Thermal changes along the urban-rural continuums in Southeast Asia

Abstract Southeast Asia’s (SEA) rapid urbanization has intensified urban heat effects. While previous studies address urban warming at specific time points, the dynamic relationship between land cover and land use (LCLU) changes and land surface temperature (LST) along urban-rural continuums remains understudied. This study examines LST, LCLU, and NDVI changes across 19 SEA cities of varying urbanization levels from 2000 to 2022 using Landsat images. Results show that LST change rates differ by urbanization levels, with built-up lands driving urban warming. Larger cities exhibited more intense and widespread LST increases extending into rural areas. The megacities experienced significant LST growth within 5 km of city centers despite limited built-up expansion. However, some areas in many cities experience decreasing trends of heat. NDVI significantly influenced LST changes through its cooling effect and the warming impact due to vegetation loss caused by urban expansion. Findings support urban planning strategies that balance growth with enhancing green spaces, redirecting growth to smaller cities, and shifting development from city centers to urban outskirts.