AN ANALYSIS OF LOCAL SPATIAL TEMPERATURE PATTERNS IN THE DELHI METROPOLITAN AREA

The present study focuses on spatial patterns of urban heat island (UHI) development within the rapidly changing urban landscape of the Delhi Metropolitan Region (DMR). To determine the role of local environmental factors in the shaping of microclimatic conditions, automated weather sensors were installed at 13 sites for a one-year period from May 2007 to June 2008. The results indicate significant differences in observed near-surface temperatures among the different stations. The UHI effect was more pronounced in the late afternoon and nocturnal hours. The highest temperatures are observed in the northern and western sections of the study area, which overlap with high- density residential and industrial land uses. Furthermore, these areas also experienced extreme high temperatures of prolonged duration during the daytime, increasing heat-related risks in these areas. At the seasonal level, the greatest differences in temperatures were observed during the summer, likely due to the predominantly clear sky conditions. However, areas of higher temperatures were relatively localized during the cooler months of the year.