SEASONAL URBAN THERMAL PATTERNS BASED ON LAND SURFACE TEMPERATURES MEASURED FROM ASTER IMAGERY

摘要

Applications of thermal infrared remote sensing for analysis of landscape ecological processes have not been conducted extensively. No literature exists to examine the relationship between urban thermal pattern and landscape cover as pattern varying with the seasons. This study aims to investigate urban thermal configurations as related to landscape cover as patterns at various temporal scales. This study is based on examination of four Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) scenes covering Indianapolis, USA, acquired on four leaf-on seasons. For each date, land use land cover, and land surface temperatures were derived from the satellite images to produce thematic maps. Landscape metrics were applied to mathematically identify the characteristics of thermal patterns and landscape covers as patterns. The seasonal characteristics of thermal patterns and landscape patterns were examined based on the calculations of landscape metrics. Our results show that developed lands, forest, and grasslands yielded the highest area percentages in the study area on each acquirement date of image. Thermal patches for the whole area had very high connectivity but low aggregation levels. This project can provide valuable indicators to urban planning and natural resources conservation.