Urban Heat Island Dynamics and Climatic Variability: A Spatial Analysis of Aizawl City, Mizoram

IJEP 46(3): 224-233 : Vol. 46 Issue. 3 (March 2026)

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Naorem Bobby Singh*, Jonathan Lalrinawma, H. Lalruatfela and Kshetrimayum Dilip Singh

Mizoram University, Department of Geography and Resource Management, Aizawl – 796 004, Mizoram, India

Abstract

Urban heat island (UHI) effects are a major environmental issue in rapidly growing cities, especially in regions with unique topographies, like hilly areas. While there is extensive research on UHI in lowland metropolitan cities, a critical gap exists in understanding how elevation, vegetation and urban morphology interact to influence microclimates in hill cities, such as Aizawl, Mizoram. This study aims to fill that gap by examining spatial and seasonal variations in UHI across five zones of Aizawl, identifying environmental and morphological factors that affect UHI intensity. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research employed remote sensing, geospatial analysis and regression modeling at 39 sampling points distributed across the five zones. Land surface temperature (LST), elevation, building density and vegetation indices were analyzed for pre-monsoon, monsoon, post-monsoon and winter periods. Results show that the central zone has the highest UHI intensity due to its high development level and lower vegetation coverage. Conversely, higher elevation and greener zones, such as north zone I and south zone II, exhibit lower UHI effects. The patterns reveal maximum intensities during the pre-monsoon season, highlighting the roles of solar radiation and surface heating. Overall, the findings underscore the importance of climate-sensitive urban planning in hilly cities to effectively mitigate UHI effects.

Keywords

Urban heat island, Aizawl city, Surface temperature, Building density, Green cover, North-south variation

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