Water surface Changes of Lakes in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Year 2019, Volume: 6 Issue: 3, 264 - 267, 08.12.2019

Nesibu Kedirkan

https://doi.org/10.30897/ijegeo.544770

Cited By: 2

Abstract

Lakes are one of
the most important biologically diverse ecosystems. However, extensive human
and natural factors contributed to the loss of this ecosystem. Until recently,
knowledge on the recent status of rift valley l,akes was lacking. The aim of
this study was, therefore, to estimate the current extent of selected lakes in
the central Rift Valley of Ethiopia using Landsat image. Satellite images of
Landsat OLI_TIRS for the year 2018 were used for this study. Selected bands
(green, near infrared, shortwave infrared and middle infrared) were selected in
calculating automated water extraction index to distinguish water surface from
non-water. The result revealed that the extent of water surface was reduced
between 2015 and 2018 with an amount of 47.6, 2.4 and 0.9 % for lake Abjata, Shala
and Langano, respectively. Such rapid conversions of aquatic ecosystem need urgent
management and policy intervention. Furthermore, applied researches are needed
to reduce the magnitude of change.  

Keywords

Landsat, Shala, Langano, Abjata

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