A Scientific Analysis of Vegetation-Based Air Quality in Sidoarjo and its Implications for Extreme Temperature Events and Extended Drought Periods

Indonesia, as an archipelagic country with a high diversity of ecosystems, faces significant challenges in maintaining a balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability. One of the major impacts of urbanization is the alteration of vegetation cover, which affects air quality, extreme temperatures, and drought conditions. This study focuses on analyzing vegetation cover in Sidoarjo Regency, East Java, using Landsat imagery and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) method to assess its impact on air quality and extreme temperatures. The analysis results indicate a decline in vegetation cover from 2020 to 2024, contributing to deteriorating air quality and increasing extreme temperatures in the region. The reduction in vegetation, driven by land-use changes for development purposes, has decreased the capacity of plants to absorb air pollutants such as PM2.5 and PM10, which pose health risks to the population. Although a slight improvement was observed in 2023, the overall declining trend continues, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen environmental conservation efforts. This study recommends raising public awareness and implementing stronger environmental preservation policies to address these issues and maintain the quality of life for the residents of Sidoarjo.