IMPACT OF LAND -USE CHANGES ON THE TEMPERATURE VARIABILITY: A CASE STUDY OF LAHORE

Abstract

The objective of the present study is to investigate the impact of land-use changes on

temperature variability in the study area. Lahore is the second-largest city in Pakistan and is facing tremendous pressure in rapid population growth, socio-economic development, and urbanization that change the pattern of land use. Consequently, the annual dTmin temperature is increasing more rapidly as compared to the dTmax temperature. Seasonal temperature variation is also highlighted that dTmin temperature is increasing more rapidly in the spring season. The regression method was used to figure out the temperature variation. Results of the study revealed that Lahore has witnessed a dramatic growth in the built-up area which had a prominent effect on Land surface temperature as well. The Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) is used to calculate built-up area in Lahore from 1972 to2015. In 1972 the total built-up area of Lahore was only 62.88 Square kilometers which increased

557.38 square kilometers in 2015.