Exploring the Relationships Between Fractional Vegetation Cover and Land Surface Temperature: A Multi-Year Analysis of the Santa Clara Valley (2001–2011)

The land surface temperature (LST) is a critical parameter in land–atmosphere exchange processes and urban climate regulation. This study quantifies the spatio-temporal relationship between the fractional vegetation cover (FVC) and Landsat-derived LST within the Santa Clara Valley, California, a region characterized by rapid late 20th-century urbanization. Utilizing a 5 km grid resolution, the research assesses thermal variations across diverse land cover categories over the 2001–2011 period. The analysis is conducted in two distinct phases: (1) a multi-temporal characterization of LST across heterogeneous urban land covers, and (2) a statistical correlation analysis between the FVC and LST. The results demonstrate a consistent, significant inverse relationship between the fractional vegetation cover and LST. These findings provide a foundational baseline for understanding the impact of urban canopy loss on regional heat islands and offer empirical evidence for cooling-based urban planning interventions in Mediterranean-climate metropolitan areas.