Abstract

Satellite remote sensing is the most readily available and updated data source for detection, quantification, and mapping of Land-use/Land Cover (LULC) patterns and changes because of its repetitive data acquisition, digital format suitable for computer processing, and accurate geo-referencing procedures. The objective of the study is to analyze the land cover changes and to examine the Land Surface Temperature (LST) with other climatic effects on the Sindh coastal region. Satellite images of Landsat-7 ETM+, Landsat-5 TM and Landsat-8 OLI/TIRS were used in the study, acquired on March 08, 2000, November 20, 2009 and April 08, 2014 respectively. The land cover classes selected for the study are vegetation, mudflat, built-up/vacant land, shallow water and deep water. Maximum likelihood supervised classification and LST techniques were used in the study. The results of the classification mainly consist of land cover classes for 2000, 2009 and 2014, respectively. The land cover in the study area is under the serious threat of climate change. The major cause of ecological, environmental and land use degradation of Indus delta is reduction in fresh water flow, sea water intrusion and natural disasters. Sindh coastline is widely exposed to the disasters like heavy rains, floods, frequent storms and cyclones. This coast faces cyclones approximately every year. Eastern part of Sindh Province is at high risk of tropical cyclones. It is a huge threat to the land covers, biodiversity and human population.

Keywords: Coastal climate change; GIS; Land surface temperature; Maximum likelihood supervised classification; Natural disaster; Remote sensing; Sea water intrusion