Comparing the seasonal relationship of land surface temperature with vegetation indices and other land surface indices

Land surface temperature (LST) is largely influenced by various biophysical properties of land surface materials, especially in urban areas where multiple spectral bands directly impact LST. The present study compares the seasonal relationship of LST with six vegetation indices, one built-up index, one water index and one soil index in Imphal City, India, using Landsat 8 satellite images from the summer and winter of 2021. The study found that these nine indices exhibit different responses to changes in LST in urban landscapes. Pearson’s correlation coefficient, scatter plot graphs, box plot graphs, and cross-section drawings are used to present the relationships between LST and the indices. The study discovered that all six vegetation indices show a moderate negative relationship with LST in both summer and winter. Additionally, the water index demonstrates a weak negative relation in summer and a moderate negative relation in winter. The built-up index shows a neutral relation in summer and a weak positive relation in winter, while the soil index forms a weak positive relation in summer and a moderate positive relation in winter. Further analysis presents that higher values of vegetation indices correspond to lower LST, while built-up and bare surfaces generate high LST.