ASSESSMENT OF LAND SURFACE TEMPERATURE IN ABUJA MUNICIPAL AREA COUNCIL BETWEEN 2002 AND 2023

Abstract

Rapid Urbanization and improper urban planning results to increase in the land Surface Temperature (LST) of a particular area. The change in land use land cover (LULC) contributes tremendously in the rise of land surface temperature. Higher LST in urban areas decreases human thermal comfort for the city dwellers and affects the urban environment and ecosystem. A comprehensive study is needed to evaluate the impact of land use land cover change on the LST. Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques were used for the detailed derivation of the land surface temperature in Abuja municipal area council, Federal capital Territory (FCT), Nigeria. Landsat satellite imageries; Enhanced Thematic mapper plus (ETM+) of 2002, 2012 and Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) of 2023 were used to carry out supervised image classification using maximum likelihood algorithm. The thermal bands of the imagery were used to analyze LST of the study area at different epochs using semi-classification plug-in algorithm in QGIS. The Imagery used covered a span of 21 years.  The results show that there is significant increase of built-up from 341.97 km² to 1310.35 km² between 2002 and 2023, decrease in water body from 1.25 km² to 0.69 km² and bare land from 732.04 km² to 220.51 km². There is also sharp decrement in vegetation from 510.26 km² to 53.98 km² between 2002 and 2023. There is substantial rise in surface temperature from 2002 to 2023.  The maximum and minimum temperatures between 2002 and 2023 were 48.93℃, 10.61℃ and 43.51℃, 31.05℃ respectively. Built up, contributed most to surface temperature. The methodology developed in this study can be adapted to other cities in Nigeria. The research emphasizes the significance of implementing effective land use planning and management strategies to address the adverse effects of urban heat and improve the urban microclimate. The findings offer valuable guidance for policymakers, urban planners, and environmental experts, assisting them in making data driven decisions for sustainable urban development and enhancing the quality of life for residents in AMAC, Abuja, FCT.