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Material Heat Absorption and the Urban Heat Island Effect in Thailand: A Comparative Study of Common Surface Types in Nakhon Si Thammarat

Organization(s):Thailand Citizen Science
Country:Thailand
Student(s):Teephapat Petcharat, Kanapapat Limpitigranont, Adithep Songnoo Theethut punchakunathorn, Walanorn Saenliao, Surapong Jitmas, Naphat pherbangkhem Manatchai Sangtong, Punpitcha Rassameepong, Punyaporn Sriwimas, Onchisa Phungam
Grade Level:Upper Primary (grades 3-5, ages 8-11)
GLOBE Member(s):Mr.Suphon Tomsaeng
Contributors:Assoc.Prof.Dr.Krisanadej Jaorensutasinee, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Mullica Jaroensutasinee, Miss Thunwarut Sutthipun, and Miss Chacha Sattharat, Center of Excellence for Ecoinformatics, School of Science, Walailak University.
Report Type(s):Virtual Science Symposium Report
Protocols:Surface Temperature
Presentation Video: View Video
Presentation Poster: View Document
Language(s):English
Date Submitted:2026-01-19
Material Heat Absorption and the Urban Heat Island Effect in Thailand: A Comparative Study of Common Surface Types in Nakhon Si Thammarat
This research presents a focused examination of the Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI) phenomenon in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, specifically analyzing diurnal thermal dynamics across three time-series measurements (11 AM, 2 PM, and 3 PM). The primary dataset comprises on-site land surface temperature (LST) readings. A one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to evaluate differences in mean temperature among these surface types. The results revealed highly significant statistical differences in surface averages across the three measurement periods (p≈0), confirming that material composition is the primary driver of surface temperature modulation. During the early hours of the day, concrete (50.74°C) and metal surfaces exhibited the highest thermal values, generating a substantial Surface Thermal Contrast (STC) of 24.65°C when compared to the coolest surface, trees (26.09°C). The overall Maximum STC recorded across all surfaces and times was 25.08°C. These findings provide critical, data-driven insights for local urban planning and climate adaptation strategies in Nakhon Si Thammarat. The results show that air temperature strongly influences cloud type and structure. Higher temperatures favor the formation of convective cloud types, predominantly Cumulus, which are associated with moderate cloud cover and localized vertical development. In contrast, lower temperatures are associated with stratiform cloud types such as Stratocumulus and Altocumulus, which are characterized by higher cloud cover and extensive horizontal spreading. Relative humidity plays a critical role in cloud extent: high humidity supports widespread stratiform cloud cover, while moderate humidity favors convective cloud development and higher clear-sky fractions. Wind speed further modulates cloud characteristics, as low wind speeds promote extensive layered clouds, whereas higher wind speeds enhance atmospheric mixing and convective cloud formation. Overall, the findings demonstrate that cloud type and cloud cover are governed by the combined effects of temperature, humidity, and wind speed, underscoring the importance of integrated meteorological and observational analyses of clouds for understanding local-scale atmospheric processes.



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