Spatial and temporal analysis of LST-NDVI relationship for the study of land cover changes and their contribution for the urban planning (Monte Hermoso, Argentina)

FERRELLI, FEDERICO; HUAMANTINCO CISNEROS, MARÍA ANDREA; DELGADO, ANA LAURA; PICCOLO, MARÍA CINTIA

Documents d'Anàlisi Geogràfica

Departamento de Geografía de la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona

Lugar: Bellaterra, Barcelona; Año: 2018 vol. 64 p. 25 - 47

2014-4512

The aim of this work was to study the spatial distribution of Land Surface Temperature (LST) and its relationship with diverse urban land covers and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The study area was Monte Hermoso city, which is located at the southwest of Buenos Aires province (Argentina). Satellite images from LANDSAT 5 TM and LANDSAT 7 ETM + sensors were seasonally processed for the period 2008-2012, obtaining LST and NDVI parameters. Subsequently, visual interpretation techniques and empirical intervention were applied in order to design an urban land cover map, on which LST and NDVI were analyzed by tracing four transects oriented in latitudinal and longitudinal directions. Each urban cover presented a particular behavior of these parameters. Furthermore, significant results for the relationship between LST and NDVI were observed (with α 0.1 and 0.05) with values of R2, Pearson and Spearman indexes higher than 0.7. Finally, LST variation in diverse land covers was observed as a consequence of the urban growth and the alteration of the vegetation coverage. Therefore, it was concluded that the spatial and temporal variation of LST values may indicate modifications in urban land covers. The information obtained in this study will be a useful tool to guide future urban management studies and policies.