Author(s): Mehmet Ali ÖZDEMIR, Muhammet BAHADIR
The purpose of this study was to analyze the temporal changes in the land use of Ac?göl Watershed by controlled classification through the utilization of remote sensing techniques. The classification was carried out for five classes; namely changes in forest areas, pastureland, agriculture, water level and lake areas were examined. While forest areas totaling 52599 hectares in 1975 decreased to 37212 ha, forest areas increased to 49377 ha in 2000 and 51420 ha in 2002. The proportion of forest areas decreased with approximately 1000 hectares compared to the previous period in 2005 and decreased to 50392 ha. While pastureland occupied large areas totaling 56821 ha in 1975, the numbers fell to 21919 ha and 16704 ha in 1987 and 2000 respectively. This rapid decrease in pastureland was halted in 2002 with a partial increase of 16867 ha which increased to 29675 ha in 2005. Agricultural land totaled 14221 ha in 1975 after which a rapid 12 year increase brought this figure to 67407 hectares in 1987. After this date a general decline in agricultural lands continued to decrease agricultural land to 60942 ha, 58131 ha and 45663 ha in the years 2000, 2002 and 2005 respectively. There has been a general decrease in water surface and lake areas. While water surfaces totaled 20179 ha in 1975, this figure receded to 17828 ha in 1987 and 16797 ha in 2000. The lake areas which totaled 5104 ha in 1975 had receded to 5002 ha in 1987 and 3101 ha in the year 2000. After this date, small increases in both water surface and lake areas have incurred. Water surfaces have expanded from 17402 ha in 2002 to 18090 ha in 2005. Lake areas have increased from 3125 ha in 2002 to 3179 ha in 2005.
The Journal of International Social Research received 8982 citations as per Google Scholar report
