Spatiotemporal analysis of land cover change patterns in western part of the Sakarya River Delta and its surroundings in Turkey

Abstract

In this study, land cover change is investigated using remote sensing and GIS-based integrated analysis in western part of the Sakarya river delta and its surroundings. The study area is located on the northwest of Turkey. It was formed on the Black Sea coast by the sediments carried by the Sakarya river. Land cover change depending on many natural and human factors. Land cover in the Sakarya river delta has a composition of different geomorphological units. The research area is involved in Euxine province of Euro-Siberian phytogeographical region. However this region is the most important area with its wetland vegetation (Acarlar Longoz). In recent years, change has been observed in the natural land cover because of the land degradation and deforestation in the region. Landsat TM, IRS and SPOT-5 satellite images are used as data between 2001-2010 period to determine this change. These images which have different spectral and spatial resolution are analyzed by using images processing techniques in ERDAS Imagine (c) 10.0 and ArcGIS (c) 10.0 software. Images are classified into three main classes and three subclasses land cover types; according to the CORINE (Coordination of Information on the Environment) Land Cover Nomenclature, Level 1-2-3 Classification. Furthermore, the image analysis results are confirmed by the field research. As a result it is found that, significant changes has been occurred on the natural land cover between the years 2001-2010 in the Sakarya river delta and its surroundings.