Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Abstract

Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative characteristics of changes are extremely important in environmental planning, land use planning and sustainable development. Currently, using vegetation maps is one of the key factors in data production for macro and micro planning. In this research, information of Landsat ETM + and OLI sensors were used to display the temporal and spatial changes of vegetation in Behbahan city in 1999 and 2013 and the value of NDVI index was calculated for two years. In order to evaluate the quality changes of vegetation, the numerical values of the index were classified into 4 classes of different lush green vegetation including land with excellent, very good, good, and poor coverage. Then, the changes were determined using CROSSTAB. The results showed that the qualitative and quantitative changes in vegetation for the study area have been extensive over 14 years, so that, the area of lands with excellent, very good and poor coverage has increased and the area of landswith good coverage, has decreased. The greatest increase in areashas occurred in lands with excellent coverage, so that, it has increased from 5069.76 hectares (ha) in 1999 to 7735.5 ha in 2013.  Also, the highestdecrease in areas has occurred in lands with good coverage thathas reached from 34061.4 ha to 27434.43 ha. Finally, the regression equation was obtained to show better relationship between the two parameters of vegetation and temperature. The results confirmed the point that the areas covered with vegetation have lower temperature and vegetation has cooling effects on the surrounding. Therefore, the degradationof the region’s vegetationwill be followed by the warming of the city and many other environmental consequences.                          

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