Impact of Urbanization on Land Cover Changes and Land Surface Temperature in Iseyin Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria

Urbanization, without any iota of doubt, is one of the leading factors modifying the Earth’s surface because it has a significant impact on land cover changes and Land Surface Temperature (LST). This study assessed the impact of urbanization on land cover changes and LST in Iseyin Local Government Area. Landsat images of 22 years duration (2000, 2013, and 2022) and 30 m resolution were used in the study. The result showed that in 2000, vegetation occupied 58538 ha (43%), the built-up areas covered 2535 ha (2%), farmland covered 61248 ha (45%), rocky/hilly areas accounted for 3226 ha (2.4%), water bodies accounted for 431.17 ha (0.3%) while bare land covered 8642 equivalent to 6.42% of the area. In 2013, the built-up area occupied 3.4% (4577 ha), water body covered 0.21% (281 ha), vegetation covered 35% (48136 ha), farmland covered 48% (64352 ha), bare land covered 11% (15944 ha) while rocky/hilly area covered 1.02% (1376 ha). In 2022, built-up areas covered 6393 ha (4.8%), water bodies, vegetation and farmland covered 515 ha, 33819 ha, and 75999 ha respectively while bare land and rocky/hilly areas also covered 14346 ha and 3594 ha respectively. The LST result showed a mean temperature value of about 32oC, 27oC and 29oC in 2000, 2013, and 2022 respectively. The study concludes that urbanization has largely affected the land cover types in Iseyin LGA and increased the LST between 2000 and 2022. The study has therefore provided a scientific reference to policymakers to develop effective and sustainable policies in Iseyin LGA.