GLOBAL JOURNAL OF EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Integrity Research Journals
ISSN: 2636-6002
Model: Open Access/Peer Reviewed
DOI: 10.31248/GJEES
Start Year: 2016
Email: gjees@integrityresjournals.org
Urban fabric analysis of Benin City and its implications for the urban canopy heat island in the dry season
https://doi.org/10.31248/GJEES2024.212 | Article Number: 1D06BBC42 | Vol.10 (5) - October 2025
Received Date: 19 September 2025 | Accepted Date: 29 October 2025 | Published Date: 30 October 2025
Authors: Emmanuel Iruobe Aruya* , Blessing Ozien Aruya and Yahaya Zayyana Ibrahim
Keywords: Benin, surface fraction, Urban Canopy Heat Island (UCHI), urban heat island, urbanisation.
The rapid growth in population and urbanisation in Benin City has altered the urban morphology, resulting in a consistent rise in temperature known as the urban heat island phenomenon. This study was designed to examine the relationship between the urban fabric and Urban Canopy Heat Island (UCHI) in Benin City in the dry season. The study classified Benin City into Local Climate Zones (LCZs). Ten LCZs were used, and the urban fabric analysis was done using Google Earth imagery. The urban fabric analysis was used to classify the selected stations into surface fractions (built-up, paved, bare land and vegetation). A thermochrone iButton data logger was placed in each of the LCZs, which recorded temperature at 30-minute intervals. Linear regression analysis was employed to evaluate the impact of surface cover composition on mean UCHI intensities within the study area. The results of the analysis showed that temperature varied across the LCZ, with the highest temperature being 29.70°C and the lowest, 27.72°C. UCHI intensity showed that FS has the highest UCHI with 3.03°C, followed by TM with 3.01°C and PS and BR with 2.98°C each. The lowest value of UCHI was recorded in WI with 1.70°C. The coefficient of determination (R2) revealed that the percentage of paved surfaces had the highest influence in the dry season, with an R2 value of 0.6917 (69%), while the percentage of vegetation had the least influence, with an R2 value of 0.0064 (1%). The study confirms an urban bias in temperature in Benin City as a result of urban morphology, which has strong implications on the bio-climatological aspect of the urban environment and the physiological comfort of the urban inhabitants. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that there should be regulations on the adoption of climate-sensitive planning and building design schemes.
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