Nonlinear Effects of Human Settlements on Seasonal Land Surface Temperature Variations at the Block Scale: A Case Study of the Central Urban Area of Chengdu

The land surface temperature (LST) in the central urban area has shown a consistent upward trend over the years, exacerbating the surface urban heat island (SUHI) effect. Therefore, this study focuses on the central urban area of Chengdu, using blocks as the research scale. The Gradient Boosting Dec...

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Main Authors: Muze Zhang, Tong Hou, Yuping Ma, Mindong Liang, Jiayu Yang, Fengshuo Sun, Enxu Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Land
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/4/693
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author Muze Zhang
Tong Hou
Yuping Ma
Mindong Liang
Jiayu Yang
Fengshuo Sun
Enxu Wang
author_facet Muze Zhang
Tong Hou
Yuping Ma
Mindong Liang
Jiayu Yang
Fengshuo Sun
Enxu Wang
author_sort Muze Zhang
collection DOAJ
description The land surface temperature (LST) in the central urban area has shown a consistent upward trend over the years, exacerbating the surface urban heat island (SUHI) effect. Therefore, this study focuses on the central urban area of Chengdu, using blocks as the research scale. The Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT) model and SHAP values are employed to explore the nonlinear effects of human settlements (HS) on LST across different seasons. The results show that (1) At the block scale, the overall impact of HS on LST across all four seasons tracks the following order: built environment (BE) > landscape pattern (LP) > socio-economic development (SED). (2) LP is the most important factor affecting LST in summer, while the BE has the greatest influence on LST during spring, autumn, and winter. (3) Most HS indicators exhibit seasonal variations in their impact on LST. The impervious surface area (ISA) exhibits a significant positive impact on LST during spring, summer, and autumn. In contrast, the nighttime light index (NTL) and functional mix degree (FMD) exert a significant negative influence on LST in spring, autumn, and winter. Additionally, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) negatively affects LST in both spring and summer. Moreover, connectivity (CNT) and functional density (FPD) demonstrate notable threshold effects in their influence on LST. (4) Certain HS indicators exhibit interaction effects, and some combinations of these indicators can effectively reduce LST. This study reveals HS–LST interactions through multidimensional analysis, offering block-scale seasonal planning strategies for sustainable urban thermal optimization.
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spelling doaj-art-eef4fef910b6402fbf1a48ab3d846a1f2025-08-20T03:13:47ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2025-03-0114469310.3390/land14040693Nonlinear Effects of Human Settlements on Seasonal Land Surface Temperature Variations at the Block Scale: A Case Study of the Central Urban Area of ChengduMuze Zhang0Tong Hou1Yuping Ma2Mindong Liang3Jiayu Yang4Fengshuo Sun5Enxu Wang6Jangho Architecture College, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110169, ChinaJangho Architecture College, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110169, ChinaJangho Architecture College, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110169, ChinaJangho Architecture College, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110169, ChinaJangho Architecture College, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110169, ChinaJangho Architecture College, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110169, ChinaJangho Architecture College, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110169, ChinaThe land surface temperature (LST) in the central urban area has shown a consistent upward trend over the years, exacerbating the surface urban heat island (SUHI) effect. Therefore, this study focuses on the central urban area of Chengdu, using blocks as the research scale. The Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT) model and SHAP values are employed to explore the nonlinear effects of human settlements (HS) on LST across different seasons. The results show that (1) At the block scale, the overall impact of HS on LST across all four seasons tracks the following order: built environment (BE) > landscape pattern (LP) > socio-economic development (SED). (2) LP is the most important factor affecting LST in summer, while the BE has the greatest influence on LST during spring, autumn, and winter. (3) Most HS indicators exhibit seasonal variations in their impact on LST. The impervious surface area (ISA) exhibits a significant positive impact on LST during spring, summer, and autumn. In contrast, the nighttime light index (NTL) and functional mix degree (FMD) exert a significant negative influence on LST in spring, autumn, and winter. Additionally, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) negatively affects LST in both spring and summer. Moreover, connectivity (CNT) and functional density (FPD) demonstrate notable threshold effects in their influence on LST. (4) Certain HS indicators exhibit interaction effects, and some combinations of these indicators can effectively reduce LST. This study reveals HS–LST interactions through multidimensional analysis, offering block-scale seasonal planning strategies for sustainable urban thermal optimization.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/4/693block scalecentral urban areagradient boosting decision treehuman settlementsland surface temperatureseasonal variation
spellingShingle Muze Zhang
Tong Hou
Yuping Ma
Mindong Liang
Jiayu Yang
Fengshuo Sun
Enxu Wang
Nonlinear Effects of Human Settlements on Seasonal Land Surface Temperature Variations at the Block Scale: A Case Study of the Central Urban Area of Chengdu
Land
block scale
central urban area
gradient boosting decision tree
human settlements
land surface temperature
seasonal variation
title Nonlinear Effects of Human Settlements on Seasonal Land Surface Temperature Variations at the Block Scale: A Case Study of the Central Urban Area of Chengdu
title_full Nonlinear Effects of Human Settlements on Seasonal Land Surface Temperature Variations at the Block Scale: A Case Study of the Central Urban Area of Chengdu
title_fullStr Nonlinear Effects of Human Settlements on Seasonal Land Surface Temperature Variations at the Block Scale: A Case Study of the Central Urban Area of Chengdu
title_full_unstemmed Nonlinear Effects of Human Settlements on Seasonal Land Surface Temperature Variations at the Block Scale: A Case Study of the Central Urban Area of Chengdu
title_short Nonlinear Effects of Human Settlements on Seasonal Land Surface Temperature Variations at the Block Scale: A Case Study of the Central Urban Area of Chengdu
title_sort nonlinear effects of human settlements on seasonal land surface temperature variations at the block scale a case study of the central urban area of chengdu
topic block scale
central urban area
gradient boosting decision tree
human settlements
land surface temperature
seasonal variation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/4/693
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