The effects of green areas on air surface temperature of the Kuala Lumpur city using WRF-ARW modelling and Remote Sensing technique

• Main Authors: Isa, N.A (Author), Ooi, M.C.G (Author), Salleh S.A (Author), Salleh, S.A (Author), Wan Mohd, W.M.N (Author), Yusuwan N.M (Author)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Institute of Physics Publishing 2018
• Subjects: Atmospheric temperature; Different distributions; LANDSAT satellite images; Linear regression models; Negative correlation; Normalized difference vegetation index; Regression analysis; Remote sensing; Remote sensing techniques; Satellite imagery; Surface properties; Surface temperature distribution; Weather forecasting; Weather research and forecasting models
• Online Access: View Fulltext in Publisher; View in Scopus
• ISBN: 17551307 (ISSN)
• DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/117/1/012012

Matured trees contain high concentration of chlorophyll that encourages the process of photosynthesis. This process produces oxygen as a by-product and releases it into the atmosphere and helps in lowering the ambient temperature. This study attempts to analyse the effect of green area on air surface temperature of the Kuala Lumpur city. The air surface temperatures of two different dates which are, in March 2006 and March 2016 were simulated using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The green area in the city was extracted using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from two Landsat satellite images. The relationship between the air surface temperature and the green area were analysed using linear regression models. From the study, it was found that, the green area was significantly affecting the distribution of air temperature within the city. A strong negative correlation was identified through this study which indicated that higher NDVI values tend to have lower air surface temperature distribution within the focus study area. It was also found that, different urban setting in mixed built-up and vegetated areas resulted in different distributions of air surface temperature. Future studies should focus on analysing the air surface temperature within the area of mixed built-up and vegetated area. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.