Investigating the relationship between COVID-19 shutdown and land surface temperature on the Anatolian side of Istanbul using large architectural impermeable surfaces

Artificial impermeable surfaces are becoming more prevalent, especially in urban areas, as a result of shifting land use and cover, roads, roofs, etc. The modification of land surface temperature (LST) can also be accomplished through artificially impermeable surfaces. Large artificial impermeable surfaces, such as rooftops, parking lots, and other areas of use, can be found in industrial zones, shopping malls, industrial airports, and other locations. For the Anatolian side of Istanbul, 14 Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS imagery images over the years 2016–2022 were investigated. To evaluate how well the study’s images could be utilized, correlation and cosine similarity approaches were employed. A total of 12 images may be employed for research LST studies, it was discovered. We looked at closure dates during the COVID-19 epidemic to find out how human migration affected the LST. In addition, the LST value was estimated using the ordinary least squares (OLS) method employing LST and other biophysical indices. A decrease in LST values was seen as a result of the investigation. High levels of similarity and correlation were found between the images used. Results from the Google Mobility Index also provide support to the study. All of these facts provide support to Istanbul's Anatolian side experiencing lower surface temperature values, which consequently affects the city's massive structures.