LULC dynamics and the effects of urban green spaces in cooling and mitigating micro-climate change and urban heat island effects: a case study in Addis Ababa city, Ethiopia

Land surface temperature (LST) increment and Urban Heat Island (UHI) variability are major urban climatology issues in urban development. Urban green spaces (UGSs) play a vital role in combating micro-climate change. This study assesses the effects of UGS in cooling and mitigating micro-climate change in Addis Ababa City. Remotely sensed data from Landsat5 TM (1990), Landsat7 ETM+ (2005), and Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS (2021) were used. LST was retrieved using mono-window and split-window algorithms. Regression and correlation analysis of LST and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were performed in SPSS V23. Results show that UGS proportion decreased from 120.4 km2 in 1990 to 76.26 km(2) in 2021. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that built-up and green vegetation accounted for 92.2% of LST variations in Addis Ababa City. Cooling efficiency (CE) and threshold value (TVoE) of green space were calculated as 4.5 +/- 0.5 ha, indicating that allocating a green space area of 4.5 +/- 0.5 ha through urban planning is the most efficient in reducing heat effects. Strengthening public participation in urban greening is crucial for mitigating micro-climate change and promoting sustainable urban development and better quality of life.