Performance of Green Areas in Mitigating the Alteration of Land Surface Temperature in Urban Zones of Lima, Peru

Urbanization in large cities has altered the urban thermal balance, creating urban heat islands. In this context, green areas are crucial in regulating the urban climate. This study uses remote sensing data to evaluate their performance using the fractional vegetation cover (FVC) and its impact on l...

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Main Authors: Deyvis Cano, Carlos Cacciuttolo, Ciza Rosario, Renato Barzola, Samuel Pizarro, Dámaso W. Ramirez, Marcos Freitas, Ulisses F. Bremer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Remote Sensing
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/8/1323
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author Deyvis Cano
Carlos Cacciuttolo
Ciza Rosario
Renato Barzola
Samuel Pizarro
Dámaso W. Ramirez
Marcos Freitas
Ulisses F. Bremer
author_facet Deyvis Cano
Carlos Cacciuttolo
Ciza Rosario
Renato Barzola
Samuel Pizarro
Dámaso W. Ramirez
Marcos Freitas
Ulisses F. Bremer
author_sort Deyvis Cano
collection DOAJ
description Urbanization in large cities has altered the urban thermal balance, creating urban heat islands. In this context, green areas are crucial in regulating the urban climate. This study uses remote sensing data to evaluate their performance using the fractional vegetation cover (FVC) and its impact on land surface temperature (LST) in Metropolitan Lima, Peru, between 1986 and 2024. The spatial and temporal relationship between FVC and LST is analyzed, and districts are classified based on their effectiveness in thermal regulation. The Mann–Kendall test was applied to identify trends along with a Spearman correlation analysis and a clustering analysis to group districts according to the cooling effectiveness of their urban green areas. The results show that urban expansion has increased LST by an average of 6.43 °C since 1990, and there is a significant negative correlation (<i>p</i> < 0.001) between FVC and LST, indicating positive impacts of vegetation regulating LST at a spatial level. However, it does not reduce LST at a temporal level. This suggests that, while effective locally, green areas are insufficient to counteract the overall warming of LST over time. Based on FVC and LST characteristics, the districts have been classified into four groups: those with well-preserved green areas, such as La Molina and San Isidro, which have a lower LST, compared to areas where urbanization has replaced vegetation, such as Carabayllo and Lurigancho (Chosica). Finally, this study highlights the importance of integrating green area management into urban planning to mitigate urban warming and promote sustainable development.
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spelling doaj-art-cf83c3a37fa841cb831cbf616c1c33f62025-08-20T03:13:45ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922025-04-01178132310.3390/rs17081323Performance of Green Areas in Mitigating the Alteration of Land Surface Temperature in Urban Zones of Lima, PeruDeyvis Cano0Carlos Cacciuttolo1Ciza Rosario2Renato Barzola3Samuel Pizarro4Dámaso W. Ramirez5Marcos Freitas6Ulisses F. Bremer7Academic Program of Environmental Engineering, Universidad de Huánuco, Huánuco 10001, PeruDepartment of Civil Works and Geology, Catholic University of Temuco, Temuco 4780000, ChileAcademic Program of Architecture, Universidad de Huánuco, Huánuco 10001, PeruAcademic Program of Architecture, Universidad de Huánuco, Huánuco 10001, PeruCentro de Investigación en Geomática Ambiental (CIGA), Instituto de Investigación Para el Desarrollo Sustentable de Ceja de Selva (INDES-CES), Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza de Amazonas, Chachapoyas 01001, PeruFacultad de Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad Científica del Sur, Av. Antigua Carretera Panamericana Sur km 19 Villa El Salvador, Lima 15842, PeruPostgraduate Program in Remote Sensing (PPGSR), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre 91501-970, RS, BrazilPostgraduate Program in Remote Sensing (PPGSR), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre 91501-970, RS, BrazilUrbanization in large cities has altered the urban thermal balance, creating urban heat islands. In this context, green areas are crucial in regulating the urban climate. This study uses remote sensing data to evaluate their performance using the fractional vegetation cover (FVC) and its impact on land surface temperature (LST) in Metropolitan Lima, Peru, between 1986 and 2024. The spatial and temporal relationship between FVC and LST is analyzed, and districts are classified based on their effectiveness in thermal regulation. The Mann–Kendall test was applied to identify trends along with a Spearman correlation analysis and a clustering analysis to group districts according to the cooling effectiveness of their urban green areas. The results show that urban expansion has increased LST by an average of 6.43 °C since 1990, and there is a significant negative correlation (<i>p</i> < 0.001) between FVC and LST, indicating positive impacts of vegetation regulating LST at a spatial level. However, it does not reduce LST at a temporal level. This suggests that, while effective locally, green areas are insufficient to counteract the overall warming of LST over time. Based on FVC and LST characteristics, the districts have been classified into four groups: those with well-preserved green areas, such as La Molina and San Isidro, which have a lower LST, compared to areas where urbanization has replaced vegetation, such as Carabayllo and Lurigancho (Chosica). Finally, this study highlights the importance of integrating green area management into urban planning to mitigate urban warming and promote sustainable development.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/8/1323remote sensingurban thermal environmentspatial correlationclimate changesustainable developmenturban heat islands
spellingShingle Deyvis Cano
Carlos Cacciuttolo
Ciza Rosario
Renato Barzola
Samuel Pizarro
Dámaso W. Ramirez
Marcos Freitas
Ulisses F. Bremer
Performance of Green Areas in Mitigating the Alteration of Land Surface Temperature in Urban Zones of Lima, Peru
Remote Sensing
remote sensing
urban thermal environment
spatial correlation
climate change
sustainable development
urban heat islands
title Performance of Green Areas in Mitigating the Alteration of Land Surface Temperature in Urban Zones of Lima, Peru
title_full Performance of Green Areas in Mitigating the Alteration of Land Surface Temperature in Urban Zones of Lima, Peru
title_fullStr Performance of Green Areas in Mitigating the Alteration of Land Surface Temperature in Urban Zones of Lima, Peru
title_full_unstemmed Performance of Green Areas in Mitigating the Alteration of Land Surface Temperature in Urban Zones of Lima, Peru
title_short Performance of Green Areas in Mitigating the Alteration of Land Surface Temperature in Urban Zones of Lima, Peru
title_sort performance of green areas in mitigating the alteration of land surface temperature in urban zones of lima peru
topic remote sensing
urban thermal environment
spatial correlation
climate change
sustainable development
urban heat islands
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/8/1323
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