Differentiated impacts of urban morphology on land surface temperature across local climate zones : interaction and seasonality

Abstract

Urban morphology is a key factor of land surface temperature (LST) variations. However, the heterogeneity of its impact mechanisms across spatial scales, seasons, and Local Climate Zones (LCZs) has not been fully explored. In this study, we first identify the optimal spatial scale at which urban morphological features exhibit the strongest explanatory power for LST. Based on this optimal scale, we systematically evaluate the relative contributions, marginal effects, and interaction mechanisms of impervious surfaces, vegetation, and water bodies on LST across LCZs and seasons. The results indicate that: the explanatory power of urban morphology on LST is highest at the 200-m scale; impervious surface metrics consistently contribute to higher LST across all LCZ types and seasons, whereas vegetation and water-related metrics generally exert cooling effects, especially during summer; and the interaction effects among morphological elements are significantly influenced by both seasonality and LCZ classification. This study uncovers the complex influence of multidimensional urban morphology on urban thermal environments under varying spatial and seasonal contexts. The findings can offer scientific insights for fine-grained and differentiated climate-adaptive urban planning and thermal environment management.