Classification of Urban Heat Stress Intensity and Population Affected by Heat Stress in The Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

This study examines the spatial and temporal characteristics of urban heat stress in the Niger Delta, with the objectives of establishing the relationship between ambient air and land surface temperature while modeling the urban heat stress intensity and classifying the different levels of heat stress and determine population affect by the different the heat stress class within the study are. Quantitative methods and correlation research design was used for this research, while this study used Pearson Product moment Correlation Coefficient, ANOVA, dispersion and other statistical tools to analyze the data generated from primary and secondary sources. The sample population was 7 states size while the sample size was 13 to 15 samples in each of the studied states. The results showed land surface temperature significantly correlated with ambient temperature in Bayelsa and Akwa-Ibom State. Port Harcourt Rivers State recorded the highest land surface temperature at point 10 Trans Amadi industrial Layout, with a value of 37.33oC, the lowest was at point 6, with a value of 26.25oC. Uyo city recorded highest land surface temperature at Point 7 Oron Road,with a value of 30.62oC, Bayelsa state, Yenagoa satellite map temperature minimum of 0-22.30 and maximum of 45.67- 53.42 0C in the dry season, Calabar Cross River state recorded temperature values of 7.87 -14.020C, Edo Benin city Land Surface Temperature LST. Variations of 4.73 -11.80 0C, 11.81 -18.890C and 18.90-25.980C, Imo state Owerri dry season showed temperature variations between 0-16.990C,17.00-23.92 and 30.85.770C, Port Harcourt city in the wet season varied from 7.86 -32.510C. The study concluded that Port Harcourt, Benin, and Yenagoa, have higher SUHII intensities while Calabar, Uyo, Owerri have moderate SUHII, Port Harcourt, Uyo and Benin have temperature class of 3-5 and 1 -2 which is very weak UHI at the outskirt of the city. The study also recommends that in order to contribute to the sustainability of the urban environment, there is need to expand some of the cities to decongest them and create more greener cities for comfortable habitation and infrastructural projects like airports, industrial etc. should be sited in rural area to mitigate urban heat stress.