Remote Sensing for Spatio-temporal Mapping of Land surface temperature and Surface Energy Fluxes in the Bouregreg-Chaouia Region of Morocco

Abstract

In recent decades, the Bouregreg Chaouia region has been subject to urban growth and a reduction in agricultural land in this region, which has changed its environmental variables and made it vulnerable to climate change. This work raises the spatiotemporal monitoring of land use and certain environmental parameters (vegetation cover, albedo, surface temperature from 1987 to 2015 by exploring intelligent spatial data in the region. The remote sensing products were computed from Landsat 5 TM, Landsat 7 ETM+ and Landsat 8 Oli/TIRS images obtained during the dry seasons 1987, 2000 and 2015. The results showed a reduction in NDVI vegetation index (∼0.86 in 1987 to ∼0. 56 in 2000 to ∼ 0.54 in 2015) and with an increase in surface albedo (0.51 in 1987 to 0.52 in 2000 to 0. 69 in 2015), temperature (∼67°C in 1987 to 54°C in 2000 to 40°C in 2015) and to understand the impact of urbanization on the variation of environmental parameters, the evolution of the built-up area has been followed as a determining factor. However, it recorded 3.27% surface area in 1987 to 7.45% in 2000 to 28.18% in 2015. Indeed, the contribution of new technologies (GIS and remote sensing) is essential for better management and monitoring of the impact of urban expansion on the state of the environment. The results obtained remain so promising and highlight the contribution and feasibility of intelligent spatial data to assess the evolution of the urban environment on a large scale.