Assessing the Land Surface Temperature Trend of Lake Drūkšiai’s Coastline

Jūratė Sužiedelytė Visockienė (), Eglė Tumelienė and Rosita Birvydienė
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Jūratė Sužiedelytė Visockienė: Department of Geodesy and Cadastre, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Sauletekio av. 11, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
Eglė Tumelienė: Department of Geodesy and Cadastre, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Sauletekio av. 11, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
Rosita Birvydienė: Department of Geodesy and Cadastre, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Sauletekio av. 11, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 8, 1-19

Abstract: This study investigates long-term land surface temperature (LST) trends along the shoreline of Lake Drūkšiai, a transboundary lake in eastern Lithuania that formerly served as a cooling reservoir for the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP). Although the INPP was decommissioned in 2009, its legacy continues to influence the lake’s thermal regime. Using Landsat 8 thermal infrared imagery and NDVI -based methods, we analysed spatial and temporal LST variations from 2013 to 2024. The results indicate persistent temperature anomalies and elevated LST values, particularly in zones previously affected by thermal discharges. The years 2020 and 2024 exhibited the highest average LST values; some years (e.g., 2018) showed lower readings due to localised environmental factors such as river inflow and seasonal variability. Despite a slight stabilisation observed in 2024, temperatures remain higher than those recorded in 2013, suggesting that pre-industrial thermal conditions have not yet been restored. These findings underscore the long-term environmental impacts of industrial activity and highlight the importance of satellite-based monitoring for the sustainable management of land, water resources, and coastal zones.

Keywords: nuclear power plant; remote sensing; LST trend; NDVI; Landsat (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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