Exploring the nexus between LULC transformation, land surface temperature, and drought in a rapidly urbanizing landscape: The case of Multan

Anthropogenic activities have significantly changed land use and land cover (LULC), especially in areas with significant population expansion. In this study, the spatiotemporal dynamics of LULC and Land Surface Temperature (LST) of Multan were monitored. The research was carried out for the years 2001, 2011, and 2020 using Landsat-5 TM and Landsat-8 OLI images. While the dataset concludes in 2020, the observed patterns offer a critical long-term baseline for assessing ongoing urbanization and food security risks in the region. The urban area has expanded by 3.23%, whereas forest and vegetation areas have decreased by 4.31% and 9.8%, respectively. Additionally, a weak relationship with between LST and NDVI was…