Analyzing the Spatiotemporal Distribution of Surface Urban Heat Island Dynamics of Kolkata Urban Agglomeration

The past two decades have seen rapid urbanization of Kolkata Urban Agglomeration, which has fueled a concerning rise of the Land Surface Temperature (LST), leading to a pronounced Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI) effect. Heat retention has been exacerbated by the increased conversion of green spaces to impervious surfaces. The SUHI phenomenon and LST dynamics are noticeable across all seasons. The rising trend of SUHI poses multifaced challenges that impact energy consumption, air quality, and public health. This paper uses Sen’s Slope to analyze the SUHI trend in Kolkata City, India. Despite seasonal variations in the Steepness of Sen Slope and mean SUHI a consistent increasing trend in SUHI is noticeable in the study area. The study highlights the need for sustainable urban planning and the inclusion of an elaborate heat action plan for the city, taking SUHI into account.