDBI, and an inverse relationship between LST and NDVI. This implied that urban expansion and vegetation decrease influences the development of surface UHI through increased LST. Based on the results, urban planners should come up with effective planning and management of the urban centers. Also, policy makers are to come up with plans to provide thermal comfort in urban areas by increasing efforts in resuscitating urban vegetation and tree cover (tree planting), as well as encouraging the use of green and cool roofing sheet.

Keywords: Land Surface Temperature (LST), Vegetation cover, Urban Heat Island (UHI)