Determining the Impact of Land Use and Land Cover on Microclimate with Reference to Thermal Variability in Srinagar Municipal Corporation

The strength of the urban heat island (UHI) effect is associated with shifts in land use and land cover (LULC) patterns, such as changes in vegetation, built-up areas, and water bodies. Factors like the vertical and horizontal growth of urban spaces, the materials used in construction, the spacing between buildings, public areas, transportation hubs like railway stations and bus stops, and large and small industrial centers, among others, influence temperature patterns. This study investigates the impact of urbanization on land surface temperature (LST) in Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), India, over a span of two decades (2001, 2011, and 2021). Landsat 7, Landsat 5, and Landsat 8 data were analyzed using the spatial and temporal variations of LST, and its relationship with urbanization indicators such as the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), modified normalized difference water index (MNDWI), normalized difference built-up index (NDBI), and normalized difference bareness index (NDBaI) was determined. Karl Pearson’s correlation and simple linear regression analysis were also employed to establish relationships between LST and these indices. The results revealed a significant increase in LST over the years, coinciding with rapid urbanization, and a strong correlation between LST and NDBI, indicating the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. The findings underscore the need for sustainable urban planning strategies to mitigate the UHI effect and its implications for environmental and public health in rapidly urbanizing areas like SMC.