Impacts of Landscape Composition on Land Surface Temperature in Expanding Desert Cities: A Case Study in Arizona, USA

Rifat Olgun (), Nihat Karakuş, Serdar Selim, Tahsin Yilmaz, Reyhan Erdoğan, Meliha Aklıbaşında, Burçin Dönmez, Mert Çakır and Zeynep R. Ardahanlıoğlu
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Rifat Olgun: Vocational School of Serik G-S. Süral, Akdeniz University, 07500 Antalya, Türkiye
Nihat Karakuş: Vocational School of Serik G-S. Süral, Akdeniz University, 07500 Antalya, Türkiye
Serdar Selim: Department of Space Sciences and Technologies, Faculty of Science, Akdeniz University, 07070 Antalya, Türkiye
Tahsin Yilmaz: Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Akdeniz University, 07070 Antalya, Türkiye
Reyhan Erdoğan: Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Akdeniz University, 07070 Antalya, Türkiye
Meliha Aklıbaşında: Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University, 50300 Nevşehir, Türkiye
Burçin Dönmez: Department of Space Sciences and Technologies, Faculty of Science, Akdeniz University, 07070 Antalya, Türkiye
Mert Çakır: Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Süleyman Demirel University, 32200 Isparta, Türkiye
Zeynep R. Ardahanlıoğlu: Vocational School of Fethiye Ali Sıtkı Mefharet Kocman, Mugla Sıtkı Kocman University, 48300 Muğla, Türkiye

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-30

Abstract: Surface urban heat island (SUHI) effects are intensifying in arid desert cities due to rapid urban expansion, limited vegetation, and increasing impervious and barren land surfaces. This leads to serious ecological and socio-environmental challenges in cities. This study investigates the relationship between landscape composition and land surface temperature (LST) in Phoenix and Tucson, two rapidly growing cities located in the Sonoran Desert of the southwestern United States. Landsat-9 OLI-2/TIRS-2 satellite imagery was used to derive the LST value and calculate spectral indices. A multi-resolution grid-based approach was applied to assess spatial correlations between land cover and mean LST across varying spatial scales. The strongest positive correlations were observed with barren land, followed by impervious surfaces, while green space showed a negative correlation. Furthermore, the Urban Thermal Field Variation Index (UTFVI) and the Ecological Evaluation Index (EEI) assessments indicated that over one-third of both cities are exposed to strong SUHI effects and poor ecological quality. The findings highlight the critical need for ecologically sensitive urban planning, emphasizing the importance of the morphological structure of cities, the necessity of planning holistic blue–green infrastructure systems, and the importance of reducing impervious surfaces to decrease LST, mitigate SUHI and SUHI impacts, and increase urban resilience in desert environments. These results provide evidence-based guidance for landscape planning and climate adaptation in hyper-arid urban environments.

Keywords: landscape composition; land surface temperature; urban heat island; desert city; impervious surface; green space; barren land (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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