Factors influencing surface urban heat islands in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

The transformation of urban landscapes, driven by urbanization, rapid population growth, and anthropogenic activities, constitutes a pressing global concern. Such alterations give rise to a unique climatic phenomenon called the surface urban heat island effect. The present study focuses on Maun, emphasizing the importance of mapping and monitoring spatiotemporal alterations in the urban landscape. Employing remotely sensed data from Landsat 5 and 8 spanning the period from 1990 to 2020, acquired from the United States Geological Survey archives, this study utilizes geospatial analysis techniques to investigate patterns of SUHI formation. The findings show a minimum LST of 30°C, a maximum of 35.5°C, and an average temperature of 32.8°C in built-up areas. The lowest NDVI was −0.2, and the highest was 0.6. The findings also show a minimum of −0.12 and a maximum of 0.18 for NDBI. Furthermore, the results highlight both negative and positive correlations between LST and NDVI and between LST and NDBI, respectively, emphasizing the role of green coverage in mitigating the SUHI effect on urban temperature. These empirical insights contribute to our understanding of urban climate dynamics in the Okavango Delta and provide valuable information for guiding sustainable urban development strategies in this critical tourist destination.