Authors: Souvik Shil
Abstract: Rapid urbanization and land surface transformations significantly influence local thermal environments, leading to the intensification of Urban Heat Island (UHI) effects. This study analyses the spatio-temporal relationship between vegetation dynamics and Land Surface Temperature (LST) in English Bazar Municipality (EBM), West Bengal, over the period 2001–2025 using multi-temporal satellite data. The results indicate a consistent decline in vegetation cover, accompanied by a substantial increase in surface temperature. The mean LST increased from approximately 30.43°C in 2001 to 40.41°C in 2025, reflecting pronounced thermal intensification. A strong inverse relationship between NDVI and LST is observed, with low vegetation areas corresponding to higher temperatures. High-temperature zones have expanded notably in the central and eastern parts of the municipality, indicating the growth of UHI hotspots. The study demonstrates that vegetation loss and urban expansion are key drivers of rising surface temperature and UHI intensification, highlighting the need for climate-responsive urban planning and increased green cover to mitigate future thermal stress.
