Illuminating urban land transformation of Srinagar City, India, through nightlight remote sensing

Urban land transformation in Himalayan cities is accelerating due to demographic pressure, environmental stress, and shifting socio-economic patterns. Srinagar, situated within a fragile mountain wetland ecosystem, is one of the most affected urban centers in the Kashmir Valley. This study analyzes long-term land transformation in the city using multi-temporal satellite imagery and nightlight remote sensing. (DMSP-OLS, VIIRS), NDVI, LST, and ward-wise population data. Results show a substantial intensification of built-up areas post-2008, accompanied by significant reductions in marshlands, vegetation, and agricultural zones. These changes have weakened natural flood-buffering systems, increased land surface temperatures, and contributed to the emergence of urban heat island effects. NTL intensity and LST increased significantly over the same period, marking the spatial footprint of urban expansion. NDVI trends revealed consistent vegetation loss across expanding urban zones. Nightlight data further reveal increasing economic activity and spatial clustering of growth that traditional LULC analysis alone may not capture. The integration of nightlight indicators with land transformation metrics provides a more comprehensive understanding of urban dynamics in this ecologically sensitive region. Overall, the findings underscore the urgent need for wetland protection, climate-responsive planning, and long-term geospatial monitoring to support sustainable urban development in Srinagar.