Developed Land Cover Research Articles

Land Cover Mapping in East China for Enhancing High-Resolution Weather Simulation Models

This study was designed to develop a 30 m resolution land cover dataset to improve the performance of regional weather forecasting models in East China. A 10-class land cover mapping scheme was established, reflecting East China’s diverse landscape characteristics and incorporating a new category for plastic greenhouses. Plastic greenhouses are key to understanding surface heterogeneity in agricultural regions, as they can significantly impact local climate conditions, such as heat flux and evapotranspiration, yet they are often not represented in conventional land cover classifications. This is mainly due to the lack of high-resolution datasets capable of detecting these small yet impactful features. For the six-province study area, we selected and processed Landsat 8 imagery from 2015–2018, filtering for cloud cover. Complementary datasets, such as digital elevation models (DEM) and nighttime lighting data, were integrated to enrich the inputs for the Random Forest classification. A comprehensive training dataset was compiled to support Random Forest training and classification accuracy. We developed an automated workflow to manage the data processing, including satellite image selection, preprocessing, classification, and image mosaicking, thereby ensuring the system’s practicality and facilitating future updates. We included three Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model experiments in this study to highlight the impact of our land cover maps on daytime and nighttime temperature predictions. The resulting regional land cover dataset achieved an overall accuracy of 83.2% and a Kappa coefficient of 0.81. These accuracy statistics are higher than existing national and global datasets. The model results suggest that the newly developed land cover, combined with a mosaic option in the Unified Noah scheme in WRF, provided the best overall performance for both daytime and nighttime temperature predictions. In addition to supporting the WRF model, our land cover map products, with a planned 3–5-year update schedule, could serve as a valuable data source for ecological assessments in the East China region, informing environmental policy and promoting sustainability.

Investigating the Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Land Cover and Ecosystem Service Value in the Kuye River Basin

Land cover change influences the provision of regional ecosystem services, posing a threat to regional ecological security and sustainable development. The Kuye River Basin, a vital tributary of the Yellow River Basin, has experienced significant land cover changes due to intense human activity. Building on analysing the spatiotemporal evolution of land use cover and ecosystem service values from 1990 to 2022, this study predicted the land cover structure and ecosystem service value with two future scenarios, the NDC and the EPC, to provide insights into guiding sustainable policy interventions. We found the predominant land cover types were greensward and forest land, accounting for 67.22% of the total area. Forest land, greensward, and farmland have increased, while desert, water area, and other land types have decreased from 1990 to 2022. Forest land, greensward, farmland, and water areas are the main contributors to ecosystem service value in the Kuye River Basin. However, water area services have significantly decreased from 1990 to 2022. Under the NDC scenario, land development primarily relies on greensward and farmland, reducing forest and water areas and weakening the ecosystem’s regulatory and supporting functions. In contrast, the EPC scenario enhances ecosystem services by protecting critical ecological regions. Ecological protection measures significantly increase the ecosystem service values of the Kuye River Basin, and well-planned land use can effectively balance economic development with ecological preservation. This study provides scientific evidence to inform policies integrating ecological protection and economic growth, contributing to the sustainable development of the Kuye River Basin.

Spatio-temporal evolution, driving mechanisms, and simulation of land use and cover in China from 2000 to 2060

Spatio-temporal evolution, driving mechanisms, and simulation of land use and cover in China from 2000 to 2060

Spatiotemporal Evolution of Land Cover and Landscape Ecological Risk in Wuyishan National Park and Surrounding Areas

Previous studies on national park conservation have focused mainly on their internal areas, and few studies have focused on national parks and their surrounding areas as unified entities. Therefore, the investigation of land cover and landscape ecological risks in national parks and surrounding areas is essential for overall ecosystem protection and regional sustainable development. This study examines the spatiotemporal evolution of land cover and its landscape ecological risk in Wuyishan National Park, China, and its surrounding areas (WNPSA) from 1990 to 2020. The results show that (1) the land cover of WNPSA from 1990 to 2020 predominantly exhibited a consistent decline in forested areas, paralleled by an augmentation in farmland and impervious surface areas. The center of standard deviation ellipse of impervious surfaces has been progressively moving further south in tandem with the expansion of these surfaces, primarily located within the county town of Fujian Province. (2) The Wuyishan National Park (WNP) areas were dominated by low values of landscape index, and the high value areas in the park were mainly located at the provincial boundary area, with a gradual narrowing during 1990–2020, suggesting a decrease in landscape heterogeneity within the park. High value areas in the surrounding areas mainly occurred in areas with clustered impervious surfaces (e.g., the county town), where part of them located in Wuyishan City have spread to the edge area southeast of WNP. (3) From 1990 to 2020, the lowest-risk areas continue to expand. However, as the medium-risk zone of the adjacent region extends into the edge of the national park, the low risk zone within the national park exhibits a trend from continuous to separate with the neighboring low risk zone. This led to an escalating stress effect on the ecological security of both the adjacent regions and the national park’s boundary areas due to land cover changes.

Paisaje Agrario: Producción Agrícola Familiar en la Campaña Dange-Quitexe 2019-2022

Family farming in Angola has pre-colonial historical roots. It faced challenges during the colonial period and the war of independence, but after 1975, the government promoted it as essential for economic development. Despite the obstacles, the province of Uíge plays a crucial role in food security and rural development, receiving investment for strengthening and sustainable growth. The aim of the research was to analyse the influence of agricultural practices on food availability in the region and to represent the temporal evolution of land use and land cover in the agricultural production of families in the municipality of Dange-Quitexe. The methodology used was a temporal land use study, involving the collection of data on traditional agricultural practices, analysing soil conditions, defining sustainability goals and implementing management practices such as crop rotation, intercropping, water management and soil conservation techniques. The results of this study offered a deeper understanding of family farming over the two agricultural seasons, and provided valuable information to guide future actions and initiatives in the area of agriculture and regional development, land use revealed significant improvements in productivity and resilience, the implementation of sustainable practices, such as crop rotation, intercropping and water management, resulted in healthier harvests and more stable yields over time, in addition, it presented the level of production for food security in the municipality of Dange-Quitexe-Uíge in the 2019-2022 agricultural seasons.

Evolution of Landscapes and Land Cover in Old Villages of Ziz Oasis (East Morocco) and SWOT Analysis for Potential Sustainable Tourism

This study aimed to investigate the changes in the landscapes and land cover in the villages of the Ziz Valley from 1965 to 2023. Equally, we evaluated the potential of sustainable tourism in these rural regions with a SWOT analysis. The obtained results showed that the landscapes were deeply changed, with a dominance of farmlands and the appearance of the Ziz reservoir. Rural villages near Errachidia were replaced after the flood of 1965. Errachidia’s urbanization increased by 400% and overflowed into certain villages, while the availability of water encouraged the rise of farms. The villages near the city became urbanized, resulting in the development of business zones and tourism destinations that offered the locals bright futures. In contrast to cluster A, the SWOT analysis reveals that strengths exceed vulnerabilities in cluster B and C villages. Despite the alteration of ancient and natural landscapes, the potential for rural tourism appears to be stronger in the villages included in clusters B and C.

Evolution of land cover from 1989 to 2023 in the southern region of the Ñeembucú department, Paraguay

This research study, conducted in the southern region of the Ñeembucú Department, Republic of Paraguay, aims to investigate the evolution of land cover from 1989 to 2023. The study area encompasses the districts of Pilar, Humaitá, Paso de Patria, General Díaz, Mayor Martínez, Isla Umbú, Desmochados, Guazu Cuá, Tacuaras, Villalbín, and Laureles. The research was initiated due to concerns regarding the degradation of wetlands, especially since this region is considered unique in the country. In recent years, the southern region of the Ñeembucú Department has undergone numerous human interventions, primarily for productive purposes. The study area, covering a total surface of 6,636.5 km², was demarcated. Subsequently, LANDSAT satellite images were obtained through the U.S. Geological Survey, selected for less than 20% cloud cover. The selected area was then delineated by cropping the images to the specified extent using QGIS 3.32 software and the Semi-Automatic Classification plugin, facilitating the semi-automatic classification of land cover. Significant deforestation, an increase in areas without land cover, urban areas, and sparse vegetation, as well as a decrease in the extent of swamps, forests, grasslands, and prairies were observed.

Availability of the current and future water resources in Equatorial Central Africa: case of the Nyong forest catchment in Cameroon.

To anticipate disasters (drought, floods, etc.) caused by environmental forcing and reduce their impacts on its fragile economy, sub-Saharan Africa needs a good knowledge of the availability of current water resources and reliable hydroclimatic forecasts. This study has an objective to quantify the availability of water resources in the Nyong basin and predict its future evolution (2024-2050). For this, the SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model was used. The performance of this model is satisfactory in calibration (2001-2005) and validation (2006-2010), with R2, NSE, and KGE greater than 0.64. Biases of - 11.8% and - 13.9% in calibration and validation also attest to this good performance. In the investigated basin, infiltration (GW_RCH), evapotranspiration (ETP), surface runoff (SURQ), and water yield (WYLD) are greater in the East, probably due to more abundant rainfall in this part. The flows and sediment load (SED) are greater in the middle zone and in the Southwest of the basin, certainly because of the flat topography of this part, which corresponds to the valley floor. Two climate models (CCCma and REMO) predict a decline in water resources in this basin, and two others (HIRHAM5 and RCA4) are the opposite. However, based on a statistical study carried out over the historical period (2001-2005), the CCCma model seems the most reliable. It forecasts a drop in precipitation and runoff, which do not exceed - 19% and - 18%, respectively, whatever the emission scenario (RCP4.5 or RCP8.5). Climate variability (CV) is the only forcing whose impact is visible in the dynamics of current and future flows, due to the modest current (increase of + 102 km2 in builds and roads) and future (increase of + 114 km2 in builds and roads) changes observed in the evolution of land use and land cover (LULC). The results of this study could contribute to improving water resource management in the basin studied and the region.

Metal accumulation in salt marsh soils along the East Coast of the United States

Coastal salt marshes are depositional environments that can accumulate pollutants introduced to the environment from human activities. Metals are a contaminant of concern in coastal environments due to their longevity and toxicity. We assessed metal concentrations and accumulation rates in nine salt marsh sites along the U.S. East Coast from Maine to Georgia. Following a metal mobility assay in organic-rich and mineral dominated salt marsh soils under aerobic/anaerobic and freshwater/saltwater conditions, we focused on profiles of chromium, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, lead, and uranium in two soil cores from each of the nine marshes that had previously been dated using lead-210 radioisotope techniques. We examined how land cover and the spatial distribution of land cover, marsh vertical accretion, and other watershed characteristics correlated with metal concentrations and depth/time-integrated accumulation of metals. We found statistically significant differences in metal concentrations and/or inventories between sites, with accumulation of metals positively correlated with both developed land cover in the watershed and rates of vertical accretion in the tidal marsh. The accumulation of chromium, cadmium, and lead were significantly correlated with developed land cover while the accumulation of chromium, nickel, copper, zinc, and lead were correlated with factors that determine sediment delivery from the landscape (e.g., riverine suspended sediment, soil erodibility in the watershed, and agricultural land cover skewed towards the coast) and measured wetland accretion rates. We observed declines in the concentration of many metals since 1925 at sites along the U.S. East Coast, indicating pollution mitigation strategies have succeeded in reducing metal pollution and delivery to the coastal zone. However, increasing rates of salt marsh vertical accretion over recent decades largely offset reductions in metal concentrations, resulting in rates of metal accumulation in coastal salt marsh soils that have not changed or, in some instances, increased over time.

Examining the Effects of Soil and Water Conservation Measures on Patterns and Magnitudes of Vegetation Cover Change in a Subtropical Region Using Time Series Landsat Imagery

Soil and water erosion has long been regarded as a serious environmental problem in the world. Thus, research on reducing soil erosion has received continuous attention. Different conservation measures such as restoring low-function forests, closing hillsides for afforestation, planting trees and grass, and constructing terraces on slope land have been implemented for controlling soil erosion problems and promoting vegetation cover change. One important task is to understand the effects of different conservation measures on reducing water and soil erosion problems. However, directly conducting the evaluation of soil erosion reduction is difficult. One solution is to evaluate the patterns and magnitudes of vegetation cover change due to implementing these measures. Therefore, this research selected Changting County, Fujian Province as a case study to examine the effects of implementing conservation measures on vegetation cover change based on time series Landsat images and field survey data. Landsat images between 1986 and 2021 were used to produce time series vegetation cover data using the Google Earth Engine. Sentinel-2 images acquired in 2021 and Landsat images in 2010 were separately used to develop land cover maps using the random forest method. The spatial distribution of different conservation measures was linked to annual vegetation cover and land cover change data to examine the effects on the change in vegetation cover. The results showed a significant reduction in bare lands and increase in pine forests. The vegetation coverage increased from 42% in 1986 to 79% in 2021 in the conservation region compared with an increase from 73% to 87% in the non-conservation region during the same period. Of the different conservation measures, the change magnitude was 0.44 for restoring low-function forests and closing hillsides for afforestation and 0.65 for multiple control measures. This research provides new insights in terms of understanding the effects of taking proper measures for reducing soil and water erosion problems and provides scientific results for decisionmaking for soil erosion controls. The strategy and method used in this research are valuable for other regions in understanding the roles of different conservation measures on vegetation cover change and soil erosion reduction through employing remote sensing technologies.

Effects of seasonality and developed land cover on Culex mosquito abundance and microbiome diversity.

The vectorial capacity of mosquitoes, which influences the dynamics of vector-borne disease transmission, is intricately linked to mosquito abundance and the composition and diversity of their associated microbiomes. However, the influence of environmental factors on mosquito populations and microbiome diversity remains underexplored. Here we examined the effects of seasonality and developed land cover on Culex mosquito abundance and bacterial diversity. Biweekly field sampling of female Culex mosquitoes was conducted using gravid and CDC light traps, spanning summer to autumn across varying developed land cover levels in two urban areas in Central Illinois. Mosquito abundance was assessed by the number of mosquitoes captured per trap night and compared across seasons and developed levels. The mean mosquito abundance for gravid and light traps was 12.96 ± 2.15 and 7.67 ± 1.44, respectively. Notably, higher levels of developed land cover exhibited higher Culex abundance than the low level for light traps, but no significant difference was found between summer and early autumn. In gravid traps, no significant differences were detected across seasons or developed levels. Microbial analysis of the mosquito microbiome revealed that Proteobacteria and Wolbachia, with a mean relative abundance of 80.77 and 52.66% respectively, were identified as the most dominant bacterial phylum and genus. Their relative abundance remained consistent across seasons and developed land cover levels, with negligible variations. Alpha diversity, as measured by observed species, Chao1, Shannon, and Simpson, showed slightly higher values in early-autumn compared to late-summer. A notable pattern of bacterial diversity, as indicated by all four diversity indexes, is evident across varying levels of land development. Significantly, high or intermediate developed levels consistently showed reduced alpha diversity when compared to the lower level. This underscores the pronounced impact of anthropogenic ecological disturbances in shaping mosquito microbiomes. Beta diversity analysis revealed no significant dissimilarities in bacterial community composition across seasons and developed levels, although some separation was noted among different levels of developed land cover. These findings highlight the significant role of environmental factors in shaping mosquito abundance and their associated microbiomes, with potential implications for the vectorial capacity in the transmission of vector-borne diseases.

Land Cover Trajectories and Their Impacts on Rainfall-Triggered Landslide Occurrence in a Cultivated Mountainous Region of Western Japan

Land cover changes in mountainous regions are potential precursors to landslide disasters. However, the effects of past long-term land cover changes on the characteristics of recent landslides remains underexplored. We studied land cover evolution over a 56-year period on Omishima Island in western Japan to examine the spatial relations of landslides in the July 2018 storm event based on rainfall, land cover trajectories, and topography. We generated land cover maps for 1962, 1981, and 2018 by aerial photo interpretation. We also identified 512 new landslides. Based on 47-year precipitation records, we estimated the return periods of 1- to 264-h rainfalls during the storm using the generalised extreme value (GEV) distributions. Return periods showed wide variation when the derived GEV distributions were applied to 1-km grid rainfall distributions. Despite such pronounced spatial variations in rainfall, we did not observe a clear correlation between rainfall intensity and landslide distribution. In contrast, land cover trajectories had a pronounced effect on landslide occurrence. Landslides were more concentrated on slopes that experienced land cover changes after 1962. A comparison of slopes on farmland developed between 1962 and 1981 (mainly citrus orchards) indicated that landslide density and area ratio were significantly lower on slopes that had reverted to forests than on those remaining as farmland. However, the values of the reforested slopes exceeded those of forests and farmlands that remained since before 1962. Our geospatial analysis revealed that even if the field had shifted to forests, the effects of reduced slope stability due to orchard development had remained for at least 37 years. This suggested that the impacts of converting forests to orchards last longer than harvesting in managed plantation forests.

Retracted: Machine Learning Approaches for Developing Land Cover Mapping.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1155/2022/5190193.].

Assessment of land cover trajectories as an indicator of urban habitat temporal continuity

The trends of land cover dynamics in cities have major repercussions on urban biodiversity, ultimately impacting the health and well-being of human urbanites. Older habitats, i.e., habitats with higher spatiotemporal continuity, allow ecosystem processes promoting the maintenance of diverse microhabitats and the accommodation of diverse species over time, contributing for a richer biodiversity at the city level and beyond. Thus, we implement the analysis of land cover trajectories proposed as an indicator of habitat continuity, in order to identify priority areas for conservation or restoration that can be integrated in urban planning. The method was applied in the city of Porto, Portugal, and it was used to detect the main habitat patches associated with trends of vegetation persistence, gain and loss, between 1947 and 2019. The most common change was related to urbanization processes, where artificial built elements replaced areas of tree, shrub and herbaceous cover, completely dominating the territory in 2019 (66% cover). Moreover, tree and shrub cover had a relatively balanced dynamics, keeping a constant area (20–25%) while newly created wooded habitats compensated for the lost ones. Finally, areas covered with herbaceous vegetation suffered a drastic loss and fragmentation over the period of 72 years (from 40% in 1947 to 10% in 2019). This analysis of land cover evolution allowed for the identification of areas that have been continuously covered by vegetation, displaying a greater stability and higher probability of habitat continuity. This information, with its spatially explicit character, can help to inform future planning, design and management policies at a local scale and contribute to the conservation, restoration and expansion of urban habitats and their biodiversity.

Evolution of land cover in the special area of conservation of Monchique (Southern Portugal): Have the objectives of the Natura 2000 network been achieved (1995–2018)?

AbstractThe Natura 2000 Network, as the European Union's ecological network, aims to ensure the long‐term conservation of Europe's most threatened species and habitats, helping to stop the loss of biodiversity. Based on this assumption, the changes in land cover in the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) of Monchique between 1995 and 2018 are analysed and related to identify favourable and unfavourable policies concerning the habitats and respective species conservation. The most important land covers are compared with the habitats and species legally protected at the National and European level, as well as the Red List of Vascular Flora of Mainland Portugal. As main results can be highlighted the increase in the forest area occupied by species such as Eucalyptus globulus and Pinus pinaster, and a reduction in the areas of grazing and shrub species. Can also be noted an increase in the areas covered by invasive species, which may be associated with the abandonment of rural areas. We identified 21 taxa with high heritage interest in the Monchique SAC, occurring mainly in forest habitats, namely 91E0, 92A0, 9240, 9330 and 9340, which should be considered in the elaboration of future Territorial Management Plans. Thus, it can be concluded that the objectives initially stipulated by the Natura 2000 Network were not fully achieved within the Monchique SAC. Alternative management methods must be studied to allow conservation in a territory with a high land consolidation and low population density.

Creating a distribution model of three crayfish species of the genus Faxonius (Decapoda, Cambaridae) in Michigan streams using publicly accessible data

Abstract This research seeks to create a predictive model of habitat suitability for use in determining waterbodies vulnerable to introduced species within the state of Michigan. Three members of the genus Faxonius (Decapoda, Cambaridae) were selected as test taxa for the model due to several species’ propensity for significantly altering the ecosystems they inhabit in Michigan and elsewhere. Michigan State University and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) conducted extensive field surveys of crayfish species assemblages across 461 stream sites from 2014-2016. This project compares these field data to data from publicly available national datasets with the purpose of revealing ecosystems that are vulnerable to population expansion. We identify patterns in Faxonius habitat at local (100 acres) and landscape (1000 acres) scales by associating crayfish occurrences throughout Michigan with variables characterizing landscape conditions thought to be important factors affecting their spread, growth, and survival. An Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model using variables from Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO) and National Land Cover Database (NLCD) successfully identified stream sites and watersheds in Michigan vulnerable to range expansion by Faxonius rusticus (Girard, 1852), Faxonius propinquus (Girard, 1852), and/or Faxonius virilis (Hagen, 1870). We found several habitat variables that influence our predictions. The most important variable describing F. rusticus presence was local (100-acre) scale Open Water land cover class, whereas for F. propinquus, the high-intensity developed land cover class at the local scale was the most important, while it was the shrubland land cover class at the local scale for F. virilis. This research demonstrates a powerful method to identify locations using remote sensing data that can be prioritized for conservation efforts that are threatened by invasive crayfish species.

Algorithms and Predictors for Land Cover Classification of Polar Deserts: A Case Study Highlighting Challenges and Recommendations for Future Applications

The use of remote sensing for developing land cover maps in the Arctic has grown considerably in the last two decades, especially for monitoring the effects of climate change. The main challenge is to link information extracted from satellite imagery to ground covers due to the fine-scale spatial heterogeneity of Arctic ecosystems. There is currently no commonly accepted methodological scheme for high-latitude land cover mapping, but the use of remote sensing in Arctic ecosystem mapping would benefit from a coordinated sharing of lessons learned and best practices. Here, we aimed to produce a highly accurate land cover map of the surroundings of the Canadian Forces Station Alert, a polar desert on the northeastern tip of Ellesmere Island (Nunavut, Canada) by testing different predictors and classifiers. To account for the effect of the bare soil background and water limitations that are omnipresent at these latitudes, we included as predictors soil-adjusted vegetation indices and several hydrological predictors related to waterbodies and snowbanks. We compared the results obtained from an ensemble classifier based on a majority voting algorithm to eight commonly used classifiers. The distance to the nearest snowbank and soil-adjusted indices were the top predictors allowing the discrimination of land cover classes in our study area. The overall accuracy of the classifiers ranged between 75 and 88%, with the ensemble classifier also yielding a high accuracy (85%) and producing less bias than the individual classifiers. Some challenges remained, such as shadows created by boulders and snow covered by soil material. We provide recommendations for further improving classification methodology in the High Arctic, which is important for the monitoring of Arctic ecosystems exposed to ongoing polar amplification.

The assessment of climatic, environmental, and socioeconomic aspects of the Brazilian Cerrado

BackgroundThe Cerrado is the most biodiverse savanna and maintains other biomes. Aware of its significance, this paper evaluated the Brazilian Cerrado’s climatic, environmental, and socioeconomic aspects using remote sensing data and spatial statistics (correlation analysis and principal components analysis—PCA). Following the measures of sample adequacy (MSA) and Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) tests, seventeen variables were evaluated.ResultsThe MSA revealed that the dataset had a good quality (0.76), and nine variables were selected: elevation, evapotranspiration, active fires, Human Development Index (HDI), land use and land cover (LULC; shrubland and cropland/rainfed), rainfall (spring and autumn), and livestock. The correlation matrix indicated a positive (negative) association between HDI and autumn rainfall (HDI and active fires) with a value of 0.77 (− 0.55). The PCA results determined which three principal components (PC) were adequate for extracting spatial patterns, accounting for 68.02% of the total variance with respective values of 38.59%, 16.89%, and 12.5%. Due to economic development and agribusiness, Cerrado’s northern (central, western, and southern) areas had negative (positive) score HDI values, as shown in PC1. Climatic (rainfall—spring and fall) and environmental (cropland/rainfed and shrubland) aspects dominated the PC2, with negative scores in northern and western portions due to the transition zone between Amazon and Cerrado biomes caused by rainfall variability. On the other hand, environmental aspects (LULC-shrubland and elevation) influenced the PC3; areas with high altitudes (> 500 m) received a higher score.ConclusionAgricultural expansion substantially affected LULC, leading to deforestation-caused suppression of native vegetation.

Quantitative Long-Term Monitoring (1890–2020) of Morphodynamic and Land-Cover Changes of a LIA Lateral Moraine Section

Aerial photographs of the European Alps usually only reach back to the middle of the 20th century, which limits the time span of corresponding studies that quantitatively analyse long-term surface changes of proglacial areas using georeferenced orthophotos. To the end of the Little Ice Age, this leads to a gap of about 100 years. Using digital monoplotting and several historical terrestrial photographs, we show the quantification of surface changes of a Little Ice Age lateral moraine section until the late second half of the 19th century, reaching a total study period of 130 years (1890–2020). The (initial) gully system expands (almost) continuously over the entire study period from 1890 to 2020. Until 1953, the vegetation-covered areas also expanded (mainly scree communities, alpine grasslands and dwarf shrub communities), before decreasing again, especially between 1990 and 2003, due to large-scale erosion within the gully system. Furthermore, our results show that the land-cover development was impacted by temperature and precipitation changes. With the 130-year study period, we contribute to a substantial improvement in the understanding of the processes in the proglacial by analysing the early phase and thus the immediate response of the lateral moraine to the ice exposure.

Land Use and Land Cover Change Scenario of the Betwa River Basin of Madhya Pradesh: An Analysis Using Remote Sensing and GIS

Abstract: An essential aspect of comprehending the dynamic nature of the environment is to examine the changes in land use and land cover (LULC). This research work employed remote sensing and GIS approaches to explore the transformations of LULC in the Betwa River Basin of Madhya Pradesh, India. Satellite images from 2005 and 2021 were analyzed to identify the temporal evolution of land use and land cover in the region. The results of the study demonstrate that the Betwa River Basin has witnessed a remarkable increase in agricultural land and built-up areas at the expense of forest cover. The study provides valuable information that can be incorporated in any land management policies and aid in sustainable development.