Enhanced surface urban heat islands due to divergent urban-rural greening trends

Abstract Satellite observations show that the surface urban heat island intensity (SUHII) has been increasing over last two decades. This is often accompanied by an increased urban-rural contrast of vegetation greenness. However, contribution uneven trends in and rural areas to trend SUHII unclear, due confounding effects climate change changes man-made infrastructures anthropogenic sources. Here we use a data-model fusion approach quantify such contributions during peak growing season. We LAI dif (the difference leaf area index) ( P < 0.05) 189 selected 228 global megacities. The from 2000 2019 accounts for about one quarter satellite-derived SUHII, impact particularly evident places with rapid urbanization cropland intensification. marginal sensitivity strongest hot-humid megacities surrounded croplands hot-dry mixed woody herbaceous vegetation. Our study highlights role long-term modulating temperature differences.