Bahrain’s afforestation push to expand green spaces is already lowering urban heat, with satellite data showing a strong link between vegetation and cooler ground temperatures, according to a new study by the Bahrain Space Agency (BSA).
This is among the key findings of the ‘Temporal Analysis: Difference In Temperature Before and After Afforestation Plan Using Satellite Imagery’ study conducted by BSA space data analyst Suad Khalifa and presented at the 2025 International Conference on Machine Intelligence for GeoAnalytics and Remote Sensing (MIGARS).
The study has shown that areas in Bahrain with more greenery are showing up as significantly cooler, with a correlation of -0.718 indicating that as green cover rises, land surface temperatures drop.
“The national afforestation campaign, titled ‘Forever Green has demonstrated this principle by systematically increasing vegetation across all governorates in Bahrain since it was first launched in 2021, therefore contributing to the measured cooling effect in the targeted areas as observed in the study,” Ms Khalifa told the GDN.
“Land surface temperature refers to heat that radiates from the ground and built surfaces which can be measured using satellites.
“On the ground, the effect of increasing vegetation appears as cooler pavements, streets and open spaces occurring as a result of a reduction in the amount of heat radiation from man-made surfaces like asphalt or concrete.”
The study also showed that afforestation had a more immediate impact on land surface temperature than on air temperature and humidity, which remained consistent.
According to scientists, this is due to the complex nature of urban climate systems.
“The presence of vegetation can directly affect the thermal properties of the land through processes like evapotranspiration and natural shading, whereas meteorological conditions like air temperature and humidity are influenced by a wider range of atmospheric factors,” Ms Khalifa explained.
“This complexity does not necessarily rule out the potential for green coverage to improve weather conditions but rather highlights the need for further research into how atmospheric and weather factors interact with variations in green coverage in Bahrain’s coastal desert climate.”
Amongst the recommendations of the study is the prioritisation of locations where greening can deliver the biggest public benefit.
Hotspots with elevated land surface temperatures, or ‘Urban Heat Islands’ detected using satellite imagery should be targeted.
According to Ms Khalifa, these areas usually consist of man-made structures and surfaces like densely packed residential areas, schools and service centres.
“Such locations are important to target they tend to be crowded with people who, without the necessary cooling effect provided by plants, may experience adverse health effects due to prolonged heat exposure,” she added.
At MIGARS, Ms Khalifa also presented the findings of a second study titled ‘Spatial, Temporal and Environmental Analysis of Nitrogen Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide Gas Columns using Sentinel-5 Precursor’ which utilises space data to monitor air pollution.
As opposed to ground sensors which offer real-time and precise measurements, satellites are able to provide wide continuous coverage over large areas and check air pollutant level readings for higher layers of the atmosphere.
The study showed a moderate correlation between higher levels of carbon monoxide and land surface temperatures.
“A moderate correlation suggests that areas which experience higher temperatures sometimes tend to have elevated carbon monoxide levels which can be attributed to vehicle emissions and industrial activities,” Ms Khalifa explained.
“Urban areas with dense infrastructure and heavier traffic tend to produce more carbon monoxide emissions while also retaining heat due to the urban island effect.
“However, the moderate strength of the correlation can indicate the presence of other factors that should be taken into account like wind patterns, land use and topography.”
The two studies could have broader urban planning implications, giving government and municipal officials tools to decide where to target afforestation efforts.
“Land surface temperature in busy locations like dense residential areas, can be reduced through the inclusion of green spaces which can provide shade and cooling effects,” Ms Khalifa added.
“In turn, and since higher land surface temperatures are associated with increased gas concentrations, reduced heat through afforestation strategies can also contribute to improving air quality and developing more sustainable living conditions.”
Overall, the research is part of BSA’s broader objective of using satellite data to address national environmental priorities and sustainability goals, utilising remote sensing across various vital sectors like agriculture, urban planning, environmental monitoring and disaster management.
naman@gdnmedia.bh
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