Concept: Rapid urbanization in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA) has significantly altered land use and surface temperature. This necessitates a geospatial investigation to understand long-term environmental impacts. Objectives: To analyze spatiotemporal LULC changes and corresponding LST variations from 2008 to 2024. To simulate future land cover trends and assess the impact of urbanization on thermal patterns. Methods: Landsat 4/5 TM and Landsat 8/9 OLI-TIRS imagery were processed using supervised classification and thermal band analysis. Change detection and MOLUSCE modeling were applied to predict the 2040 LULC scenario. Results: Built-up areas increased by 99.3%, while forest and water bodies declined by 65.3% and 41.7%, respectively. These changes were accompanied by a sharp rise in LST, especially in urban hotspots. Conclusion: Significant correlation exists between urban expansion and surface warming, validating the Urban Heat Island effect. Green infrastructure, afforestation, and zoning reforms are essential for sustainable urban resilience.
Limaye et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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