Abstract: Taking Nanjing as the research object, one Landsat8TIRS thermal infrared data in August 11, 2013 to retrieval surface temperature was first used based on the atmospheric correction method.The qualitative analysis was performed on the spatial distribution of the Nanjing city heat island combined with the data of Land-use map of Nanjing by using the spatial analysis method. The rivers, lakes and other city water reduction of urban heat island effect in different range were quantitatively analyszed by using buffer analysis and profile analysis. The results showed that:Using atmospheric correction method can accurately retrieval of Nanjing's land surface temperature distribution; Nanjing's heat island mainly appears in the densely populated and developed areas; Urban water body in the 300 m range can significantly reduce the urban heat island phenomenon, the surface temperature is increasing from the center of water to the around; Rivers reducing from urban heat island effect is more significant than lakes.