Spatiotemporal monitoring of land surface temperature and estimated radiation using remote sensing: human health implications for East London, South Africa

Increase in land surface temperature (LST) and area radiation (R) has serious health implications on human life. Therefore, investigating LST and R changes is fundamental in providing crucial information for human survival. Remote sensing was used to assess the LST and estimated radiation of East London city in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa from Landsat thematic mapper images for 1986, 1996, 2006, and operational land imager, thermal infrared sensor for 2016 spanning a period of 30 years. Rapid urbanization and land cover changes in this area have contributed significantly to this drastic change in the natural surface characteristics (increased land surface temperature and surface solar radiation). For instance, vegetation cover declined by about 358.812 km2 and built-up increased built-up area by 175.473 km2 during this period, which correlates with the area thermal characteristics changes. Also, the radiation increased over the years with values exceeding the global solar radiation index. Exposure to increased ultraviolet radiation possesses risks of heat stroke, skin cancer, and heart disease to the local population. Consequently, this study provides pertinent information for human health sustainability and epidemiological cases management. Further investigation is needed in established case-specific causes. This study also epitomises the significance of remote sensing climate variability studies.