Detecting multi-temporal land cover change and land surface temperature in Pearl River Delta by adopting local climate zone

This study examines the spatial-temporal changes of land cover and the surface urban heat island (SUHI) effect in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region from 2000 to 2015. The Local Climate Zone (LCZ) concept is used, given its standard but comprehensive classification scheme designed for urban climate studies. Firstly, historical LCZ maps of the PRD region were generated using the World Urban Database and Access Portal Tools (WUDAPT) protocol. Secondly, summer mean land surface temperature (LST) during daytime and night-time was retrieved from remote sensing data to analyze the SUHI. Thirdly, the correspondence between the spatial-temporal patterns of LCZ and LST were explored. The results show that urbanization in this region comprises transformation from natural land covers to built types and conversion in the built up, in particular densification and vertical enhancement of existing urban types. The LST in the region increased in general but the spatial pattern of LST increase is affected by the land cover change. LCZ 6 (open low-rise) and LCZ 8 (large low-rise) show the greatest increase in LST. LCZ 4 (open high-rise) and LCZ 8 are the two dominant LCZs in high SUHI zone and LCZ 8 keeps growing as the most principal LCZ type.