Spatiotemporal analysis of land surface temperature and vegetative dynamics in Anambra state, Nigeria

This study investigates the relationship between land surface temperature (LST) and vegetation health, represented by the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and their impact on agricultural productivity in Anambra East Local Government Area (LGA), Anambra State, Nigeria. Utilising geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) techniques, we assess spatial and temporal changes in LST and NDVI across three benchmark years: 1986, 2003 and 2021. Findings reveal a consistent increase in LST from 32.13°C in 1986 to 43.11°C in 2021, while NDVI values show a general decline with some recovery in 2021, indicating stress on vegetation over time. A strong inverse correlation (r= -0.9951) is established between LST and NDVI, confirming that rising surface temperatures adversely affect vegetation health and agricultural land potential. The study underscores the importance of continuous geospatial monitoring and offers evidence-based recommendations to support adaptive land use and sustainable agricultural practices.