Climatic study of Evapotranspiration (ET) and its correlations with Land Surface Temperature (LST) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) Using MODIS over Egypt From 2003 to 2022

Authors

1 Egyptian Meteorological Authority, Cairo 11784, Egypt

2 Astronomy and Meteorology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt

3 Department of Geography and Geographical Information Systems, Faculty of Arts, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt

Abstract

This study explores the relationships between evapotranspiration (ET), land surface temperature (LST), and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) across Egypt using MODIS satellite data. Given Egypt's distinct climatic conditions, understanding how these key climatic parameters interact is vital for evaluating water and vegetation dynamics in its arid and semiarid regions. The research aims to examine the climatic factors that affect the observed correlations among ET, LST, and NDVI using MODIS satellite data covering the years from 2003 to 2022. The analysis included examining spatial and temporal patterns, as well as calculating correlation coefficients between variables. Findings revealed strong positive correlations between ET and NDVI, particularly in vegetated regions, indicating a close relationship between water availability and vegetation growth. In contrast, negative correlations were found between LST and NDVI, underscoring the impact of temperature on plant health. Further analysis indicated that these correlations were shaped by several significant climatic factors. Areas near water sources, such as the Delta and the Nile Basin, which experience lower temperatures, exhibited stronger positive correlations between ET and NDVI. Conversely, regions with limited water resources and higher temperatures demonstrated weaker or even negative correlations.