Decoding Urban Heat Dynamics: The Role of Morphological and Structural Parameters in Shaping Land Surface Temperature from Satellite Imagery

Urban heat dynamics are strongly influenced by the interaction between built structures, surface materials, and vegetation cover. This study investigates the relationship between land surface temperature (LST) and key urban morphological and structural parameters in a municipality of Thessaloniki, Greece. LST was retrieved from Landsat imagery using the NDVI-based emissivity method within Google Earth Engine (GEE). To characterize the urban form of the study area, a WorldView-2 summer image was classified to extract indices of surface roughness, built-up density, greenness density, building orientation and roof material type. Statistical analyses, including regression models and one-way ANOVA, were applied to assess the influence of these parameters on LST variability. Results reveal significant correlations between LST and both structural and vegetative factors, highlighting the cooling role of urban greenness and the amplifying effect of dense built-up areas and specific roof materials. The findings provide valuable insights into the spatial drivers of urban heat at a high-resolution scale, and offer practical guidance for planning strategies designed to lessen heat intensity in compact urban environments.