A Decade of Vegetation and Urban Heat Island Patterns in Kubu Raya, Indonesia Using Google Earth Engine

Abstract

Kubu Raya Regency, located in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, is characterized by extensive peatland ecosystems. Rapid urban development in the region has contributed to increasing land surface temperature (LST) and the emergence of the Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon. This process is associated with changes in vegetation cover, particularly in peatland areas. This study aims to analyze the relationship between NDVI and UHI, examine LST changes between 2014 and 2024, and assess the relationship between vegetation dynamics and surface temperature variations using Google Earth Engine (GEE). The methodology includes NDVI modeling, UHI modeling, and spatio-temporal analysis using correlation test, R2 regression test and t test. The results indicate that NDVI does not have a statistically significant influence on UHI in either year. The weakening relationship from 2014 to 2024 suggests that other factors, such as urban development and land use change, play a more dominant role in influencing UHI variability.