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ABSTRACT
The study examined the impact of eco-environmental quality conditions, spatial configurations and landscape connectivity of urban vegetation on seasonal land surface temperature (LST) in Harare, Zimbabwe between May and October 2018. The results showed that densely built-up areas with sparse vegetation experienced extremely poor eco-environmental conditions. Clustered and highly connected were more beneficial in decreasing LST. These findings have important urban and landscape planning implications regarding how the spatial configuration and landscape connectivity patterns of urban vegetation can be optimized to mitigate Urban Heat Island (UHI) effects and to improve the thermal comfort conditions in rapidly urbanizing cities.
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Notes on contributors
Pedzisai Kowe
Pedzisai Kowe is an urban climate and landscape ecology researcher and lecturer at Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe. Dr. Pedzisai Kowe got his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Environmental Science (Remote Sensing) from the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science at University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. He holds a MSc in Geoinformation Science and Earth Observation (University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands). Before joining the Midlands State University, he was a Research Scientist (Remote Sensing and GIS specialist) at the Geoinformation Science and Remote Sensing Institute of the Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre (SIRDC), Harare, Zimbabwe’s premier technology centre. Dr. Pedzisai Kowe integrates field observations, geospatial technologies, remote sensing and ecological modelling to understand the structure of urban socio-ecological systems, and its link to urban growth, urban transport systems land surface temperature and urban climate.
Onisimo Mutanga
Onisimo Mutanga is a full Professor and SARChI Chair on Land use Planning at the University of KwaZulu Natal (Pietermaritzburg Campus), South Africa. He is an NRF B – rated Scientist with more than 350 scientific publications, 13000 citations and an H index of 53. His expertise lies in understanding the current state of vegetation (including agricultural crops) in the face of global change by using earth observation data and methods. He integrates landscape ecology techniques, biodiversity conservation and remote sensing data to quantify and understand the impact of forest fragmentation, pests and diseases and invasive species on agricultural and natural ecosystems.
John Odindi
John Odindi is a Professor in the School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Studies at University of KwaZulu Natal (Pietermaritzburg Campus) His expertise lies in understanding the impact of land cover/land use, urban growth on urban heat island in African cities and maping alien and indigenous vegetation using remotely sensed data. Has published more than with more than 120 scientific publications.
Timothy Dube
Timothy Dube is a full Professor at the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Cape, South Africa and a National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF) rated researcher with interest in GIScience and Earth Observation (EO) applications in environmental and water resources management. Has published more than 200 scientific publications. His research is inclined towards the use of cutting-edge satellite and in-situ earth observation technologies in tracking the impacts of climate change and in monitoring water resources and the environment. Together, with various experts drawn from European institutions, Professor Timothy Dube has been involved in intensive earth observation technologies training and capacity building across different institutions of higher learning and research in Southern Africa.