Seasonal And Diurnal Variations Of Urban Heat Island Intensity In Ludhiana: A Zone-Wise Comparative Study

Abstract

In fast-growing Indian cities, the Urban Heat Island effect is becoming a significant concern for both microclimates and public health. The study examines the seasonal and diurnal temperature and relative humidity variations of Urban Heat Island in representative locations, including two locations from the inner zone, one location from the outer zone, one location from the peri-urban area, and one rural location developed as a reference location. To see the seasonal variations with respect to the different types of neighborhoods in composite climate of Ludhiana, data loggers are fixed at all locations, which collected the data on an hourly basis for three representative months: January, June, and December. To determine the diurnal temperature difference, observations were taken at 6 AM, 6 PM, and the afternoon peak hours temperature (3 PM-4 PM). The results show the strongest UHI effect is in the month of summer with a temperature difference of more than 5°C, and also, there is an intercity temperature difference between all the locations due to the different types of Geometries (Road orientation, spec Ratio, and Sky View Factor) across all locations. The conclusions from the study clearly shows that Urban Heat Island Effect Intensity in Ludhiana is influenced by both seasonal climate and urban geometry and also highlight the urgent need to incorporate policies in the Ludhiana smart city mission for existing and new residential developments, including mitigation techniques for retrofitting current locations and planning guidelines for upcoming neighborhoods.