9 American Academic Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences ISSN (Print) 2313-4410, ISSN (Online) 2313-4402 https://asrjetsjournal.org/index.php/American_Scientific_Journal/index Urban Heat Island (Uhi) Effect: The Rise of Land Surface Temperature in Cebu City, Philippines Menzuela Ancheta-Comora a , Natalino de Araújo b* , Edilyn Lopez c , Charles Frank Caramihan d , Garry Marapao e a College of Agriculture, New Era University– Rizal Branch, Pinugay, Rizal b Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa’e, Timor Leste c School of Environmental Science, University of the Philippines, Los Baños a Email: menzuelahancheta@gmail.com, b Emaill: inonata39@gmail.com, c Email: Ellopez1@up.edu.ph d Emaill:Clcaramihan1@up.edu.ph, e Email: gcmarapao@up.edu.ph Abstract Temperature differences between the urban and surrounding areas have resulted from rapid urbanization. This study tries to systematically understand the urban heat island phenomenon in Cebu City by determining the land surface temperature using satellite images in 2010 and 2018. Land Surface Temperature (LST) was determined using the Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL) approach. The results were correlated to spatial metrics to identify its influence on the spatial variation of LST in Cebu City. Results indicated that the mean LST in Cebu City increased from 22 0 C to 25 0 C from 2010 to 2018. In 2018, the built-up area contributed the most LST, followed by forest and bare land, with 28.40 0C, 26.25 0C, and 25.85 0C, respectively. The results indicated that the landscape metrics are highly negatively correlated to LST, mainly attributed to the increase in forest area in Cebu City. Keywords: urban heat island; remote sensing; SEBAL; landscape metrics; Cebu City. 1. Introduction Urbanization negatively impacts the environment mainly through the production of pollution, the modification of the physical and chemical properties of the atmosphere, and the covering of the soil surface. Considered to be a cumulative effect of all these impacts is the Urban Heat Island (UHI), defined as the rise in temperature of any man-made area, resulting in a well-defined, distinct "warm island" among the "cool sea" represented by the lower temperature of the area’s nearby natural landscape [10]. Though heat islands may form in any rural or urban area, cities are favored at any spatial scale since their surfaces are prone to release massive amounts of heat [9]. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Received: 2/25/2023 Published: 4/20/2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ * Corresponding author.