Urbanisation and changing temperature patterns in the city of Bengaluru

摘要

Urbanisation processes influence spatial expansion and growth direction of cities. However, spatial expansion and development of the city are planned by urban policies through master plans. For sustainable development of the city, these two processes must follow each other, but in reality, they may spatially diverge and be inconsistent. Impact of this divergence on temperature patterns is studied in this paper by taking the example of the city of Bengaluru. Divergence between urbanisation (socio-economic) and planning processes has transformed terrain elements like water and vegetation, which in turn have transformed temperature patterns. The results in this study show how soil moisture is an important factor in influencing temperature pattern though there was good vegetation cover. Urbanisation processes have led to the disappearance of surface water bodies and depletion of groundwater, along with the change in vegetation, which have affected soil moisture content over the years. These analyses suggest the importance of understanding terrain conditions in urban planning.