A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF GREEN SPACES AND THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND (UHI) EFFECT IN GEORGE TOWN, PENANG
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v24i44.2247Keywords:
Urban Heat Island (UHI), Urban Thermal Field Variance Index (UTFVI), Land Surface Temperature (LST), Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)Abstract
This study investigates the influence of green space on environmental quality and its role in mitigating the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, with a specific focus on George Town, Penang. By conducting a comparative analysis of two sites- Sia Boey Archaeological Park (Site A) and Little India (Site B)- within the urban setting, the research assesses variations in the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), land surface temperature (LST), and the Urban Thermal Field Variance Index (UTFVI) to evaluate their respective UHI impacts. Site A, characterised by integrated green areas, shows NDVI values ranging from 0 to 0.9, indicating dense, diverse vegetation. In contrast, Site B, which lacks substantial green space, exhibits a more limited NDVI range of 0 to 0.3. The LST analysis indicates that Site A experiences a broader temperature range (36°C to 51°C) than Site B (44°C to 50°C), suggesting that shaded regions within Site A mitigate surface temperatures. Although both sites exhibit similar UTFVI values (0- 0.02), the allocation of green spaces in Site A is associated with greater carbon sequestration and lower overall surface temperatures, emphasising the role of vegetation in reducing UHI intensity. These findings underscore the potential benefits of integrating green spaces within George Town’s urban planning framework to substantially mitigate UHI effects, thereby advancing sustainable environmental management and enhancing urban climate resilience.
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