Impact of Industrial Activities on Land Surface Temperature Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques - A Case Study in Jubail, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Land Surface temperature (LST) is one of the most important variables for determining the state within the climate system. Thermal infrared (TIR) remote sensing used to monitor air temperature and affecting microclimate in urban areas. TIR remote sensing techniques have been applied for analyzing LST patterns and its relationship with surface characteristics, assessing urban heat island (UHI), and relating LST with surface energy fluxes to characterize landscape properties and processes. In the present study, a remote sensing was combined with a geographic information system (GIS) environment for determine the impact of industrial areas on Surface Temperature using of TIR Remote Sensing through Landsat ETM+ data (band 6.1) and comparing the relationships between urban surface temperature and land cover types in Jubail City in Saudi Arabia. The study showed the increase of urban surface temperature near the industrial area in comparison with suburban areas. The center of the heat island was concentrated above the industrial area and its adjacent urban areas. Iron and steel factories raise the temperature to 80°C which affects air temperature of nearby areas. This effect may extend to the buffer zone area ranging from 500-2000 m