RESEARCH PROPOSAL

ASSESSMENT OF THE LAND SURFACE TEMPERATURE AND

Submitted by
Amjad Suhail
23-MS-IWRM-09

Submitted To
Supervisor: Dr.Kamran Ansari
Co-Supervisor: Dr. Ghulam Hussain Dars

U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Water Mehran University of Engineering

January 2025
 Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION:................................................................................................................3
LITERATURE REVIEW:......................................................................................................3
PROBLEM STATEMENT:....................................................................................................5
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES:.................................................................................................5
RESEARCH QUESTIONS:...................................................................................................5
STUDY AREA.......................................................................................................................5
METHODOLOGY.................................................................................................................6
EXPECTED OUTCOMES:...................................................................................................7
REFERENCES:......................................................................................................................8
INTRODUCTION:
Land Surface Temperature (LST) is a vital indicator for monitoring crop health and serves as
a key parameter in understanding interactions between the Earth's surface and atmosphere.
LST refers to the radiative skin temperature of the Earth's surface as measured by remote
sensing satellites (Li et al., 2023). It serves as a key parameter in various environmental
studies including climate change assessment, hydrological modeling, and agricultural
monitoring. Various studies have shown (Holzman, Rivas and Piccolo, 2014) that LST is
closely linked to vegetation health, influencing evapotranspiration rates, soil moisture, and
crop growth. Changes in LST can reflect alterations in land use, land cover, and climatic
conditions, making it an essential variable for environmental monitoring
Vegetation health is another critical factor in assessing the region's ecological balance.
Vegetation indices such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the
Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) are widely used to quantify vegetation Vigor and detect
spatial and temporal variations in vegetation cover (Jiang et al.,2008; Mizen et., 2024). These
indices, derived from satellite remote sensing data, provide a comprehensive understanding
of vegetation dynamics, particularly in regions experiencing environmental stress due to
climatic or anthropogenic influences.
The Nari basin in Balochistan is a semi-arid region characterized by sparse vegetation, harsh
climatic conditions, and significant reliance on agriculture for livelihood. The basin faces
numerous challenges, including water scarcity, land degradation, and temperature extremes,
which directly affect agricultural productivity and ecosystem health. Monitoring LST and
vegetation health in this region is critical for understanding the impacts of environmental
stressors on its fragile ecosystem
This study aims to assess LST and vegetation health in the Nari basin using GIS and remote
sensing data. By leveraging satellite-derived datasets, the research provides a detailed
assessment of spatial and temporal patterns of temperature and vegetation conditions. These
analyses offer valuable insights into how environmental factors influence the basin’s fragile
ecosystem, characterized by semi-arid conditions and agricultural dependency. The findings
aim to support sustainable resource management and contribute to a deeper understanding of
the region's ecological challenges under changing climatic and land use conditions.
LITERATURE REVIEW:
1. Land surface temperature and its importance in environmental monitoring.
Land surface temperature (LST) is a critical variable in environmental monitoring, reflecting
the heat emitted from the earth's surface. It is used to access surface energy fluxes and, land-
atmosphere interactions, and the effects of urbanization, deforestation, or other land cover
changes. Several remote sensing platforms, such as Landsat, MODIS, and ASTER, provide
reliable LST data. Studies have shown that LST is closely related to vegetation health, soil
moisture, and water stress. For instance, LST data have been used to monitor heat stress on
crops, droughts, and urban heat islands (Jiménez et al.,2025; Masina et al., 2020). These
studies demonstrate the effectiveness of LST in detecting temperature anomalies and
evaluating their environmental impacts, especially in regions prone to extreme weather
conditions like the Nari basin.
2. Vegetation Health and remote sensing techniques.
Vegetation health can be accessed using various remote sensing indices, with the most
common being the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), NDVI measures the
difference between near-infrared and red-light reflection from vegetation, which is sensitive
to chlorophyll content, photosynthesis, and overall plant health (Peng et al., 2017; Jiang et al.,
2019). Remote sensing technologies like Landsat, MODIS, and Sentinel-2 have been widely
used to monitor vegetation health for example ED Chaves and Sanches, (2020) have used
sentinel 2 data. Similarly, several other researchers have used remote sensing data in arid and
semi-arid regions, such as the Nari Basin, where water availability and climate variability
significantly affect vegetation growth. Vegetation indices such as NDVI, EVI (Enhanced
Vegetation Index), and SAVI (Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index) are commonly applied to
assess vegetation vigor, drought stress, and for land degradation.
3. Impact of Land use and land cover changes on LST and vegetation health
Land use and land cover (LULC) changes significantly influence land surface temperature
(LST) and vegetation health in regions like the Nari Basin. Remote sensing has been
extensively used to monitor LULC changes and assess their impact on the environment.
Studies have shown that urbanization, agricultural expansion, and deforestation lead to
increased surface temperatures, reduced vegetation health, and altered hydrological cycles (Li
et al., 2024). Various researchers have utilized different vegetation indices such as GNDVI
(Green Normalised Differences Vegetation Index), NDMI (Normalised Difference
Vegetations Index), and NDFI (Normalised Difference Forest Index) for monitoring crop
health and vegetation distribution (Yektay, 2019). In the Nari Basin, LULC changes due to
population growth, irrigation practices, and natural resource exploitation have likely
influenced both LST and vegetation health. Remote sensing data, combined with indices such
as NDVI and LST, can help detect the effects of these land-use changes, enabling better land
management practices and climate adaptation strategies in the basin.
4. Challenges and future direction in remote sensing for environmental assessment
While remote sensing has revolutionized environmental monitoring, several challenges
remain, particularly in semi-arid regions like the Nari Basin. The spatial and temporal
resolution of remote sensing data, atmospheric interference, and the need for high-quality
ground-truth data are some of the key challenges. Furthermore, the integration of different
data sources, such as MODIS LST data and Sentinel-2 vegetation indices, requires robust
algorithms and processing techniques to ensure accuracy. Future research in this area should
focus on improving the temporal resolution of LST and vegetation health monitoring,
integrating multi-source remote sensing data, and enhancing the use of machine learning
techniques for better prediction and analysis of environmental changes.
5. Conclusion
In conclusion, monitoring Land Surface Temperature (LST) and vegetation health using
remote sensing techniques is crucial for understanding environmental dynamics, especially in
regions like the Nari Basin. LST provides valuable insights into surface energy fluxes, land-
atmosphere interactions, and the impact of climate variability on the ecosystem. Vegetation
health, assessed through indices like NDVI, is essential for tracking drought stress,
agricultural productivity, and land degradation. The combined use of LST and vegetation
health indices enables a comprehensive understanding of environmental changes driven by
land use, land cover, and climate factors. As land use changes and climate impacts continue
to affect the Nari Basin, remote sensing remains an indispensable tool for monitoring these
factors. The ability to assess both LST and vegetation health offers vital information for
sustainable land management, improving water resources management, and addressing the
challenges posed by climate change in the region.
PROBLEM STATEMENT:
The Nari Basin in Balochistan is a semi-arid region where agriculture is a key source of
livelihood. However, the area faces serious environmental challenges, including rising
temperatures, unpredictable weather, and land degradation, which harm vegetation health and
reduce agricultural productivity. There is little information available on how land surface
temperature (LST) changes over time and how it affects vegetation in the basin. Traditional
methods to monitor these factors are difficult because of the region’s size, inaccessible and
tough terrain. Remote sensing offers an effective way to study these issues, but very few
studies have focused on this region. This lack of research makes it hard to understand the
connection between LST and vegetation health, which is crucial for managing resources and
addressing environmental problems.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
1. How do seasonal changes affect land surface temperature in the Nari Basin?
2. What patterns of crop health and distribution can be detected using vegetation indices
derived from remote sensing data?
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES:
I. To analyze the variation in land surface temperature (LST) across the Nari Basin in
Balochistan.
II. To evaluate vegetation health and vegetation distribution across the Nari basin using
Vegetation indices (NDVI, NDFI, NDMI & GNDVI).

STUDY AREA
The Nari basin, located in the southwestern region of Balochistan, covers an area of
Balochistan 69,200 km2. It is a groundwater deficit basin characterized by a mix of intensive
agriculture and large population centers, making it a critical region for water resource
management. The basin is geographically diverse, with the northern parts receiving
significant winter precipitation, including snowfall, while the southern parts are more
influenced by the summer monsoon. The basin is strategically important as it flows toward
the Indus River, although it terminates in inland lakes and wetlands. The Nari Basin also
plays a key role in managing water inflows from hill torrents into the Kachhi plains, an area
prone to flood risks that could affect irrigation infrastructure in Sindh and Balochistan. The
region faces challenges related to over-exploitation of groundwater, yet there are considerable
opportunities for developing surface water resources. The basin's agricultural economy,
particularly groundwater-dependent high-value crops, underscores the importance of effective
water management for sustainable development. As part of broader efforts to implement
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) policies, the Nari Basin is a focal point for
assessing water use efficiency, groundwater recharge, and coordinated water management
strategies.

Figure 1: Study Area (Nari Basin)

METHODOLOGY
Objective 1: Evaluate LST Across the Nari Basin

Methodology
To assess Land Surface Temperature (LST) across the Nari Basin, thermal infrared data from
Landsat 8 (TIRS) will be utilized. The analysis will involve the following steps:

1. Data Acquisition: Landsat 8 satellite images, covering multiple seasons, will be

2. Preprocessing: The raw thermal bands (Band 10 and Band 11) will undergo
radiometric calibration and atmospheric correction to convert Digital Numbers (DN)
to Top of Atmosphere (TOA) radiance.

3. LST Calculation: LST will be computed using the following formula:

L = ML×DN+AL

Where:
  LL = TOA radiance (W/m²/sr/µm)

 ML = Radiance multiplicative scaling factor (available in metadata)

 AL = Radiance additive scaling factor (available in metadata)

The spatial and temporal patterns of LST will then be analyzed using Geographic Information
System (GIS) tools.

Objective 2: Evaluate Vegetation Health and Distribution Using Vegetation Indices

Methodology
Vegetation health and distribution will be analyzed using vegetation indices derived from
optical satellite data such as Landsat 8 (OLI) or Sentinel-2. The key steps include:

1. Data Acquisition: Multispectral satellite images will be collected for the study area
over different periods.

2. Preprocessing: The images will undergo geometric correction, atmospheric correction,

3. Vegetation Index Calculation: The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)

NDVI=(NIR−RED)/(NIR+RED)

Where:

 NIR = Reflectance in the Near-Infrared band (e.g., Band 5 for Landsat 8, Band 8 for
Sentinel-2)

 RED = Reflectance in the Red band (e.g., Band 4 for Landsat 8, Band 4 for Sentinel-
2)

Additional indices, such as the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), may be calculated to
account for atmospheric effects and better capture vegetation variability:

4. Analysis: NDVI and other indices will be analyzed spatially to evaluate vegetation
health, monitor seasonal and temporal changes, and identify areas of degradation or
improvement. The results will be visualized using GIS to highlight variations across the
basin.
 Figure 2: Research Methodology

EXPECTED OUTCOMES:
The study is expected to reveal that an increase in land surface temperature (LST) will lead to
reduced water availability, ultimately causing shifts in land cover, such as a decline in
vegetation.

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