3rd TAGRA

Land surface temperature (LST) is an important indicator for examining spatial variations in surface thermal conditions and their changes over time. Satellite observations enable consistent assessments of surface thermal patterns across extensive areas, while cloud-based processing facilitates the analysis of historical imagery through a standardized workflow. This study assessed summer LST patterns across Gümüşhane Province, Türkiye, between 1985 and 2025 using Landsat imagery and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. Nine individual years (1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020, and 2025) were investigated at five-year intervals. Landsat Collection 2 Level-2 surface temperature products were processed within the provincial boundaries. For each selected year, imagery acquired between June and August was filtered, and cloud-contaminated pixels and cloud shadows were excluded using quality assurance bands. Surface temperature values were converted to degrees Celsius, and summer mean LST maps were generated independently for each year. A consistent spatial extent and processing framework were applied to support comparisons. Valid observation counts and spatial data coverage were also examined to assess the reliability of the seasonal composites. The analysis compared provincial temperature statistics and the spatial distribution of relatively warmer and cooler surfaces. Differences between successive selected years and between 1985 and 2025 were mapped to identify areas exhibiting pronounced thermal changes. The resulting maps and statistical summaries provided a basis for evaluating summer surface temperature variability over the forty-year study period. Comparisons focused on the selected summer periods, allowing spatial differences and changes between observation years to be examined within a common seasonal context. The approach established a reproducible framework for monitoring surface thermal conditions in Gümüşhane. The outputs provided baseline information for regional environmental assessment, spatial planning, and subsequent investigations of the relationships between LST, land cover, and topography.