ANALYZING URBAN HEAT ISLANDS (UHIS) AND THERMAL COMFORT DYNAMICS IN DELHI: INSIGHTS FROM REMOTE SENSING (1990-2023)

Speaker: Abhinav Galodha, Newcastle University, United KingdomThe UN’s World Urbanization Prospects report indicates that approximately 59% of the global population lived in urban areas as of 2023, with projections suggesting this will rise to 68% by 2050. Understanding the spatial and temporal changes in Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI) and thermal comfort in metropolitan areas is essential for fostering sustainable urban development. Delhi, Indias capital, has faced significant population growth and Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) changes, exacerbating the urban heat island (UHI) effect and reducing thermal comfort for its residents. Using Landsat-5, -7, -8, and -9 images from Google Earth Engine (GEE), this research examined LULC, SUHI, and thermal comfort variations in Delhi from 1990 to 2023.