THE IMPACT OF URBANIZATION ON MEAN ANNUAL TEMPERATURE OF LAHORE METROPOLITAN AREA, PAKISTAN

Abstract

This study was aimed at to evaluate the process of urbanization and its possible correlation with mean annual temperature (MAT) in metropolitan area of Lahore for the last fifty years (1962-2012). Some parameters of urbanization were selected i.e. increase in built-up land, number of factories, number of vehicles, and reduction in vegetation cover. In order to analyze degree of correlation among mean annual temperature (MAT) and each parameter, bivariate Pearson correlation analysis was carried out. Results showed slight decrease in mean maximum temperature and considerable increase in mean minimum temperature of Lahore. It leads to linear progression towards decrement in mean annual temperature mainly due to rapid paced urbanization over the past in Lahore metropolitan area. Reduction in vegetation cover and increase in built-up area are identified as major contributors among all selected multifarious human and natural factors. Possible solution to overcome future change in temperature could be afforestation, use of environmental friendly transportation, increase in urban green spaces and mass media campaign to make people realized about the adverse effects of rise in temperature due to anthropogenic activities. The highlighted results in present research study provided guidelines to policy makers, urban planners and city managers of Lahore for better urban planning strategies in years to come