Monitoring Land Surface Temperature Changes in Afghanistan over the Last Two Decades: A Satellite Data Analysis

Land surface temperature, an essential component in climate change analysis, plays a pivotal role in comprehending and evaluating various processes occurring on Earth's surface, encompassing physical, chemical, and biological phenomena. It is also crucial for studying climate change patterns across different regions. The Earth's energy balance is significantly influenced by both natural and human factors, leading to noticeable shifts in land surface temperature. Hence, monitoring these changes becomes immensely valuable for effective natural resource management. Diverse methodologies have been employed to monitor surface temperature changes in various regions, with satellite imagery being widely acknowledged as the most efficacious approach. In this study, monthly and seasonal temperature variations over a ۲۰-year span were examined using surface skin temperature data derived from Aqua-MODIS imagery. The findings revealed that the regions adjacent to the Hindu Kush mountains exhibit the lowest temperatures in Afghanistan, while the lowlands of the western and southwestern regions (Margo desert) experience the highest temperatures. The winter of ۲۰۰۸ was identified as the coldest season, whereas summer ۲۰۲۰ recorded the highest temperatures. Overall, the results indicate that Afghanistan has witnessed a rise in mean land surface temperature over the past two decades.