Forest destruction and its impact on land surface temperature using satellite data (Case Study: Forests of Hiran Region)

Jafarzadeh, Jafar; Kakroodi, Ataollah; Erfanifard, Yousef

doi:10.22059/eoge.2023.356092.1133

Forest destruction and its impact on land surface temperature using satellite data (Case Study: Forests of Hiran Region)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System, Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

² University of Tehran, Faculty of Geography

³ Faculty member, Geography Faculty, University of Tehran, Tehran, I.R. Iran

10.22059/eoge.2023.356092.1133

Abstract

Forests play a crucial role in the context of climate change. In order to comprehensively grasp and improve our ability to predict the interplay between forest biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and weather patterns affected by climate change, continuous monitoring of forests is imperative to track and mitigate destruction and degradation. In this research, satellite image processing was employed to monitor the impact of forest destruction on the microclimate of the region and its subsequent effect on surface temperature. The study collected data from 60 land points, consisting of 30 areas with trees and 30 treeless pasture areas. Next, the normalized differential vegetation index (NDVI) was utilized to distinguish between tree and non-tree areas. Subsequently, the surface temperature of the studied area was calculated using the single-channel method. Finally, a comparison was made between a selected study region and a control region to evaluate the impact of global warming, and statistical analysis was performed. The results of the classification of the region based on tree and non-tree areas showed that between 1984 and 2021, approximately 1,400 hectares were deforested. Additionally, the results of the final Welch's t-test statistical analysis demonstrated a significant difference between the temperatures of the two regions with a confidence level of 99% and a p-value of 0.0007. This fact underscores the significant impact of deforestation on the rise in regional temperatures.

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