Monitoring Land Surface Temperature (LST) Changes in Northern Alaska's Permafrost Regions Using MODIS Data

This study investigates multiannual variations in land surface temperature (LST) across four representative permafrost regions in northern Alaska—Prudhoe Bay, Barrow, the Brooks Range, and the Yukon Flats—to identify short-term surface warming trends. MODIS Terra MOD۱۱A۲ V۶.۱ data were processed using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform to compute annual mean LST values for the period ۲۰۲۰–۲۰۲۵. Warming rates (°C/year) were quantified through linear regression analysis. The results reveal a consistent regional warming pattern, with positive temperature trends observed at all sites. Among the studied regions, the Yukon Flats exhibited the most pronounced warming, reaching positive LST values of approximately +۱ °C by ۲۰۲۵. Gradual warming was also detected in the coastal regions of Barrow (approximately −۸ °C in ۲۰۲۵) and Prudhoe Bay (approximately −۶ °C in ۲۰۲۵). These findings demonstrate that the integration of MODIS data with GEE provides an accurate and efficient framework for monitoring regional permafrost thermal dynamics and underscores the importance of remote sensing in evaluating climate change impacts on ground stability in Alaska.

کلیدواژه ها:

MODIS ، Land surface Temperature ، Google Earth Engine ، Permafrost ، Remote Sensing