Impacts of Urbanization on Land Surface Temperature and Vegetation Cover in a Semi-Arid City: the Case of Maragheh

Abstract

In semi-arid regions such as Iran, climate change and rapid urbanization are transforming urban landscapes, intensifying heat stress, and posing challenges for sustainable planning. This study analyzes the spatiotemporal evolution of land use and land cover (LULC), vegetation loss, and land surface temperature (LST) in Maragheh city, Iran, between 1990 and 2023. Using multi-temporal Landsat imagery, Random Forest classification, and high-resolution heat mapping, the main patterns of urban expansion, vegetation loss, and thermal change are identified. The results show a significant increase in urbanized areas and a parallel decline in vegetation, leading to a marked increase in LST and the expansion of urban heat spots. These findings underscore the urgent need to integrate green infrastructure and climate-adaptive designs into urban development strategies in semi-arid cities. Future urban development strategies in semi-arid regions must integrate climate-adaptive design and long-term territorial monitoring using remote sensing tools. © King Abdulaziz University and Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.