Association Between Urban Physical Expansion, Air Quality Changes, and Land Surface Temperature in Ahvaz: Implications for Environmental Health (2005–2025) کیفیت هوا
Irtiqa Imini Pishgiri Masdumiyat (Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention),
Vol. 13 No. 2 (1404),
11 July 2026
,
Page 59-73
https://doi.org/10.22037/iipm.v13i2.52304
Abstract
Background and Aim: Rapid urbanization in metropolitan areas in arid and semi-arid regions has had significant impacts on climatic conditions, public health, and the environment. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the physical growth pattern of Ahvaz City and climatic and environmental factors, with an emphasis on air quality, using the Shannon Entropy Model over a long-term temporal framework.
Methods: This descriptive–analytical study employed a quantitative approach and was conducted in 2026 within the urban area of Ahvaz. Data were collected through documentary sources and remote sensing analyses. Landsat satellite imagery from 2005 to 2025, the NDVI, and LST were utilized for analysis. Urban growth patterns were calculated using the Shannon Entropy Model, and their relationships with LST, AQI, and PM₁₀ concentrations were examined. Subsequently, the compact urban development pattern, spatial distribution of air pollutants, and health impacts associated with population exposure to particulate matter were assessed using the Exceedance Factor.
Results: The results indicated that the built-up area of Ahvaz expanded from approximately 174 km² in 2005 to more than 202 km² in 2025. The relative Shannon entropy index (G = 0.197) indicated that urban development was predominantly characterized by a compact, infill growth pattern. During the same period, the mean Land Surface Temperature in August increased from 47.10°C to 49.28°C, while air quality indicators exhibited a consistent deteriorating trend. In addition, the Exceedance Factor increased from 8.06 in 2005 to 10.93 in 2025, indicating an increasing environmental health risk associated with population exposure to PM₁₀.
Conclusion: The results demonstrate that the compact physical expansion of Ahvaz has significantly intensified surface warming and degraded air quality.
Keywords: Ahvaz, Air
- PM₁₀
- اهواز
- بهداشت محیط
- دمای سطح زمین (LST)
- کیفیت هوا
- مدل آنتروپی شانون
How to Cite
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