English abstract
The urban heat island (UHI) effect is the most obvious atmospheric modification
related to urbanization and development. During the past twenty years, the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) states (KSA, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE and Oman)
have witnessed tremendous urban developments and urban expansions. At the same
time these countries are experiencing some of the highest rates of economic growth
in the world accompanied by accelerated living standards due to the huge reserves of
oil production and refining processes. The present study aims to delineate the urban
heat island effect of the major cities in the GCC during the last decade and half.
Thermal infrared data from 736 images covering the period 2003-2018 were utilized
to highlight the nighttime land surface temperature (LST) trends. Images were
acquired from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board the Aqua satellite on the basis of 8-day composite imaging. LST measurements
were conducted within the city centers for the nighttime images. It is observed that
Dubai and Doha cities have a considerable warming and nighttime trends give more
indications on UHI effects. MODIS data proved to be sufficient for giving an insight
overview for the warming of the urban environment in the Gulf Cooperation Council
Countries.
