| Popis: |
Land surface temperature (LST) and surface air temperature (SAT) are important environmental variables that describe the temperature of the Earth's surface as measured by satellite sensors or ground-based instruments. Changes in land cover, such as deforestation, urbanization, and agriculture, can have a significant impact on LST, as they alter the surface energy balance and affect the amount of solar radiation that is absorbed or reflected by the land surface. The effects of increased LST are often complex and depend on a range of factors, including the specific location, the type and intensity of urbanization, and the surrounding natural environment. However, it is clear that high LSTs and SAT can have a range of negative impacts on both natural and built environments, and that efforts to reduce LSTs can have significant benefits for human health, the environment, and the economy. This study examines the impact of spatio-temporal land cover changes (built-ups) on land surface temperature (LST) over Dormaa from 1990-2020. Using the Mann-Kendall trend test, remote sensing data, and GIS techniques, we analyse the relationship between land cover changes and LST at the local scale, taking into account factors such as vegetation cover, land use patterns, and weather conditions. The analysis of LULCC, LST, and SAT with their corresponding percentage annual rate of change showed a deterministic factor R=0.89, with a significant F-change of 0.014 at a 95% confidence interval of their difference. The results provide strong evidence that the increase in LST and SAT across the years over the Dormaa area correlated with the significant changes in land cover as observed from 1990 – 2020. The most significant land cover changes were observed within the Dormaa Municipal, which also recorded the highest LST and SAT anomaly change of 0.091°C compared to the other districts. The results further showed that the rapid urbanization that occurred between 2000-2020 in the Dormaa Municipal was the primary cause of the observed increase in LST and SAT. The quick changes in the land cover, which caused a greater portion of the green vegetated surface in the Dormaa Municipal to be converted to a more non-transpiring and reduced evaporative built-up environment forhousing, provision of social amenities, and supporting other significant socio-economic activities, resulted in an increased LST and SAT. Our results indicate that land cover changes have had a significant impact on LST over Dormaa during the study period. In particular, urbanization and agricultural land use changes have led to increases in LST, while changes in forest cover have had a more complex relationship with temperature, depending on factors such as the type and intensity of forest management. We also found that the relationship between land cover changes and LST is non-linear and dependent on interactions between multiple factors, highlighting the importance of considering the specific context when analysing this relationship. Our study provides new insights into the complex relationship between land cover changes and LST at the local scale, which can be used to inform local decision-making, such as land use planning and management, and contribute to our broader understanding of the impact of human activities on the environment. The study also urges all interested parties to ensure and integrate vegetation conservation in modern city planning models, as green environments act as carbon sinks (a role in global warming) by implementing rules and regulations in the districts, particularly in the Dormaa Municipal. |
