Detection of the Interactions between Climate Change Impacts and Land Surface/Land Use in Golestan Province over the Past Two Decades(2000-2020)

Ghanghermeh, Abdolazim; Roshan, Gholamreza; Rajabali, Mosib

doi:10.22111/jneh.2025.50298.2082

Detection of the Interactions between Climate Change Impacts and Land Surface/Land Use in Golestan Province over the Past Two Decades(2000-2020)

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

¹ Associate Professor of Climatology, Department of Geography, Golestan University, Gorgan. Iran

² Master student of Climatology, Golestan University, Gorgan. Iran

10.22111/jneh.2025.50298.2082

Abstract

Climate change and land cover and land use change are two interconnected phenomena that significantly impact each other and the environment. This study examines the reciprocal effects of these phenomena in the Golestan Province over the past two decades. The data used included satellite images of temperature, precipitation, vegetation index (NDVI), and land cover/use data for the years 2000 and 2020. The findings revealed that 10.4% of the province’s land area has experienced land cover/use change, with barren land being the most affected. In contrast, sparse vegetation and forest cover showed the greatest increase in area. Long-term droughts and the Caspian Sea's water level reduction were identified as the primary drivers behind the conversion of water bodies to other land cover types. Climatically, there has been a significant increase in night-time temperatures across most areas of the province, particularly in the eastern half, central areas, and foothills. Conversely, a decrease in nighttime temperatures has been observed along the eastern coast owing to the Caspian Sea retreat, as well as a sporadic increase in daytime temperatures in certain areas. Additionally, a reduction in annual precipitation has been detected in the northern and eastern parts of the province, which are mainly classified as arid and semiarid regions. The analysis indicates that the correlation between nighttime temperature and land cover changes is of primary importance, while annual precipitation also plays a significant role in land cover changes to a lesser extent. This study provides evidence of the mutual influence between climate change and land cover in Golestan Province, indicating that drought, temperature rise, and changes in precipitation patterns have led to land-use changes, while land-use changes may also affect local climate patterns.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Climate-Change

References

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