Thermal and ecological assessment based on land surface temperature and quantifying multivariate controlling factors...

In recent years, the world has shown considerable concerns about environmental degradation accompanied by urban expansion. In terms of size, Bogura is equivalent to most of the major cities in Bangladesh, yet no thermal and ecological assessment has ever been conducted here. This study uses multitemporal Landsat satellite images between 2001 and 2020 to investigate the thermal and ecological conditions of Bogura Sadar (sub-district). Land surface temperature (LST) is obtained from Landsat images using the widely used radiative transfer equation. The thermal and ecological conditions are evaluated by computing urban heat island (UHI) and urban thermal field variance index (UTFVI) from LST data. The influence of vegetation, built-area, water-body, and bare soil on LST are examined using land cover indices through pixel-level multivariate linear regression analysis. According to the findings of this sub-district-scale (urban and rural areas) study, the mean LST has increased by 0.62 °C in the last 20 years. As per local administrative-wise findings, LST has increased in most areas, regardless of their urban or rural function. The difference between the urban area and the rest of the surroundings was significant (1.74 °C) in 2020. In 2001, UHI affected area was 5.65 km², which expanded to 8.84 km² in 2020. Thermal and ecological conditions are worse in urban areas than its surrounding areas. The regression models of the LST and land cover indices could explain more than half (R²: 0.66 to 0.73) of LST variation over the years. Land cover could explain the LST in 2020 to the least extent implying that anthropogenic activities have greater influence than earlier. Land cover could explain less than half of the LST variation in the urban area.