Effects of landscape changes on urban climate change: A case study in the city of São Paulo

Abstract

Given the vulnerability of Brazilian cities to climate change, it is imperative to monitor urban areas’ susceptibility to temperature fluctuations. In this article, we employ thermal remote sensing and digital image processing techniques to illustrate a substantial rise in surface temperatures across the Northwest Region of São Paulo City over the past three decades. This surge in surface temperature is closely linked to alterations in the urban landscape. Our findings emphasize that one significant environmental consequence of São Paulo City’s rapid urbanization is the pronounced increase in surface temperatures. These results also underscore the significance of assessing landscape features, such as vegetation cover, to inform the prudent, sustainable, and resilient management of urban centers, thereby mitigating climate change effects in metropolitan areas.