Monitoring vegetation health, water stress, and temperature variation through various indices using landsat 8 data

Remote Sensing (RS) may serve as an efficient tool to monitor and assess the water stress, vegetation health, and temperature variations in a region with both time and space. The present study was undertaken to monitor vegetation health, water stress, and temperature variation by estimating nine widely used spectral indices for seven stations (Ambala, Bhiwani, Gurugram, Hisar, Karnal, Narnaul, and Rohtak) located in Haryana State, India using the 30-m Landsat-8 data. The spectral indices were cross-verified with ground observation data collected from the seven stations. The used indices included the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), Modified Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (MSAVI), Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI), Normalized Difference Infrared Index for Band 7 (NDIIB7), and Surface Albedo and Land Surface Temperature (LST). The observed data for all the nine indices for different locations showed large variations throughout the study period (2013-2018). Large variations of LST values were observed during the study period in the study regions. The findings of the study exhibited the ability of RS technology in assessing and monitoring vegetation health, water stress, and temperature variations in the study area. Such a study would be helpful in long-term crop planning in a region concerning the improved monitoring and management of temperature variation and crop water stress.