ASSESSMENT OF SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL CHANGES IN LANDSCAPE COMPONENTS OF KOSTANAY REGION USING REMOTE SENSING DATA

Abstract

This article analyzes the spatio-temporal changes of landscape components in the Kostanay region using remote sensing data. MODIS, Landsat, and Sentinel-2 satellite data were used to calculate land surface temperature (LST), vegetation (NDVI), water (NDWI), moisture (NDMI), and burn severity (NBR) indices. MODIS data were applied to identify long-term regional trends, while Landsat and Sentinel-2 data were used for detailed assessment of pre- and post-fire dynamics in the Amankaragay forest area.

In the analysis of LST, NDVI, and NDWI for the Kostanay region, a negative correlation was observed between LST and NDVI as well as NDWI, meaning that an increase in temperature was accompanied by a decrease in vegetation cover and a reduction in the water index.

The analysis of the NDVI, NDMI, NDWI, and SWIR indices for the Amankaragay forest area revealed a close relationship between the biomass and moisture content of the forest ecosystems. An increase in the values of NDVI, NDMI, and NDWI is accompanied by a decrease in SWIR, which reflects the gradual restoration of vegetation cover and the improvement of water conditions. In the period from 2022 to 2025, there has been a pronounced positive trend, especially in 2024 and 2025, when the forest showed signs of sustainable recovery and ecosystem stabilization. The analysis of the calculated normalized difference indices of temperature, vegetation, and water in the Kostanay region showed that there was a significant increase in temperature and a decrease in vegetation levels from 2014 to 2023. The area of surface water has also decreased. The changes in vegetation and surface water areas are well correlated with changes in the Earth's surface temperature.

The results provide insights into the impacts of climate change and wildfires on regional landscape components.