Integrating geospatial technologies for analyzing land surface temperature variabilities in active volcanic fields of southern main Ethiopian Rift

Abstract

The Main Ethiopian Rift is shaped by mantle convection, plume upwelling, thermal erosion, and crustal thinning. These geodynamic processes have been historically influenced human evolution across various topographical and temporal scales. It significantly affects heat transfer between the Earth’s surface and the atmosphere, influencing energy balance, heat flux, and thermal radiation. However, detailed studies assessing spatiotemporal LST and its linkage with geodynamic features remain limited in the study area. This study investigates LST variability in relation to active magmatic-tectonic processes in the southern Main Ethiopian Rift, and further identifies LST anomalies and agro-thermal thresholds relevant to crop growth and productivity. To attain these objectives, MODIS Terra, Landsat series, and ALOS PALSAR digital elevation datasets, along with integrated open-source geospatial computing platforms, were utilized. The LST derived from MODIS Terra was aggregated to annual, seasonal and decadal timescales, and validated with Landsat derived LST, and finally linked to geodynamic processes. Previous LST studies in Ethiopia have largely relied on single-sensor data and emphasized general spatiotemporal variability, with limited attention to geological controls. This study integrates multi-sensor satellite observations to improve LST characterization and demonstrates, for the first time, the spatial alignment of LST anomalies with mapped volcano-tectonic structures, indicating a geodynamic influence. In addition, agro-thermal thresholds are derived to link LST variability with agricultural suitability. Results show that mean annual LST (2001–2024) ranged from 19 °C to 38.4 °C, with marked seasonal variation: 19.9–40.3 °C (dry season), 16.2–37 °C (short rains), and 14.1–35.2 °C (long rains). MODIS Terra and Landsat LST show strong agreement (r = 0.9, RMSE = 3.45 °C, bias = − 2.74 °C), confirming the robustness of MODIS LST in this complex terrain. The highest LST anomalies are concentrated in active magmatic–tectonic zones, particularly the Abaya geothermal prospect, characterized by hot springs, fumaroles, altered grounds, dense faulting, and volcanic domes. LST values above 35 °C significantly affect crop productivity, especially during drought and transitional seasons. These results highlight the effectiveness of integrated geospatial approaches for analyzing LST variability in relation to active magmatic–tectonic processes. These findings advance a process-based understanding of LST dynamics and provide new insights for geoscientific analysis and climate-smart agriculture in Ethiopia and similar areas else.