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The integration of remote sensing techniques and Geographic Information System has a wide use to quantify the spatial and temporal distribution of vegetation cover. Over the last decade, a remarkable change was noticed in both climate and vegetation cover in Duhok. The Modified Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (MSAVI2) was extracted from Landsat satellite images over the 20 years (2000 to 2019). For analyzing the vegetation changes, the terrain data including elevation, slope, and aspect and climate data temperature and precipitation are used. The result shows that from 2000–2019, the average mean MSAVI2 is 0.361 and the trend increased in 77.9% of the study area. The northern and northeastern areas of the study area revealed a significant increase in vegetation, while in the low land areas it is decreased. The amount of precipitation and temperature degree affect the spatiotemporal distribution of vegetation cover. The MSAVI2 showed a positive relationship with precipitation and temperature. At elevation less than 2000 m, with increasing elevation the MSAVI2 is increasing, but when the elevation reaches 2000 m, the MSAVI2 is decreasing and negatively related to elevation. The vegetation has a positive relation with slopes less than 45°, and at slopes higher than 45°, the MSAVI2 is decreased. The impact of aspect on the vegetation figured out that the largest MSAVI2 is detected in the shady slope due to relatively less evapotranspiration.

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The temperature rise has become a serious environmental concern affected by both human and natural factors. Worldwide, rising land surface temperatures have emerged as the most pressing issue facing the twenty-first century. In the last two decades, a curious change was realized in temperature in the Duhok district of Iraq. Hence, this study examined the spatiotemporal land surface temperature distribution and Modified Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (MSAVI2) and the correlation between them in the Duhok district in three different years 2001, 2011, and 2021 using Landsat satellite images. Air temperature data from seven weather stations were used to validate the land surface temperature results. The study's findings revealed that the Duhok district’s LST has risen during the study period. In general, the average land surface temperature has been increasing at a rate of 0.15 °C per year. Other findings showed that the vegetation cover of the Duhok district has changed dynamically. In all three years of study, the regression analysis results indicated that there was a negative correlation between LST and MSAVI2. This method of evaluation will be useful in guiding future urban management work and local government strategies.

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