Land Use Change and the Urban Heat Island Effect: A Global Synthesis of Patterns, Drivers, and Mitigation Strategies

Urban Heat Islands (UHIs) are urban zones whose temperatures exceed those of adjacent rural areas due to land use changes and urbanization. Based on thirty peer-reviewed studies (۱۹۹۲–۲۰۲۵), this review examines how land use influences UHI development and intensity. Expanding impervious surfaces—roads, buildings, and industrial sites—consistently elevate land surface temperatures (LST), whereas vegetation and water features produce cooling effects. Comparative studies across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas reveal that dense urban growth without sufficient green infrastructure intensifies thermal stress. Longitudinal analyses indicate that as cities expand and green cover declines, UHI intensity increases over time, especially in industrial and commercial districts. These thermal shifts drive higher energy demand, raise public health risks, and exacerbate environmental inequities. This review identifies effective mitigation measures, including urban forests, parks, green roofs, high-albedo and evaporative surfaces, adaptive zoning policies, and climate-responsive design. Satellite remote sensing and GIS mapping are highlighted as crucial for locating UHI hotspots and guiding interventions. Overall, the findings demonstrate that land use decisions are central to UHI severity, highlighting the need for proactive, context-sensitive planning to preserve and enhance urban green spaces and build climate-resilient cities under rapid urbanization and global warming. Future assessments should gauge intervention effectiveness globally.

کلیدواژه ها:

Urban Heat Island (UHI) ، Land Use Change ، Impervious Surfaces ، Green Infrastructure ، Remote Sensing