remote sensing technologies to assess land use–land cover and climate variability in an urban environment"

Rapid urbanization has significantly altered land surfaces and local climates, especially in developing regions where unregulated land conversion intensifies environmental stress. This study employed geospatial analytics and remote sensing to examine land use–land cover (LULC) and their relationship with climate variability in Aba North Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria. Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager/ Thermal Infrared Sensor (OLI/TIRS) and Sentinel-2 imagery were processed using radiometric and atmospheric corrections and classified through a Maximum Likelihood approach to generate LULC map. Climatic parameters (rainfall, temperature, humidity, evapotranspiration, wind speed, and sunlight duration) were obtained from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS), and in-situ meteorological data. Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) captured spatially varying relationships, while Getis-Ord Gi* hotspot analysis identified zones of intense urban heat and rainfall variability. Results revealed extensive urbanization, with built-up areas dominating Umu Ucham, Umu Ohia, Obor, and Ehere, consistent with Aba North’s commercial and industrial character. Vegetated and wetland areas were confined to the outskirts, indicating progressive land conversion. Between 2022 and 2024, climatic variables showed marked spatial variations linked to LULC patterns: Ehere and Obor exhibited low evapotranspiration (63.6–94.1 mm day⁻¹), soil temperature (25.1–25.5 °C), and rainfall (≤310 mm), while Umu Ucham and Umu Ohia recorded higher values of evapotranspiration (>122 mm day⁻¹), temperature (≥27.1 °C), rainfall (≥496 mm), and wind speed (>6.2 km hr⁻¹). These patterns reflect pronounced urban heat island effects and vegetation loss. The integration of geospatial and climatic studies offers a robust framework for monitoring urban-induced climate change in rapidly developing cities.