Urban growth dynamics and its influence on land surface temperature in Bhubaneswar metropolitan city: a 1990–2021 analysis

This study investigates the impact of urbanization on land use and land cover (LULC) changes and their consequent effects on land surface temperature (LST) in Bhubaneswar, India, over a 30-year period from 1990 to 2021. It uses Landsat satellite imagery from Thematic Mapper (TM) and Operational Land Imager (OLI) sensors, along with correlation analysis, to assess the spatial and temporal dynamics of LULC and their influence on LST. The analysis reveals a significant transition in LULC, with a 60.91% overall change observed during the study period. Built-up areas increase substantially, from 18.83% to 43.17%, while vegetation cover and agricultural land, decline from 28.34% to 12.03% and 34.18% to 21.60%, respectively. Results indicate a direct correlation between increased built-up land and elevated LST, while vegetation cover shows a negative correlation with LST, as measured by the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Conversely, the Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) exhibits a positive correlation with LST, highlighting the thermal impact of urban expansion. These findings underscore the critical role of sustainable urban planning in mitigating the adverse effects of urban heat islands and guiding future development policies in Bhubaneswar. The study’s outcomes provide a scientific basis for urban planners to design strategies that balance urban growth with environmental sustainability, aiming to reduce the city’s rising temperatures and promote a resilient urban ecosystem.