Analysis of land cover changes after the eruption of mount Sinabung using satellite imagery

Abstract

After hundreds of years experiencing a dormant period, Mount Sinabung erupted again in August 2010 to the last recorded in June 2018. Within eight years, significant land cover changes were seen in the area around Mount Sinabung. This study aims to analyse changes in affected areas using satellite imagery. The spatial analysis method is used to determine changes in various land cover. High-resolution images before the 2010 eruption and the latest recording images of 2019 are used as analytical material. The analysis shows that the affected area is in east-southeast and south-southeast directions of the peak of Mount Sinabung. In the east-southeast direction, the eruption material reaches 3.5 km and 4 km in the south-southeast with an area more than eleven thousand hectares. Some villages such as Bekerah, Simacem, and Suka Meriah have even been lost covered by material from the eruption of Mount Sinabung. The area is generally covered by pyroclastic materials in the form of ash, sand, lapilli, and bombs. Most of the areas affected by the eruption are plantation areas, then forest areas and settlements areas. The conclusion are Sinabung eruption in recent years has had a very significant impact on various aspects, one of which is land cover.