Preliminary study on urban heat island effect in Xiamen during 2001–2007

In the context of accelerated urbanization, urban heat island (UHI) has received much attention. Remote sensing(RS), geographic information system (GIS) and multiple regression analysis method were coupled in this study to explore the spatiotemporal change of UHI and identify its influencing factors over the period 2001-2007 in a coastal city, Southeast China. Five indicators including urban built-up area, urban greenland, road area, population and investment in the fixed assets were adapted to measure. The result showed that the area of high temperature zone increased significantly from 2001 to 2007. Urban built-up area was the most important influencing factor for UHI with the regression coefficient 2.333. Urban greenland would weaken UHI, represented by regression coefficient -5.602. Moreover, road area, population and investment in the fixed assets were the secondary factor for UHI with regression coefficients 1.291, 1.096 and 1.811, respectively.