Dynamics of land use land cover and its impact on land surface temperature: a study of Faridabad District, India

The rapid urbanization and land transformation in India have sparked apprehension regarding the ensuing alterations in land surface temperature and their linked environmental ramifications. This research paper endeavors to explore the dynamics of land use and land cover and their impact on land surface temperature, with a specific focus on the Faridabad district in India. Rapid urbanization, an 80% increase in population, and in-migration have significantly expanded the built-up area from 1993 to 2023. Remote sensing and GIS techniques were used to analyze 30 years of land use and land cover changes, integrating satellite, topographic, and meteorological data. Transition Potential Modeling (TPM) identified trends in built-up areas, while Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) correlated with changes in vegetation and built-up areas. Findings reveal altered LULC patterns, mainly due to urban expansion, industrial growth, and changes in agriculture. This shift from natural land cover to built-up areas has increased land surface temperature. The study shows a decrease in arable land (71.8% in 1993 to 53.4% in 2023) and a significant 21.9% growth in built-up areas during this period, leading to a 7% rise in land surface temperature. Strong positive correlations were found between mean land surface temperature and NDBI, and negative correlations with NDVI. The study emphasizes the need for proper planning in Faridabad, recommending increased open spaces, green cover, and the introduction of green belts to stabilize land surface temperature.