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International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management

A Peer-Reviewed, Open-Access International Journal Supporting Multidisciplinary Research, Digital Publishing Standards, DOI Registration, and Academic Indexing.
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ISSN: 3108-1754 (Online)
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Volume 02, Issue 6

Published on: June 2026

SPATIO TEMPORAL DYNAMICS OF SUMMER LAND SURFACE TEMPERATURE, VEGETATION COOLING EFFECT, AND URBAN HEAT ISLAND CHARACTERISTICS IN JAMMU PROVINCE, WESTERN HIMALAYA (2000–2025)

Rakesh verma Meenu Sharma

Department of Geology, Cluster University of Jammu, Jammu 180001, India
DOI:https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v2i6.321

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Abstract

Land surface temperature (LST) is a key indicator of environmental change and urban thermal stress, particularly in rapidly transforming mountain landscapes. This study investigates the spatio‑temporal dynamics of summer LST, vegetation greenness, vegetation cooling effects, and urban heat island (UHI) characteristics across Jammu Province, Western Himalaya, from 2000 to 2025 using MODIS‑derived LST (MOD11A2) and NDVI (MOD13Q1) products processed in Google Earth Engine (GEE; Wan, 2014; Didan, 2015; Gorelick et al., 2017). Annual summer (May–July) composites were generated, and long‑term thermal trends were quantified using Sen’s slope estimator, while NDVI–LST regressions quantified vegetation cooling effects and NDVI–LST coupling (Kendall, 1975; Sen, 1968). LST values were converted from scaled MOD11A2 digital numbers to degrees Celsius using a 0.02 scale factor and a Kelvin–Celsius offset, and NDVI was rescaled from MOD13Q1 using a 0.0001 scale factor (Wan, 2014; Didan, 2015; LP DAAC, 2021). Results show a gradual decline in mean summer LST from approximately 25.1 °C in 2000 to 23.7 °C in 2025 (−1.4 °C, ≈−0.056 °C yr⁻¹), while mean NDVI increased from 0.447 to 0.516 (≈15.4% increase in greenness). Histogram analysis indicates that most of Jammu Province experiences summer LST between 20 °C and 32 °C, with localized thermal hotspots (>30 °C) concentrated in low‑elevation urban and industrial zones. Sen’s slope analysis reveals that most pixels exhibit stable to cooling trends, with slopes predominantly between −0.10 and 0.00 °C yr⁻¹. A strong negative NDVI–LST relationship confirms the substantial cooling influence of vegetation, indicating that increased vegetation cover has mitigated regional thermal stress. The findings highlight the importance of afforestation, urban greening, and ecosystem‑based adaptation in mitigating UHI intensity and enhancing climate resilience in the Western Himalayan region.

Keywords: land surface temperature; NDVI; urban heat island; vegetation cooling effect; Google Earth Engine; MODIS; Jammu Province; Western Himalaya, summer land surface temperature.

How to Cite this Paper

verma, R. & Sharma, M. (2026). Spatio Temporal Dynamics of Summer Land Surface Temperature, Vegetation Cooling Effect, and Urban Heat Island Characteristics in Jammu Province, Western Himalaya (2000–2025). International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management, <i>02</i>(6). https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v2i6.321

verma, Rakesh, and Meenu Sharma. "Spatio Temporal Dynamics of Summer Land Surface Temperature, Vegetation Cooling Effect, and Urban Heat Island Characteristics in Jammu Province, Western Himalaya (2000–2025)." International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management, vol. 02, no. 6, 2026, pp. . doi:https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v2i6.321.

verma, Rakesh, and Meenu Sharma. "Spatio Temporal Dynamics of Summer Land Surface Temperature, Vegetation Cooling Effect, and Urban Heat Island Characteristics in Jammu Province, Western Himalaya (2000–2025)." International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management 02, no. 6 (2026). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v2i6.321.

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  • •Published on: Jun 25 2026
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