Efficiency of vegetation and thermal indices of NOAA-AVHRR satellite in ecological drought analysis of Kashan region

The purpose of this study is to track and analyze the environmental effects of droughts by remote sensing indices in Kashan desert and dry zone. Temporal changes of droughts was evaluated using normal Z index in annual and seaonal (spring) scales. Spectral and thermal data from data series of NOAA-AVHRR satellite between 1998 and 2004 were used to determine the drought indices. Vegetative and thermal drought indices were calculated using NDVI, VCI and TCI values derived from NOAA-AVHRR data. Results from applying mentioned indices showed that this area had low vegetation index values as NDVI index was generally less than 0.2. According to NDVI and VCI maps, years of 2000 and 2001 were characterized as drought condition contrary to 2002 and 2004 as rainy years. However, land surface temperature (LST), TCI and VHI indices showed different temperature conditions specifically in the months of April and May. Using validation of results derived from remote sensing indices, test of significance between them and climatic indices was calculated. According to the calculations, climatic condition of the study area was more compliant with the results of vegetation indices. Also thermal condition of the environment was more accurately indicated by thermal indices. According to the results, applying remote sensing data in environmental studies of arid and desert regions like Kashan is recommended.