Spatiotemporal Assessment of Environmental Change and Palm Tree Dynamics in Al-Ahsa Oasis Using Multi-Temporal Landsat Data and Machine Learning Approaches

A 35-year study of Al-Ahsa Oasis reveals significant environmental shifts driven by urban expansion and climate change. Using multi-temporal Landsat data (1990–2025) and machine learning, researchers found that while palm tree coverage increased by 16.23%—suggesting resilience in vegetation—the oasis experienced a 67.19% rise in urban development, leading to higher land surface temperatures (LST) and reduced soil exposure. The study highlights how urban growth impacts critical environmental indicators like the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), which fluctuated between −0.19 and 0.75, and LST, which rose from 28.7–48.34°C in 1990 to 34.7–54.6°C by 2025. These findings underscore the need for sustainable urban planning to balance development with agricultural preservation and ecosystem resilience.

Solangi, Y. A., Alyamani, R., Solangi, F., & Solangi, K. A. (2026). Spatiotemporal Assessment of Environmental Change and Palm Tree Dynamics in Al-Ahsa Oasis Using Multi-Temporal Landsat Data and Machine Learning Approaches. Land, 15(7), 1124. https://doi.org/10.3390/land15071124