Assessing the role of urban green vegetation in mitigating land surface temperature in Naples (Italy) using Landsat-9 and GIS techniques

Urban vegetation plays a fundamental role in mitigating Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, especially in densely built environments. This study investigated the spatial variation of Land Surface Temperature (LST) in Naples (Italy), by integrating Landsat-9 thermal imagery and GIS tools. Two complementary approaches are applied: Local Climate Zones (LCZs) are used as a preliminary analysis to determine the influence of urban morphology on LST, while Corine Land Cover (CLC) data are employed to evaluate thermal gradients around four urban areas using concentric buffers at 500, 1000, and 1500 m. LST is derived applying the Split Window algorithm for four clear-sky summer days in 2023, complemented by a supplementary winter analysis. Results show significant cooling effects in proximity to urban green areas, with maximum LST differences of +8.5°C in industrial or commercial units, while more moderate gradients are observed in agricultural and semi-natural areas. The LCZ-based analysis confirmed significant differences in LST between the different zones, with built-up areas warmer than vegetated areas. This study proposes a replicable approach that combines LCZ analysis and CLC-based thermal gradient assessment, providing insights to support UHI mitigation strategies in Mediterranean cities, where heterogeneous land cover and urban density intensify thermal stress.