Effect of landscape pattern and spatial configuration of vegetation patches on urban warming and cooling in Harare metropolitan city, Zimbabwe

The spatial configuration of vegetation patches in the landscape has implications for provision ecosystem services, human adaptation to climate change, enhancement, or mitigation urban heat island. Until recently, effect enhance mitigate island received little consideration thermal assessments. This study examines impact on warming and cooling Harare metropolitan city, Zimbabwe. used Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), Landsat Sentinel 2 data acquired between 1994 2017 derive detailed information patches, metrics, land surface temperature LST(°C). patterns was analyzed using metrics Fragstats program. Getis Ord Gi* as a Local Indicator Spatial Association (LISA) characterize clustering dispersion patches. Results showed that clustered lowers temperatures more effectively than dispersed fragmented vegetation. size, density, shape complexity, cohesion conferred different levels but Patch Cohesion Index had strongest negative relationship with LST(°C) at three resolutions 10 m (Sentinel 2), 15 (ASTER) 30 (Landsat 8). Lag Regression model performed better Ordinary Least Squares regression analysis exploring metrics. Specifically, higher R2 values log likelihood, lower Schwarz criteria, Akaike criterion, reduced autocorrelations. overall provides important insights into larger, connected, less maximum effects which is critical planning design approaches mitigating increasing cities.