Building on the hypothesis that urban expansion and fragmentation significantly exacerbate the UHIE in Alicante, the objective of this research is to identify how variations in urban green areas and land use patterns affect land surface temperature (LST) and urban ecological function. Therefore, this study highlights key areas where urban planning interventions can mitigate UHI and enhance environmental sustainability (Specific objective 1). Considering urban green areas as potential zones with a cooling effect and high ecological importance, this study also aimed to identify the most important green urban areas, locations, fragmentation, and variation across time (Specific objective 2). Subsequently, this study identifies land use trends (Specific objective 3), which, when integrated with the previous variables, fulfill the general objective of this research.

Thus, this study compares Alicante’s LST from 2000 to 2024 by isolating data from August, the hottest month of the year. The research is essential for understanding and addressing Alicante’s environmental and urban challenges at a very local scale, instead of a regional scale, which has been one of the most studied in the past. Using Man-kendall and Theil-Sen tests, with a multitemporal comparative analysis, this research explores how green urban areas and changes in land use patterns determine the distribution of LST. Finding that more connected and larger green urban areas enhance cooling effects on the surface, becoming more resilient to drought periods. Peripheral areas where dry grasses meet with big roads and urban areas are more likely to present hotspots. Critical and repetitive hotspots are located in areas where mineral extraction areas meet with urban and abandoned areas.

Analyzing the interplay between land use, ecological functions, and LSTs opens the gate between science, policymakers, and urban planners with data to design climate-responsive strategies. This approach has the potential to strengthen climate change adaptation in cities.