IMPACT OF LAND USE/LAND COVER CHANGES ON LAND SURFACE TEMPERATURES: THE CASE OF ARBA MINCH ZURIA WOREDA, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

LU/LC transformation was one of the major factors that contributed to the increase of LST from time to time and place to place. This research evaluates the impact of Land Use/Land Cover change (LU/LCC) on Land Surface Temperature (LST) in Arba Minch Zuria Woreda during the years between 1987 and 2021. RS data Landsat 5/TM (1987), Landsat 7/ETM+ (2003) and Landsat 8/ OLI& TIRS (2021) and MODIS LST (2021) were used to prepare land use/ land cover maps, analyze LST, and NDVI, and compute the correlation between LST with NDBI, NDBI, and Altitude by using ArcGIS 10.5 and ERDAS IMAGINE version 2014. To support remote sensing Data using different Ancillary data such as google earth, boundaries shape, and field observation was collected. Supervised classification with the Maximum likelihood classification (MLC) technique is chosen to categorize six land use/ land cover classes. Finally, accuracy assessments were validated using GPS point and Google earth images. The result of the study showed a rapid expansion of built-up and farm land has increased from 0.63% to 4.30%, 10.65% to 36.96% between 1987 and 2021 respectively and contrary, barren, forest, range and water bodies were decreased from 1987 and 2021. The transition matrix result shows the farm area experienced the highest gain between 1987 and 2021, in the study area, and conversely, barren and rangeland areas had shown the highestloss in the study area respectively, between 1987 and 2021. NDVI values were declined from 0.577 (1987) to 0.552 (2021). In the study area maximum LST was increased from 34.06°C (1987) to 42.44°C (2021). The statistical regression coefficient between LST with Altitude and NDVI indicates a negative correlation. However, LST and NDBI indicate a positive correlation. Relationship between LST and LULC types, the built-up and barren area experienced maximum LST while forest and water bodies experienced low LST values. The LST result derived from Landsat 8 was verified by MODIS LST 2021 data and the result shows both sensor's values were close to each other with a small variation of +3.2°C. Hence, it was recommended that to reduce the land surface temperature, develop sustainable land use planning strategies that include increasing the vegetated areas.