A Study of the Land Cover of Razzaza Lake during the Past 25 Years Using Remote Sensing Methods

Abstract

In this study, the Earth's surface was studied in Razzaza Lake for 25 years, using remote sensing methods. Images of the satellites Landsat 5 (TM) and 8 (OLI) were used to study and determine the components of the land cover. The study covered the years 1995-2021 with an interval of 5 years, as this region is uninhabited, so the change in the land cover is slow. The land cover was divided into three main classes and seven subclasses and classified using the maximum likelihood classifier with the help of training sets collected to represent the classes that made up the land cover. The changes detected in the land cover were studied by considering 1995 as a reference year. It was found that there was a significant reduction in the water mass that made up the lake and its transformation into arid land. The vegetation cover was characterized by the relative stability of the crop class. Its constant percent ranged 60% to 80%, unlike the natural plant class, which fluctuates due to its dependence on environmental factors, which is characterized by change. The Kaju presence of continuous change between soil subclasses was due to the different environments affecting the study area. The most affected class was the shallow water class, which disappeared as a result of the drought experienced by the lake.