Dynamics of Urban Environment Thermal Comfort in Padang City Based on Remote Sensing Data Measurements

Urbanization persistently propels the expansion of the global populace, thereby contributing to occurrences such as the Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon, wherein metropolitan regions exhibit elevated temperatures compared to rural areas.This research examines land surface temperature (LST) in Padang City, West Sumatra, utilizing Landsat 8 satellite imagery from 2016 to 2024, with an emphasis on the interplay between LST, topographical features, land utilization, and their repercussions for thermal comfort within Padang City.The employment of linear regression analysis reveals that elevation, NDVI, and NDBI account for 66.63%, 45.64%, and 66.73% of the variation in LST, respectively.The forested highlands situated in the eastern region (elevation 1000-1400 meters, NDVI 0.4-0.6)exhibit low LST values (15-20, UTCI 9-26, indicative of a Neutral sensation), whereas the urban lowlands located in the western part (elevation 0-200 meters, characterized by high NDBI) demonstrate elevated LST levels (25-30), frequently leading to Slight heat stress to Strong heat stress (UTCI 26-38C, ranging from slightly warm to Hot sensation).Temporal analyses of temperature indicate that maximum temperatures oscillated between 36.77 (January 2018) and 34.04 (May 2020), influenced by the dry season, urbanization, and social restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.To alleviate heat and enhance thermal comfort, it is advisable to expand green spaces in coastal lowlands, utilize high-albedo building materials, and preserve forested areas in the highlands.