Climate Change Impacts on Land Surface Temperature and Vegetation Health: A Case Study of Henry Island, Sundarbans Region

Abstract

The research focuses on annual and decadal variations of LST over Henry Island, West Bengal, for the year 2023. LST datasets derived from MODIS satellites processed in Google Earth Engine were used for the analysis. Spatiotemporal changes of LST were studied by observing seasonal dynamics. This research offers essential knowledge regarding the thermal behavior of the area, thus important in explaining the local microclimate and possible ecological impacts. Results have significant annual and decadal variations of LST with peaks in summer and troughs in winter. Spatial analysis reveals hotspots in some parts of Henry Island, meaning that heat retention occurs in those localized areas through land cover or human activity. The study demonstrates the utility of MODIS LST data and GEE for monitoring thermal dynamics in Henry Island, providing valuable insights for ecological conservation and sustainable land use planning. The findings of this study have significant implications for understanding the impacts of climate change on the Sundarbans region and inform strategies for mitigating these impacts.

Introduction

The Sundarbans, a UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning Bangladesh and India, hosts the world’s largest mangrove forest and includes Henry Island, a sensitive coastal ecosystem vulnerable to climate change. Rising temperatures, sea levels, and altered rainfall patterns threaten its biodiversity and ecosystem services. This study uses MODIS satellite data and Google Earth Engine to analyze annual and decadal Land Surface Temperature (LST) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) patterns on Henry Island to understand climate change impacts.

The research highlights how temperature increases and land use changes (logging, urbanization) affect the region’s thermal conditions, vegetation health, and overall ecosystem stability. LST helps monitor surface energy balance, while NDVI assesses vegetation health. Results show seasonal LST variations with peak temperatures in April and dips during monsoon; NDVI indicates vegetation growth peaks mid-year. Areas with dense vegetation have lower LST, while bare or built-up zones show higher temperatures.

Findings suggest environmental stability on Henry Island is compromised, requiring continuous thermal monitoring, ecosystem protection, sustainable land use, and conservation policies to mitigate climate change impacts. Future work should integrate diverse data sources, develop predictive models, and study ecological effects in more depth. Limitations include data quality issues and moderate spatial resolution of MODIS data.

Conclusion

The study demonstrated how GGEs can use satellite-derived LST and NDVI data to generate important information on the thermal and ecological conditions of Henry Island in the Sundarbans. The study revealed annual and decadal trends in LST, with some seasonal variability and the formation of heat cells in areas that are less vegetated and built up. NDVI analyses further reflected marked changes in vegetation all through the year, emphasizing the sensitivity of the region\'s ecosystems to climatic changes. Conversion of surface temperature and versatility of vegetation health status emphasize climate change within this fragile coastal zone. Therefore, it is imperative to institute permanent monitoring, adopt sustainable land-use practices, and umbrella conservation strategies aimed toward sustaining the biodiversity of the area plus the ecosystems that support livelihood. Furthermore, the study also serves as a guide for further studies and policy development in fostering climate resilience in the Sundarbans and other similar coastal ecosystems.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Ananya Chaudhuri, Anita Halder, Anindita Das Bhattacharjee . This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.