Variation in land use cover and surface temperature of Kubwa, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

Increasing human activity within the urban area brings massive changes in Land/Land Cover patterns and has an obvious effect of changes to urban ecosystems that make urban areas fragile. These conversions result in the appearance of numerous micro and mesoscale climates, warmer than the original climate and that of surrounding areas. This paper analyzed urban surface temperature variation on vegetal cover loss in Kubwa, FCT, Abuja. The study employed the used Landsat imageries of (1990, 2000, 2010 and 2020) to analyse land cover changes and land surface temperature. The study revealed that built-up area increase from 1990-2000 with 166% and 80% in 2010 and the year 2020 recorded an average of 23%. Bare surface decreased by -25% between (1990 -2000); further decreased from 3028.5 to 1979.6 hectares and -14% between 2010-2020. The study established that the LST value in 1990 Kubwa was 15℃ and 32.4℃ with a mean value of 23.7℃. The minimum and maximum LST of Kubwa in 2000 was 25℃ and 35℃ with mean of 30℃. The trend further continues, in the year 2010, minimum and maximum LST of 25℃ and 35℃ with a mean of 30℃ and in 2020 with a minimum and maximum LST of 25℃ and 40℃ with mean of 32.5℃. The analysis revealed that temperature variation increases between 1990, 2000, and 2010 were 0.4°C. There was 2°C in LST between the 2010 and 2020 due to urban expansion, infrastructure development, population growth and anthropogenic activities. The study recommends improvements of urban green infrastructure; and the FCT administration should embark into afforestation in order to restore the depleted vegetal land cover of the study area.