The Environmental Impact of Temperatures and Rain Quantities on the Vegetation in the Eastern Parts of Jazan Region using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing

Abstract

This study investigates the environmental impact of temperature and rainfall on vegetation in the eastern parts of the Jizan region from 2011 to 2023, using geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing. A descriptive-analytical approach was applied, with vegetation classified by density and area using LandSat 8 satellite imagery. The study employed the NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), a key remote sensing indicator of plant health. The results revealed a statistically significant correlation (at the 0.01 confidence level) between the study variables. Specifically, a positive correlation was found between rainfall and the NDVI index: as rainfall increases, NDVI values rise and vegetation becomes denser. In contrast, a negative correlation emerged between temperature (average, maximum, and minimum) and NDVI: higher temperatures correspond to lower NDVI values, indicating reduced vegetation cover. These findings highlight the crucial influence of climatic factors on vegetation patterns in arid and semi-arid regions.

Keywords: Spatial interpolation,  Normalized Difference Vegetation(NDVI), Classification