The mitigating effect of green Space's spatial and temporal patterns on the urban heat island in the context of urban densification: A case study of Xi'an

Growing evidence highlights a strong link between urban densification and urban heat island (UHI) effects. However, there is a lack of research on time-based analyses of urban green space spatial patterns using urban densification indices to mitigate UHI effects. Addressing this gap, this study focuses on the central district of Xi'an, utilizing urban density data, MODIS LST products, and Landsat series imagery. The Coordination Coupling Degree Model (CCDM) is applied to longitudinally assess the mitigating effects of urban green space spatial patterns on UHI under different scales of spatial densification. The CCDM results show a significant overall improvement in the coordination coupling degree between green space spatial indices and LST in Xi'an's central district from 2013 to 2023. However, variations across administrative districts suggest that regional planning policies have differentially influenced green space patterns and UHI effects over time. Furthermore, a global negative correlation between the urban densification index and changes in the coordination coupling degree indicates that continued urbanization in Xi'an's central district could exacerbate the urban thermal environment. This study provides valuable insights into green space planning and UHI mitigation strategies in the context of urban densification.