Evaluating Urban Heat Islands Dynamics and Environmental Criticality in a Growing City of a Tropical Country Using Remote-Sensing Indices: The Example of Matara City, Sri Lanka
, Neel Chaminda Withanage 1,2, Prabuddh Kumar Mishra 3,*, Kamal Abdelrahman 4 and Mohammed S. Fnais 4Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsFile attached.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis manuscript mainly studies the impact of urbanization on changes in land surface temperature (LST) and land use/cover (LULC) in Matara city, Sri Lanka. By using remote sensing (RS) data and geographic information system (GIS) technology, the authors analyzed the urban heat island (UHI) effect in Matala City from 1996 to 2023 and its relationship with land use changes. The research covers the classification of LULC, calculation of UHI index, and analysis of parameters such as LST, normalized vegetation index (NDVI), normalized building index (NDBI), and ecological criticality index (ECI). The results show that urbanization has led to a significant increase in temperature and a reduction in vegetation coverage in urban core areas, and these changes are closely related to the urbanization process.
1. Background and Significance, The article begins with an overview of the phenomenon of urbanization and its potential impact on the environment, but lacks a detailed description of the specific background of the city of Matala (such as geographical location, climatic conditions, historical development, etc.). It is suggested that the authors should add a background introduction to the study area in the introduction to enhance the relevance and practical significance of the study.
2. Although the manuscript mentions the calculation models such as MLC algorithm, NDVI, NDBI and ECI when describing the research methods, there is a lack of discussion on the basis and applicability of these models. It is suggested that the authors add a description of the rationale for model selection, as well as an analysis of the advantages and limitations of the model in a specific study area.
3. The authors provide a detailed analysis of the trends of LST, NDVI, NDBI, and ECI, but lack a discussion of the underlying reasons behind the results. For example, the rise in LST may be related to factors such as increased building density and decreasing green space in the process of urbanization, but these factors are not discussed in depth in this article. It is suggested that the authors increase the discussion of the reasons behind the results to enhance the depth and breadth of the study.
4. The manuscript concludes with a summary of the impact of urbanization on LST and LULC change, but makes general recommendations. It is suggested that the authors put forward more specific and feasible urban planning and management suggestions based on the research results, such as increasing the proportion of green space and optimizing the layout of buildings, so as to alleviate the environmental problems caused by urbanization.
Comments on the Quality of English Language
The overall language of the article is fluent. Authors are advised to carefully proofread their articles to ensure accurate language. In addition, the article format should comply with the journal submission requirements, including font size, line spacing, chart labeling, etc.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors（1）Please explain what is the meaning of K1 and K2 in Table 1.
（2）In Figure 3, compared with Figure 3(a), Figure 3(b) has wider "water and marshland" part on the upper left corner in the figure. Its square may be reduced because of the rapid urbanization, please check if this increase is caused by different seasons?
（3）Please revise the font distortion in the Figure 5.
（4）Conclusion section can be separated into 1, 2, 3,....
（5）Please add the lines in Table 1.
（6）Line 248, please give more details about the MLC algorithm.
（7）Line 370, "U" should be "BU"?
（8）Line 668-670, "However, the trend shifts by 2016, with FBA decreasing to 0.4532 and FVC 668 significantly rising to 0.5383, suggesting a period of reduced urban intensity and 669 increased vegetation cover. " Please give more explanation about the reason. As seen in Figure 3, the built-up area is continue increasing from 2007 to 2016.
（9）Line 891-892, "However urban expansion in the Matara area may lead to a subsequent rise in the overall LST and UHI intensity in the near future". But it is also mentioned in Line 884-885 that "the mean LST in the Matara has experienced a 4.6 °C decrease between 1996-2023". The built-up area also keep increasing during 1996-2023, why the LST indicator still decreases?
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsDear Authors,
All the reviewer's suggestions have been taken into account in the article.
If Figures numerical scale is connected with the same colores values, than the results are comparable.
I have no further comments.
Thank you very much for your cooperation and I wish you further success in the scientific sphere.
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe authors have revised and improved the manuscript in accordance with the review requirements and have agreed to publish it.
