The Impact of Land Use and Land Cover Changes on Land Surface Temperature: Study of Udaipur Subdivision, Rajasthan

Amid growing concerns about the impacts of climate change related events, this paper tries to establish pattern between related climate and climate-human induced coupled phenomena. The objectives of this study are to assess the land use and land cover (LULC) changes in the Udaipur administrative region of the state of Rajasthan (India). Using GIS-based remotely image-based data manipulation, this study substantiates and connects temporal changes (2000–2020) in the land-associated characteristics with land surface temperature (LST) changes in the region and net change in the vegetation extent using the Net Differentiated Vegetation Index (NDVI). Modelled geographically over an extracted Digital Elevation model, the region exhibits a significant decrease in dense forest cover by 31.4% over the period, while an increase in the cropland and built-up area is driven by the demand for infrastructural growth (in the forms of settlements, commercial estates, and industries) and the urban population clustering effect. In addition, the study found a negative relationship between the NDVI and LST variables, indicating a cooling influence of vegetation over the surface air band; however, the interpretation can further be improved (and/or substantiated) by incorporating the seasonal sub-soil moisture indices and precipitation. This study underscores the importance of remote sensing and GIS-based methods in monitoring socio-physical changes and positively guides policymakers in sustainable land-based management and practices. These findings are crucial in devising strategies for mitigating the long-term impacts, promoting climate resilient agricultural practices, enhancing urban planning, and fostering community-driven conservation efforts.