Land surface temperature variability over various land covers in Punjab (Pakistan) from MODIS data

Abstract

Land Surface Temperature (LST) is the core biophysical parameter of the surface thermal energy budget. In this study, daily maximum, daily minimum, and daily average LST, as well as diurnal temperature range (DTR), are analyzed using satellite remote sensing data. These parameters are studied over five land covers, including the cropland, barren land, grassland, shrubs, and urban areas in Punjab-Pakistan. Long-term temporal analyses from 2004 to 2018 showed that minimum LST increased overall land covers, while maximum LST showed a mixed trend over various land covers. Average LST increased overall land covers except for grasslands. DTR showed a significantly decreasing trend over the majority of land covers except over barren lands. Croplands showed the most dominant effects on the temporal trends over the whole Punjab. Our results of temporally reduced DTR are in line with the previous studies. It indicates the imbalance of LST, which is a potential cause of climate change.