Urban Heat Islands in Nigerian Cities: Modelling Thermal Amplification and Mitigation Pathways for Climate-Resilient Urban Development
This study examines Urban Heat Islands in Nigerian cities, linking rising temperatures to urban design factors like dense construction and low vegetation. It highlights practical mitigation strategies—such as greenery and reflective materials—to improve climate resilience, public health, and sustainable urban development.
Abstract
Rapid urbanisation in Nigeria has transformed natural landscapes into densely built environments, significantly altering local thermal dynamics and contributing to the emergence of Urban Heat Islands (UHI). This study investigates the formation and intensity of UHI in selected Nigerian cities through a modelling framework grounded in surface energy balance theory and urban structural characteristics. By examining the interaction between building density, vegetation cover, surface reflectivity, and anthropogenic heat emissions, the study quantifies the extent of temperature amplification associated with urban development.
The findings indicate that urban environments exhibit measurable temperature increases relative to surrounding rural areas, driven primarily by reduced evapotranspiration, low-albedo construction materials, and increased thermal storage in built surfaces. The results further demonstrate that mitigation strategies such as increased vegetation and reflective materials can significantly reduce urban heat intensity, with combined interventions producing substantial improvements in thermal conditions.
Beyond environmental implications, the study highlights the broader socio-economic relevance of UHI, including its influence on energy demand, public health, and urban sustainability. By providing a context-specific analytical framework, the research contributes to understanding how urban design and land-use decisions shape localised climate outcomes in rapidly developing tropical cities. The study underscores the importance of integrating climate-responsive planning into urban development processes to enhance resilience and liveability in Nigeria’s expanding metropolitan regions.
Keywords: Urban Heat Island, Urbanisation, Thermal Modelling, Climate Resilience, Land Use Change, Nigerian Cities
Citation: Kolebaje, O. T. (2026). Urban Heat Islands in Nigerian Cities: Modelling Thermal Amplification and Mitigation Pathways for Climate-Resilient Urban Development. Journal of Education, Science and Technology, (2) 1.41-51.
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