Abstract:
Spatial distribution of land surface temperature (LST) was demonstrated to be likely influenced by land use changes. This paper aimed to analyze the influence of land use change on LST in Shapotou District, Zhongwei. Using two images of Landsat TM, the information of land use of Sapotou in 1992 and 2007 were retrieved and LST of corresponding periods was calculated based on the mono-windows algorithm. The results revealed that there was obvious difference among LST of each land types. Shifting sandy land had the highest LST, and water area the lowest. The conversions of steppe desert to cropland and shifting sandy land to artificial vegetation-stabilized sand land were the major patterns of land use change. The conversions of steppe desert to irrigable cropland resulted in LST declining obviously, and the conversions of steppe desert to pebble-covered cropland resulted in LST rising slightly. The conversions of cropland to rural-urban construction land resulted in obvious LST rise.