Multi-buffer zones reveal the relationship between spatial pattern of land surface temperature and land use indices in Guangzhou, China

Land surface temperature is a crucial physical parameter in the examination of the natural ecological environment. The study utilized Landsat data to investigate land use indices and thermal environment change in Guangzhou, employing the radiative transfer equation, concentric circles, Pearson correlation coefficient, and other geospatial methods. Overall, as the distance from the city center increased, NDVI values tended to rise, while land surface temperature showed a gradual decreasing trend. Additionally, land surface temperature exhibited a negative correlation with NDVI and a positive correlation with NDBI. Barren had the highest LST, followed by impervious, while the water and the forest were cooler. The high-temperature area took on a V-shape, primarily situated in the west and southern areas, whereas the cooler temperature zone was mainly found in the northeast. The results can offer a scientific foundation for further exploration of the urban heat island formation mechanism, development of rational planning policies, and assessment of urbanization’s impact on local climate.