Journal of Climate Change, Disaster Risk and Resilience Studies
Contributors of Urban Heat Island and their Impact on Liveability in Selected Residential Neighbourhoods in Port Harcourt Metropolis
Abstract
BROWN Ibama and EYENGHE Tari
Urban Heat Island has become a prominent urban phenomenon and environmental crisis affecting urban dwellers’ living conditions. The study assessed the impact of the urban heat island effect on liveability in Port Harcourt metropolis, Nigeria. The study adopted a quantitative approach and descriptive design. The study utilised cluster and simple random sampling techniques to select two neighbourhoods, namely Nkpolu-Oroworukwo and Rumuagholu, to represent each LGA in the metropolis. A total sample size of 398 was determined employing Taro Yamane’s formula at 5% precision level. Thus, a total of 382 questionnaires were returned and valid for analysis. Geospatial analytical techniques using satellite imagery were used to map and quantify UHI variations across neighbourhoods, and descriptive statistics were used to analyse the collected data. The findings revealed that Nkpolu-Oroworukwo experienced higher UHI intensities than Rumuagholu in 2015, 2020, and 2025, with average UHI intensities of 27.7°-35.2°C, 27.7°-34.2°C, and 31.9°C-32.1°C, respectively. The differential records showed a decline in UHI from +7.5°C to +6.5 °C and to +0.5°C in 2015, 2020, and 2025, respectively, in the neighbourhoods. The UHI effect had a notable impact on residents’ liveability, contributing to health and well-being challenges such as skin rashes and heat burn, headache and dizziness, and dehydration and fatigue, reduced comfort from hot indoor spaces and sleep disruption, increased electricity consumption, safety risks such as overheating of electrical equipment, and emotional stress, including irritation and reduced motivation. Residents also reported dissatisfaction with their neighbourhood’s liveability, particularly in Nkpolu-Oroworukwo. Thus, from the findings, the study has suggested the following recommendations including government should carry out regular urban heat assessment in neighbourhoods; regulate physical development and other activities that generate heat in the neighbourhoods; preserve green and blue infrastructure within the neighbourhoods; use of environmentally friendly materials in landscaping; form environmental awareness organisations to campaign and sensitise in use of environmentally friendly cooling materials in construction; and introduce green infrastructure in the neighbourhoods.