Nova Scotia's Environmental Challenges: A Study on Land Surface Temperature, Air Pollution, and Ecosystem Services Values

In a recent study conducted in Nova Scotia, researchers from Khulna University explored the complex interconnections between land surface temperature, air pollution, ecosystem services values, and land use and land cover change. Using datasets on land use and land cover, ecosystem services values, land surface temperature, aerosol optical depth, and atmospheric pollutants, the study applied machine learning-based land use and land cover classification, spatiotemporal trend analysis, emerging correlation analysis, and air quality impact assessment to evaluate environmental impacts.

Key Takeaways:

• The study found a significant rise in built-up areas (+168.16 km²) and a substantial reduction in vegetation (-369.5 km²) between 2019 and 2024, leading to a slight increase in ecosystem services values (ESV) from $16,075.88 million in 2019 to $16,085.9 million in 2024.
• Air quality in Nova Scotia has deteriorated, particularly with increasing levels of sulfur dioxide (SO2) (from 0.00054 μg/m³ to 0.00065 μg/m³) and aerosol optical depth (AOD) (mean of 0.9578 in 2024).
• Spatial analysis identified a notable eastward trend in pollution and distinct pollutant-ecosystem services relationships, particularly in southeastern zones.
• The study highlights intricate bivariate associations between land use and land cover, ecosystem services values, and pollutants, underscoring the complex environmental dynamics across cities in the region.
• The findings emphasize the urgent need for sustainable urban planning and targeted mitigation strategies to address air pollution and climate challenges in rapidly urbanizing and relatively stable areas alike.
• Additional authors for this research include Raiyan Raiyan, Remon Ahmed Mishu, Md. Rakibul Hasan, Rukaya Islam, Pankaj Kanti Jodder, and Khan Rubayet Rahaman.

Statistics:

• 168.16 km² increase in built-up areas between 2019 and 2024
• -369.5 km² reduction in vegetation between 2019 and 2024
• $16,075.88 million increase in ecosystem services values (ESV) from 2019 to 2024
• 0.00054 μg/m³ increase in sulfur dioxide (SO2) between 2019 and 2024
• 0.00065 μg/m³ current level of sulfur dioxide (SO2) in 2024
• 0.9578 mean aerosol optical depth (AOD) in 2024

Sources:

• Decoding Climatic Variability and Ecosystem Impact: Integrating Satellite-derived Data and Geospatial Techniques for Holistic Air Quality Assessment In Nova Scotia. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 2025;156(10).
• Khulna University, Urban & Rural Planning Discipline, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh.