Author: Dr. Ananya Mehta, Mr. Rohan Kapoor
Abstract: Urban Heat Islands (UHIs) represent a significant environmental concern in modern cities, where anthropogenic activities and reduced vegetation contribute to elevated surface and atmospheric temperatures compared to surrounding rural areas. Thermal remote sensing provides an efficient, large-scale, and repeatable approach to monitor, quantify, and analyze UHI effects using satellite-derived land surface temperature (LST) data. This paper examines the application of thermal remote sensing in detecting and mapping UHIs, highlights methodologies for data acquisition and processing, and discusses case studies demonstrating the relationship between LST patterns, urban morphology, and land use changes. Key thermal sensors, such as Landsat Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS), MODIS, and ECOSTRESS, are reviewed for their suitability in UHI monitoring. Additionally, the integration of remote sensing data with geographic information systems (GIS) is explored to provide spatially explicit insights for urban climate adaptation strategies.
Keywords: Urban Heat Island, Thermal Remote Sensing, Land Surface Temperature, Satellite Data, Urban Climate, MODIS, Landsat, GIS.
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