TITLE:
Spatial Clustering Patterns of Thermal Extremes over Epochs in Douala, Littoral Region of Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Mbia Ekolok Awuh
KEYWORDS:
Thermal Extremes, Hot Spot, Cold Spot, Analysis, LST Spatial Cluster, Land Cover
JOURNAL NAME:
Atmospheric and Climate Sciences,
Vol.16 No.1,
January
22,
2026
ABSTRACT: This study analyzes the spatiotemporal evolution of thermal extremes in Douala, Cameroon, using Landsat-derived land surface temperature from 1994, 2004, 2014, and 2024. The author employed the Getis-Ord Gi* spatial statistic on 150 sampling points to identify statistically significant hot and cold spots. The findings reveal a transition from a compact heat island in 1994 (23 significant hotspots) to an extensive, polarized thermal landscape characterized by consolidated extreme heat in urbanized zones in 2024 (41 hot spots) and intensified cold spots in vegetated peripheries (17 in 1994 to 28 in 2024). The 99% confidence hot spots decreased from 14 (1994) to 10 (2024), indicating consolidation of extreme heat (32.3˚C - 34.3˚C). The extreme thermal polarization suggests Douala needs targeted policies to balance urban development with thermal comfort, to reduce health disparities, and improve the environmental quality in Douala. To mitigate the extreme polarization in Douala, this study recommends that urban planners should prioritize green spaces in hotspots, preserve peripheral vegetation, and encourage sustainable urban designs.