Remote Sensing and Earth Observation-Based Analysis of Soil Carbon: A Bibliometric Approach

Abstract

This study aims to investigate scientific trends in soil carbon research using remote sensing (RS) and Earth observation (EO) data through bibliometric analysis. The Web of Science Core Collection database was used as the primary data source, and publications containing the keywords “soil carbon”, “soil organic carbon”, “remote sensing”, “earth observation”, and “digital soil mapping” published between 2000 and 2025 were analyzed. Bibliometric analyses were performed using VOSviewer software, including citation network analysis, keyword co-occurrence analysis, co-authorship network analysis, bibliographic coupling analysis and co-citation analysis. The results indicate a significant increase in the number of publications after 2015, reflecting the growing interest in soil carbon research supported by remote sensing technologies. Citation network analysis revealed that highly influential studies mainly focus on soil organic carbon mapping, modeling approaches, and the interactions between land use and climate change. Keyword analysis demonstrated that the literature is primarily centered around the concepts of “soil organic carbon”, “climate change”, “carbon sequestration”, and “remote sensing”. In addition, author and country collaboration networks highlighted China, the United States, and several European countries as the leading contributors to the field. Overall, the findings demonstrate that remote sensing and Earth observation technologies have become essential tools for monitoring soil carbon dynamics and supporting sustainable carbon management strategies at regional and global scales. This study differs from previous bibliometric studies by evaluating the SOC and remote sensing literature not only in terms of publication and citation trends, but also through conceptual structures, scientific collaboration patterns, and country-level research centers. In this study, “soil carbon” is used as a broader term, whereas “soil organic carbon (SOC)” refers specifically to the organic carbon component most frequently addressed in remote sensing, digital soil mapping, and machine learning-based SOC studies.

Keywords

• Soil organic carbon
• Soil carbon
• Bibliometric analysis
• Remote sensing
• Earth observation

Uzaktan Algılama ve Yeryüzü Gözlem Verileriyle Toprak Karbonunun Analizi: Bibliyometrik Bir Yaklaşım

Abstract

Bu çalışma uzaktan algılama ve yeryüzü gözlem verileriyle desteklenen bilimsel eğilimleri bibliyometrik yöntemlerle incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Araştırmada veri kaynağı olarak Web of Science Core Collection veri tabanı kullanılmış ve 2000–2025 yılları arasında yayımlanan “soil carbon”, “soil organic carbon”, “remote sensing”, “earth observation” ve “digital soil mapping” anahtar kelimelerini içeren çalışmalar analiz edilmiştir. Bibliyometrik analizler VOSviewer yazılımı kullanılarak gerçekleştirilmiş; atıf ağı, anahtar kelime eş-oluşum ağı, yazar ve ülke düzeyinde ortak yazarlık ağı, ortak atıf ağı ve bibliyografik eşleşme ağı analizleri uygulanmıştır. Analiz sonuçları, toprak karbonu araştırmalarında özellikle 2015 sonrası dönemde önemli bir yayın artışı olduğunu göstermektedir. Atıf ağı analizinde yüksek etkiye sahip çalışmaların SOC haritalama, modelleme ve iklim değişikliği ile arazi kullanımı etkileşimi üzerine yoğunlaştığı belirlenmiştir. Anahtar kelime analizleri ise araştırmaların “soil organic carbon”, “climate change”, “carbon sequestration” ve “remote sensing” kavramları etrafında yoğunlaştığını göstermiştir. Yazar ve ülke iş birliği analizleri Çin, ABD ve Avrupa ülkelerinin literatürde önemli araştırma merkezleri olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Çalışma, uzaktan algılama verilerinin, toprak karbonunun mekânsal dağılımını belirlemede ve karbon yönetimi stratejilerinin geliştirilmesinde önemli bir araç olduğunu göstermektedir. Bu çalışma, SOC ve uzaktan algılama literatürünü yalnızca yayın ve atıf eğilimleri açısından değil, aynı zamanda kavramsal odaklar, bilimsel iş birliği yapıları ve ülke bazlı araştırma merkezleri açısından birlikte değerlendirerek mevcut bibliyometrik çalışmalardan ayrılmaktadır. Bu kapsamda çalışmada “toprak karbonu” genel bir üst kavram olarak, “toprak organik karbonu (SOC)” ise uzaktan algılama, dijital toprak haritalama ve makine öğrenmesi tabanlı çalışmalarda en sık analiz edilen organik karbon bileşeni olarak kullanılmıştır.

Keywords

• Toprak organik karbonu
• Toprak karbonu
• Bibliyometrik analiz
• Uzaktan algılama
• Yeryüzü gözlem verileri

Ethical Statement

Bu araştırmada hayvanlar ve insanlar üzerinde herhangi bir çalışma yapılmadığı için etik kurul onayı alınmamıştır.

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