Analysing land cover change with RS and GIS methods in the Elmacik Mountain and its surroundings, Turkey

Abstract

In this research, land cover change in the Elmacik Mountain and its surroundings is investigated. The study area, the Elmacik Mountain, is located in the north-western part of Turkey between the coordinates of 40 degrees 32'-40 degrees 45' N and 30 degrees 35' - 31 degrees 24' E. This area covered with humid forests is located in the Euxine province of Euro - Siberian phytogeographical region. Fagus orientalis communities constitute climax plant community of these forests. Negative effects of population growth, urbanization and industrialization on natural environment can be observed in this research area surrounded by the cities of Sakarya and Duzce. Moreover, we observed that the forest was destroyed and converted into agricultural lands by the rural population of the area. The aim of this study is to analyze natural land cover changes as a result of the permanent effects of human activities in the area, and detect the current status of this area. For this purpose, Landsat TM satellite images which have different spatial resolution are used as data between the periods of 1987 - 2010. These images are analyzed by utilizing data image processing techniques in ERDAS Imagine (c) 10.0 and ArcGIS (c) 10.0 software. Land cover change nomenclature is classified according to the CORINE (Coordinationt of Information on the Environment). Furthermore, image analysis results are confirmed by the field research. As a result, it is concluded that significant changes have occurred on the natural land cover between the years 1987-2010 in the Elmacik Mountain and its surrounding area.