180-6 Evaluating the effects of urbanization on the spatiotemporal patterns and morpho-climatic changes in Barlekha Upazila, Sylhet, Bangladesh

Session: Geoscience Outreach Efforts to Broaden Participation (Posters)

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Abstract:

Rapid urbanization profoundly transforms existing landforms and significantly impacts environmental and climatic conditions. This study aims to assess the spatiotemporal impact of rapid urbanization on morpho-climatic changes in Barlekha Upazila, Sylhet, Bangladesh. Land use and land cover (LULC) changes are intrinsically linked with water resource depletion, biodiversity loss, land degradation, and broader environmental disruptions. Utilizing an unsupervised image classification technique, this research analyzed multi-temporal Landsat satellite imagery from 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2021 to evaluate changes in LULC and their associated climatic impacts on Barlekha Upazila.

The findings indicate that between 2005 and 2021, the area occupied by water bodies in Barlekha experienced a significant decline, decreasing from 827.388 km² to 406.071 km². In contrast, urbanized regions expanded substantially during this period, reflecting rapid urban growth. Moreover, climatic variables, including precipitation and humidity, exhibited notable fluctuations over the years, suggesting potential links between urban expansion and local climate variability. Temperature data also revealed a consistent increase in surface temperature between 2010 and 2021 compared to 2005, with the highest temperatures recorded from March to October during these years.

These findings underscore the significant influence of urban expansion on morpho-climatic dynamics in the study area. The progressive reduction in natural land cover and water bodies, increased temperatures, and climatic instability exemplify the environmental consequences of unregulated urban growth. This study emphasizes the urgent need for sustainable urban planning and resource management to mitigate the adverse effects of urbanization on the environment, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions like Barlekha Upazila.

Keywords: LULC, Urbanization, Unsupervised Classification, Spatiotemporal Change, Surface Temperature, Humidity, and Precipitation

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

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