Abstract: By using Landsat ETM⁺ image to derive the land surface temperature (LST), percent impervious surface area (ISA), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and modified normalized difference water index (MNDWI) within the outer ring of Shanghai, this paper quantitatively analyzed the relationships between the LST and the key landscape elements in Shanghai urban area. There was a significant positive linear relationship between the LST and ISA (R²=0.837). The LST had nonlinear relationships with NDVI and MNDWI, but significant linear relationships with positive NDVI and positive MNDWI. Due to the fact that only positive NDVI and MNDWI can actually represent vegetation and water body, respectively, the two indices were recommended to be used in the future study of LST. The multiple linear regression analysis of the LST and the ISA, NDVI, and MNDWI showed that impervious surface area played the role of enhancing LST, vegetation and water body played the role of cooling LST, and vegetation played better role in cooling LST than water body did.

Key words: Forest ecosystem health, Evaluation, Ecological indicator