Decoding Urban
Heat: A Decadal Analysis (1991-2021) of Land Surface Temperature and Thermal Comfort
Dynamics in Coastal Taluka of Bardez, Goa, India
Gaonkar Venkatesh Prabhu, Nadaf F.M. and Kapale Vikas
Disaster Advances; Vol. 18(2); 1-17;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/182da01017; (2025)
Abstract
The urban heat island phenomenon refers to the alteration of the climate in urban
areas resulting from the disruptions caused by urban development. This issue is
of immense concern for the vast number of individuals living in cities. The rural
regions across the world are diminishing at a rapid rate, leading to significant
transformations in land use and land cover. The dynamics of urban thermal comfort
is closely linked to these changes. The assessment of urban thermal comfort levels
can be accomplished through the utilization of the urban thermal field variance
index (UTFVI) which is derived from LST data. The study reveals that Bardez taluka,
located in Goa, India, has witnessed substantial alterations in land use and land
cover over the past three decades, primarily due to economic advancement and population
growth. From 1991 to 2021, the Urban thermal field variance index (UTFVI) in the
Bardez taluka has shown a clear upward trend, indicating increased temperature fluctuations
in urban areas. This rise has negative effects on residents' comfort, as the size
of land offering "excellent" comfort has decreased from 37.30 sq. km (14.76%) in
1991 to 27.05 sq. km (10.71%) in 2021 showing a decrease of 4.05 %.
Conversely, areas with the "worst" comfort level have increased from 13.98 sq. km
(5.54%) to 38.17 sq. km (15.11%) showing a 9.57% increase during the same period.
These changes are influenced by factors like urbanization, impenetrable surfaces
like asphalt and concrete, towering structures and crowded infrastructure, minimal
green areas, altered microclimate, human actions such as industrial processes, transportation
and energy consumption, which can create urban heat islands and raise overall temperatures
in cities. These findings carry significant implications for urban planning, policy-making
and sustainable development. In addition, the study provides important insights
into the consequences of anthropogenic actions and alterations in land use on urban
heat and thermal comfort.
