Potential explanatory variables considered in the study.

A total of 35 variables were considered for univariate evaluations. There were 14 variables derived from the USDA SSURGO database, 11 from NLCD, and 10 variables from NASA’s MODIS and POWER sources. All variables except daytime land surface temperature and night-time land surface temperature were in continuous form. ≤ 25°C and ≤ 16°C were used as reference categories in the models for daytime land surface temperature and night-time land surface temperature, respectively. A total of 5 variables retained significance in the univariate screening, with a liberal p−value ≤ 0.2. They were, soil moisture (p = 0.001), mixed forests (p = 0.153), grassland/herbaceous cover(p = 0.122), total edge contrast index (p = 0.008), and day time land surface temperature (≥ 35°C) (p = 0.011). Potential explanatory variables considered in the study.