IMPACTS OF CLIMATIC AND TOPOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS ON VEGETATION DENSITY OF PAST TWO DECADES USING GEOSPATIAL TECHNIQUES IN THARPARKAR

Abstract

Vegetation is an important deciding factor of environment. It is one of the main factors that indicates changes in environment yet given least importance. Climate change and vegetation are co-related. Temperature and precipitation (climatic factors) both affect vegetation and vice versa. In this study, it was evaluated the effects of topographic factors (slope, elevation) and climatic factors on vegetation indices (EVI, NDVI, STVI, OSAVI, SAVI) in Tharparkar region. This data was acquired from satellite MOD11A2, MOD13A3. It was then processed and analyzed by data using different tools in ArcGIS version 10.4.1. This research has clearly specified influences of climatic change on vegetation. This area varies in from high to low elevation. Similar temperature and precipitation are distributed, at high elevation both sectors are also maximum and relatively decrease low altitudes to these factors stress is also similarly distributed over the areas. And there is less vegetation on high elevation. Climatic parameters are dependent on topographic features (slope and elevation). The results indicated that when there is rainfall, vegetation indices (NDVI, EVI, SAVI) are positively increasing and (LST, OSAVI, STVI) is negatively getting affected. Because when it rains temperature drops and there is less stress. NDVI correlation with rainfall is highly significant and positive. Similarly, it is co related with EVI and SAVI. LST and STVI are negatively correlated. In comparison with LST against other indices the results will be opposite there will be negative response of rainfall NDVI, EVI, SAVI. The research conducted showed the effect of climate change on vegetation in Tharparkar. GIS should be used to locate areas where temperatures are exceptionally high, find out how natural processes affect global warming, analyzing the relevance of shifts in land cover due to climate change. The government should grant resources for research in this area.