Assessment of Thermal Changes Using Land Surface Temperature (LST) in Raigarh District: Implications for Sustainable Development

Abstract

This study analysed patterns of thermal change using Land Surface Temperature (LST) in Raigarh District, Chhattisgarh, India, over a 30-year period (1994–2024). The research examined temporal changes in LST and assessed its relationships with vegetation, built-up, and water indices (NDVI, NDBI, and NDWI). Multi-temporal Landsat imagery from 1994 and 2024 was processed using ArcGIS 10.8 and ERDAS Imagine 2015 to derive LST and biophysical indices. Correlation analysis was conducted to evaluate the relationships between LST and land-surface characteristics. Unlike many previous LST–NDVI correlation studies in India, which have primarily focused on metropolitan or rapidly urbanising regions, this study investigated long-term thermal dynamics in an industrial and mining-dominated district. The integrated analysis of LST with NDVI, NDWI, and NDBI provided a broader understanding of the combined associations of vegetation, surface moisture, and built-up expansion with the thermal environment of Raigarh District. The results indicated a warming trend, with mean LST increasing by 2.59 °C, from 34.80 °C in 1994 to 37.39 °C in 2024. Urban and industrial expansion was associated with higher surface temperatures, whereas vegetation and water bodies were associated with lower temperatures. A strong positive correlation was observed between LST and NDBI (r = 0.77597), while NDVI (r = -0.38809) and NDWI (r = -0.34812) showed negative correlations. These findings indicate important associations between thermal conditions and urbanisation, deforestation, and industrial growth in Raigarh District, with implications for sustainable environmental planning. The study highlights the need for sustainable urban planning, green-space conservation, and environmentally responsible industrial management to reduce heat stress and support long-term ecological resilience.