Investigating the Impact of changing land cover on urban heat islands in Budondo, Buwenge and Kakira Counties in Jinja District

Abstract

The urban heat island effect occurs when cities with significant populations develop microclimates that differ from those of the surrounding region. This effect is mostly created by the concentration of human activities and artificial built surfaces, which are primarily made up of construction materials that easily collect and store solar energy while slowly releasing heat, primarily at night. In urbanized areas, the urban heat island effect is a key component in air quality management, environmental studies, and public health. The research region encompasses Kampala district, which has experienced rapid urbanization during the last three decades as a result of high population density, rapid economic, and industrial development. The major goal of this study was to use Landsat TM to examine the impact of land cover change on urban heat islands (UHI) during the years 2013 to 2021. Land use/cover maps were created using Landsat photos from 2013 through 2021. The images were supervised and classified using the maximum likelihood method, and four land use/cover classes were extracted: Built-Up, Vegetation, Bare Land, and Water. The findings revealed significant urban expansion from 2013 to 2021, as well as an increase in urban heat island coverage from 2013 to 2021. According to the study, one of the key reasons contributing to the urban heat island effect is the increase in land cover change as a result of urbanization.