Vegetation Cover Density and Land Surface Temperature Interrelationship Using Satellite Data, Case Study of Wadi Bisha, South KSA

Amalyahya Alshaikh

King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

DOI: 10.4236/ars.2015.43020                

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the relationship between Vegetation Cover (VC) and the land Surface Temperature (LST), using satellite data of Wadi Bisha, south the Kingdome of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The Landsat 7 Thematic Mapper (ETM) thermal band (band 6) was used for calculating the (LST) values. The near-infrared (NIR) and red band (bands 3 and 4 respectively) were used for estimating the vegetation cover. ERDAS Imagine 9.3 and ArcGIS 10.2 were used in the current study. The results of the study show that the increase of vegetation cover (VC) coincides with decrease of (LST), while the decrease in vegetation cover is linked with increase of (LST). It was found that there was no vegetation observed in areas practiced the highest temperature of 49℃, while areas of lowest temperature of 28℃ were characterized by dense vegetation cover. Thus, a quite significant correlation is approved between the (VC) and the (LST), based on the validation of (50) locations. It was concluded that availability and continuity of Satellite remote sensing data was required for elaborating a continuous monitoring of vegetation cover conditions and mapping was recommended in Wadi Bisha. Operational monitoring is recommended to ensure the adoption of flexible land cover validation protocols.

Keywords

Relationship, Vegetation Cover (VC), Land Surface Temperature (LST), Satellite Data, Wadi Bisha (South KSA)

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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