Browsing by Author "Majula, Atugonza"

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Enhancements of Heat Islands in the Growing Cities in Developing Countries Due to Land Use Land Cover Changes and Climate Change: A Case of Babati-Tanzania
(Scientific Research Publishing, 2024-12-09) Majula, Atugonza; Machunda, Revocatus; Selemani, Juma
Climate is changing no doubt, with anthropogenic activities considered as the main driver of the change. Flooding, drought and urban heat island (UHI) are some impacts of climate change (CC). Additionally, land use land cover change (LULCC) adds more pressure to the growing cities. Population is increasing with urban cities expected to accommodate the majority of the people while UHI is expected to increase with CC and LULCC. Adaption is the best option to minimize impacts of UHI; however, researchers are required to identify the cause, impacts and ways to cope with the impacts. Therefore, this study investigated how the Land Surface Temperature (LST) of Babati, a fast-growing town in Tanzania, is changing with CC and LULCC. Remote sensing was used with LULC classification, which was performed using a maximum likelihood algorithm, and LST retrieval involved computational formulas using bands R, NIR, and TIR. Results showed a rise in built-up areas, suggesting urbanization at the expense of farmlands and bare land. The LULCC together with global warming from 2002 to 2022 contributed to the increasing average LST by 0.7˚C signifying that more impacts are expected in the future under a business-as-usual scenario. The findings also indicate that higher vegetation density is associated with lower LST and vice versa. This relationship highlights the critical role of vegetation in regulating temperature and suggests that enhancing vegetation cover may be an effective strategy for mitigating urban heat. Improving agricultural practices as population increases and promoting sustainable urbanization in Babati and similar towns are necessary to mitigate UHI effects.
Impacts Of Land Use And Land Cover Change On Urban Heat Islands: A Case Study Of Babati Municipality - Tanzania
(NM-AIST, 2025-06) Majula, Atugonza
To improve living conditions, human development alters natural landscapes, impacting Land Surface Temperature (LST) and contributing to global climate change. Investigating how Land Use Land Cover (LULC) changes influence the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect is crucial as cities expand and LULC transformations intensify.With urban populations projected to double by 2050, cities are expected to contribute to global warming, trap pollutants, and consume vast energy for cooling. This study assessed LULC changes in Babati from 2002 to 2022 and analyzed their impact on LST using remote sensing techniques. The LULC classification was performed using a maximum likelihood algorithm, while LST retrieval applied computational formulas based on Red (R), Near Infrared (NIR), and Thermal Infrared (TIR) bands. Results showed a rise in built-up areas from 1.2% to 3.8% over 20 years, leading to suburbanization at the expense of farmland and bare land. The conversion of natural areas into urban and agricultural land increased average LST by 0.7°C, with some agricultural hotspots reaching up to 20°C higher than vegetated areas due to exposed dark loam soils during the dry season. While vegetation and water bodies played a crucial role in cooling, agricultural lands emerged as significant contributors to UHI. Given the positive correlation between agricultural lands and UHI, there is a need to adopt sustainable farming practices and improve urban planning strategies. These insights can guide the sustainable development of Babati Municipality and other rapidly growing towns with similar environmental settings.