Influence of Pond System on Surface Temperature and Urban Cooling

Abstract

A greener city is an emerging tendency for urban managers to deal with ongoing urbanization and climate change. One natural-based solution gaining prominence is the incorporation of blue spaces, such as ponds, to regulate microclimates and alleviate urban heat island effects. The study focuses on investigating the inherent properties of a pond system, including morphological characteristics and environmental indicators that influence pond surface temperature (PST). Additionally, the study explores the cooling effects of the pond system, examining both the extent and intensity of cooling. To conduct this analysis, data on land surface temperature and land use/land cover types are extracted from Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 images, respectively. The study, encompassing 709 ponds, reveals that the perimeter edge predominantly influences the PST (β = −0.857) while the area and shape ratio moderately affect the PST (β = 0.259 and 0.296, respectively). Moreover, mean elevation demonstrates a reducing effect on the PST (β = −0.214). The study utilizes polynomial regression and the concept of the first turning point to identify two critical cooling indicators of the pond system. Consequently, the cooling extent is defined at 140 m and the intensity at 2.7°C. These indicators offer valuable insights into the inherent properties influencing PST and contribute to the understanding of cooling mechanisms in the pond system. The implications of these findings extend to urban planning, particularly in the realm of blue space design, where the evidence presented can guide strategies to tackle the impacts of urbanization and climate change.