Determination of Temporal Changes in Lakes Mert and Erikli Using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems

Abstract

The Igneada area of Turkey includes different ecosystems and a wide range of biodiversity, making it one of Turkey's most important areas. Igneada and the surrounding environment have unique characteristics; in other parts of Turkey and Europe, the types of wild forests found in the Igneada area have been damaged by anthropogenic effects. Lakes Mert and Erikli in the Igneada area play an important role in the formation and maintenance of the Longos forest. This study used Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite images from 1987 and 2009 and 1:25,000-scale topographic maps. The satellite images were geometrically corrected and underwent image processing and classification, and the results were subsequently calculated using reclassification and overlay analyses. In addition, a rapid ecological assessment was carried out to detect changes in the field. The surfaces of lakes Mert and Erikli were found to have decreased by 4.03%. The reason for this minor change is that the flow rates of streams feeding these lakes are well protected. The primary cause of the observed changes was found to be the amount of seasonal precipitation and the amount of water taken from the rivers feeding these lakes.