Utility of Landsat Image in the Study of Land Cover and Land Surface Temperature Change

Scientists have aimed at exploring land use and land cover (LULC) and their environmental influence in order to improve our understanding of the causes and consequences of these phenomena. This study addresses and use and land cover change (LUCC) in the upper reaches of Pearl River Delta, China, from 1990 to 2008. Based on remotely sensed images of Landsat, LUCC and land surface temperature were assessed. Results showed that land surface temperature was highly influenced by the LUCC from 1990 to 2008. An examination of the relationship between the LULC and LST maps was finally conducted to comprehension their interactions. Results indicated that Landsat image was effective for quantifying the heat environment and providing reliable measurements of land use change. LST was found to be positively correlated with impervious surface but negatively correlated with vegetated land. Each temperature zone was associated with a dominant LULC category.