The influence of seasonal land-use-land-cover transformation on thermal characteristics within the city of Pietermaritzburg

Urbanisation has been identified as a major threat to the environment it increases demand for urban spaces and transforms natural landscapes impervious surfaces, leading Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon. Natural such vegetation water bodies act thermal sinks that absorb heat while surfaces buildings concrete pavements sources retain emit heat. The emission results in several negative effects temperature inversion, compromised human health, pollution, species loss, high energy consumption climate change at local, regional global scales. Whereas studies on UHI are abound, there is paucity literature influence of seasonal Land Use Cover (LULC) transformation characteristics. Specifically, proportional variability contribution individual LULCs often poorly understood. Using freely available Landsat 8 optical bands, this study examined characteristics phenomenon relation Pietermaritzburg city, South Africa. Results revealed UHIs exist both winter summer, but with more intensity summer. also established varied seasons. Bare dense had most during low density These findings provide better understanding distribution based LULC seasonality changes, valuable sustainable planning mitigation.