Evaluation of urban heat island in istanbul using remote sensing techniques

In this study, Urban Heat Island (UHI) in Istanbul has been studied using Landsat 5 TM satellite sensor data and long-term temperature data from meteorological stations within and around the city. The thermal remote sensing technique is used to study of urban climate in Istanbul for the first time. Thermal and other channels of the Landsat satellite images were used for three different years: 1987, 1997 and 2007. In addition, meteorological data which are temperature, precipitation, humidity, for the same period which are 25 September 1987, 18 July 1997 and 28 June 2007, were used. The images are classified according to the thermal channel. The temperature data and the coordinates of stations have been added to this classification. Two major centers for urban heat island is found in Istanbul. Our major finding is that expansion of urban areas in Istanbul lead growth in thermal radiation of land surface in highly dense areas. This is mainly due to unplanned and unorganized rapid urbanization in last two decades.