The Effect of Urban Vegetation Patterns on Land Surface Temperatures in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region

Abstract

Land cover change and climate change lead to rising land surface temperaturesLandsurface temperatures. An abundance of research demonstrates that urban vegetationUrban vegetation, known asInfrastructuregreen green infrastructureGreen infrastructure, can reduce land surface temperatures. However, there is little research determining how the spatial structureSpatial structure and pattern of urban vegetationUrban vegetation affects land surface temperatureLandsurface temperatures. This research focuses on investigating the effects of urban vegetationUrban vegetation patterns on land surface temperaturesLandsurface temperatures by comparing classification maps, spatial patternsSpatial pattern of vegetation, and the land surface temperature contour maps. Eight areas that have similar land cover ratios but different spatial patterns have been selected. The results show that large vegetation patches reduce surface temperature better than small vegetation patches. A large vegetation patch has the ability to decrease surface temperature only in the patch itself, and at a distance of 60–120 m surrounding the patch. However, built-up and bare soil areas that reside next to the green patch still retain a high surface temperature. On the other hand, the maximum temperature of areas comprising the small vegetation patches is lower than the large patch. Overall, small, scattered vegetation patches reduce the surface temperature not only on the patches themselves but also in a wider area. It seems that small, scattered vegetation patches benefit the urban areas by reducing land surface temperatureLandsurface temperatures more than a large vegetation patch. However, both large and small, scattered vegetation patches should be combined to most efficiently decreasing urban land surface temperatureLandsurface temperatures. The findings of the research can be applied to Bangkok’sBangkok, Thailand green infrastructureGreen infrastructure planningInfrastructuregreen to improve the quality of lifeQuality of Life for the people and make the city more resilient.