URBAN HEAT ISLAND FOOTPRINT EFFECTS ON BIO-PRODUCTIVE RURAL LAND COVERS SURROUNDING A LOW DENSITY URBAN CENTER

Abstract. The urban heat island (UHI) is a common effect caused by urbanization and has been studied to evaluate the thermal condition in cities worldwide. However, most previous UHI analyses are performed major metropolitan cities. This study conducts spatiotemporal analysis of rapidly expanding low-density suburban centre determines how bio-productive land covers react extent disturbance each cover based on time series surface temperatures extracted from Landsat 7 ETM+ images. Two methods applied compared single exponential decay method, which measures footprint (UHIFP) vegetation phenology, two dimensional Gaussian surface, quantifies influence distance local perimeter. Three spectral indices (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Moisture (NDMI), Enhanced (EVI)) were residuals model these order better understand variations within UHI. results show that UHIFP 1.4 times larger than size centre, marginally smaller high-density metropolises. All vegetated experienced their maximum cooling effects before reaching perimeter while surfaces begin diverge outside UHIFP. sparse maintained strong correlations with index throughout growing season NDMI retained strongest relationships every cover. helped us small communities varied phonology distribution built-up pervious impervious neighbourhood structure. similar both indicate overpowering dominant agricultural season.